Bitcoin has marked one year since its latest halving event, and long-term holders have reason to celebrate.
Despite economic headwinds, including intensifying trade tensions between the U.S. and China, BTC has climbed more than 30% since April 2024, showing notable strength in uncertain times.
The halving, which cut block rewards from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC, reduced the rate at which new coins enter circulation—a key feature that reinforces Bitcoin’s scarcity. Traditionally, this event kicks off a multi-year price cycle. But this time, analysts believe that growing institutional involvement may be speeding things up.
According to Brickken’s Enmanuel Cardozo, the combination of seasoned market behavior and fresh liquidity from institutional players like Strategy and Tether could pull forward typical cycle milestones. “We may not need to wait until mid-2026 for a peak,” he suggested, adding that a Fed rate cut could inject even more momentum into the market.
Bitget COO Vugar Usi Zade echoed that sentiment, pointing to demand from ETFs and funds as a major factor in Bitcoin’s upward push. He noted that if BTC clears $90,000, a return to all-time highs could come swiftly, especially with fewer coins available post-halving.
Interestingly, data from trader Jelle shows Bitcoin’s current cycle may be unfolding faster than previous ones. BTC hit a record above $109,000 just 273 days after the 2024 halving—significantly quicker than the 546 and 518 days it took following the 2020 and 2016 halvings, respectively.
While the timeline may be shifting, one thing remains clear: Bitcoin’s resilience is once again proving itself in a volatile world.
Momentum is building across the digital asset space as Bitcoin edges closer to its previous peak near $109,000, igniting renewed speculation about whether a broader altcoin surge is about to follow.
With Bitcoin trading near all-time highs, Strategy’s bold accumulation strategy is delivering eye-popping results.
Standard Chartered believes sovereign wealth funds and government-linked institutions are increasingly turning to indirect strategies to gain Bitcoin exposure—supporting the bank’s bold forecast of BTC reaching $500,000 before 2029.
BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes believes America’s ballooning debt may become an unlikely tailwind for Bitcoin, predicting that the leading cryptocurrency could surge to $250,000 before the year ends—and reach $1 million by 2028.