Peter Brandt predicts the day Bitcoin's bear market ends
Veteran trader Peter Brandt predicts the Bitcoin bear market will bottom on October 4, 2026, telling Cointelegraph he still sees room for prices to slip below $50,000—and possibly into the high $40,000s—before the cycle low is set, arguing current sentiment is too calm for a true bottom.
Key Takeaways
- Peter Brandt says Bitcoin’s cycle low could land on October 4, 2026.
- He warns BTC may drop below $50,000, potentially into the high $40,000s.
- Brandt prefers Bitcoin over AI stocks over a two- to three-year horizon.
- He forecasts a cycle peak between $250,000 and $300,000 by 2029.
When does Peter Brandt say Bitcoin’s bear market ends?
In a Cointelegraph Trade Secrets interview, the 51-year trading veteran said he would “go out on a limb” and call October 4 as the bottom date. He has held firm on that October prediction for Bitcoin’s cycle low for quite some time.
Bitcoin was trading near $63,661 when the interview was published. Many traders believe the roughly $60,000 area could already mark the cycle bottom. Brandt remains unconvinced that the washout is finished.
Why does Brandt think lower prices are still likely?
Brandt notes that every major Bitcoin bear market since inception has been an 80% or greater correction. Taking highs in the $120,000s as a reference, that pattern implies room for deeper downside before a durable low.
He described sentiment as “neutral” and stressed that markets do not bottom on neutral mood. In his view, bottoms arrive with panic and volume, when more holders give up on Bitcoin and rotate into other assets.
That skepticism matters for traders watching whether the current range is a floor or a pause. For ongoing coverage of market calls and price alerts, follow Fintech & Crypto Alerts on BlasterPost.
Is Bitcoin a better bet than AI stocks right now?
Brandt said he does not believe someone who goes all-in on AI stocks today will be very happy with that investment two or three years from now. If he had $10,000 to deploy, he would split it 50% Bitcoin and 50% precious metals.
He argued precious metals look closer to a bottom on price, while Bitcoin may be closer to a bottom on timing. Separately, he does not expect Bitcoin’s cycle peak until 2029, forecasting a range of $250,000 to $300,000.
If that path plays out, Bitcoin would have limited time after 2029 to approach the far higher $1 million-by-2030 targets discussed by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood. As always, forecasts are opinions, not guarantees, and readers should do their own research.