Bitcoin and altcoins have experienced a rapid recovery in recent days after experiencing sharp declines in October and November, known as historical bullish periods.
While this recovery slightly increases the expectation of a rise, some analysts believe that a major rise should not be expected in the short term.
At this point, Ophelia Snyder, co-founder of ETF issuer 21Shares, said it is unlikely that BTC will repeat its strong rally in early 2026.
According to Snyder, Bitcoin is unlikely to repeat its strong rally from earlier this year in early 2026. He said the underlying factors currently driving the decline and market volatility are unlikely to resolve and end in the short term.
Snyder, noting that January is generally a time for investors to rebalance their portfolios, said there would need to be a significant positive change in overall investor sentiment for a similar rise to that seen in January 2025 to occur in 2026.
However, given the current stagnant market sentiment, Snyder notes that Bitcoin is unlikely to experience a similarly strong rally in January 2026.
Another analyst shared similar views with Snyder, predicting that BTC will trade in the $85,000 to $95,000 range by the end of the year.
Speaking to Coindesk, Wincent’s Paul Howard expects Bitcoin to trade sideways in the $85,000 to $95,000 range by the end of the year.
At this point, Howard argued that low liquidity in December could limit a strong recovery and rally for BTC.
He also said that in the absence of clear macro variables or catalysts, the Bitcoin price will move sluggishly.
However, the analyst stated that a stagnant Bitcoin could create a suitable environment for altcoins, and in the event of a weaker Bitcoin, some of the market risk appetite could shift to altcoins.
Describing the upcoming interest rate decision of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) as an important event from a macroeconomic perspective, Howard stated that if the BOJ keeps interest rates steady, it could revitalize demand for risky assets and create a positive trend for Bitcoin, gold and stocks.
*This is not investment advice.