Bitcoin price analysis: BTC could fall as low as $48,000 in final capitulation

Bitcoin BTC $ 59,228.58 could be approaching a major turning point after a rare combination of onchain indicators flashed signals that have historically coincided with market bottoms, according to Chris Sullivan, co-founder and portfolio manager at digital asset hedge fund Hyperion Decimus.

In a recent report, the hedge fund explained that four proprietary onchain signals have aligned only five times during bitcoin's 15-year history. Each previous occurrence marked a cycle bottom, although Sullivan cautioned that this time still lacks final technical confirmation.

"We have literally like every box checked, except for a final pattern," Sullivan said in an interview with CoinDesk. "Either we have to break above the $82,000 pivot to confirm, or we have one final low, call it between $54,000 and $57,000. Perhaps a wick to $48,000 to capitulate. One of those two conditions we expect to happen in the next 90 days."

If either scenario unfolds, Sullivan believes bitcoin could quickly diverge from broader financial markets. The crypto asset is trading at $59,386 after losing 23% over the past month, extending its divergence from U.S. equities, which had climbed to record highs before also coming under pressure this month.

The firm's outlook stands in contrast to cautious market sentiment following months of subdued price action. Many popular crypto voices online have voiced concern about the future of the largest crypto asset on the market.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Philippe Laffont earlier this week said he has become "a little bit more worried" about bitcoin's future, especially with increasing opportunities for risk investments. Last month, billionaire investor Mark Cuban said he sold most of his bitcoin as it failed to act as a hedge during geopolitical turmoil and dollar weakness.

But Sullivan argues investors have become too focused on narratives rather than market mechanics.

"Narrative is nothing more than people trying to explain why a condition exists or persists instead of asking the correct question, which is how," he said.

One of the biggest puzzles, according to Sullivan, is bitcoin's breakdown in its historical relationship with global liquidity.

He said bitcoin previously tracked changes in global money supply, or global M2, with a relatively high degree of correlation. That relationship has now diverged for roughly nine months, according to his data.

That disconnect extends beyond bitcoin, with Sullivan noting that precious metals have also failed to respond as historical macro relationships would suggest.

Instead of macroeconomics, he believes structural changes in crypto markets since the launch of U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs have altered price behavior and created a market structure that suppresses volatility by encouraging hedging activity.

Despite muted prices, Sullivan sees several fundamental indicators improving beneath the surface. He pointed to rising wallet activity, growing bitcoin holdings moving off exchanges and continued strength in network metrics.

"The backdrop of anybody who pays attention to on-chain for astute patient prudent capital for raw beta exposure, it's about as attractive a risk reward as we're going to see," he said.

Still, Sullivan stressed that he does not believe the bear market has definitively ended. "I do not think the bear market is over, because I'm looking at the fractals," he said. "I want to see a completed pattern. I do not see that yet."

Until bitcoin either reclaims key resistance near $82,000 or experiences what Sullivan views as a final capitulation, he expects investors to remain skeptical, even as the data increasingly points toward a potential turning point.

In May, combined exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41T; the lowest since September 2024. RWA perpetual futures volumes rose 10.4% against the trend, hitting a new all-time high.

Disclosure & Polices : CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies . CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of Bullish (NYSE:BLSH), an institutionally focused global digital asset platform that provides market infrastructure and information services. Bullish owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets and CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish equity-based compensation.

新闻图片