Bitcoin could see one more slump before all-time highs: Peter Brandt
Veteran trader Peter Brandt suggests that Bitcoin might face one final slump before reaching new all-time highs. He describes this potential downturn as a “shakeout,” clearing weaker hands and setting the stage for a strong rally. However, Brandt warns that if BTC breaks its parabolic structure, it could trigger a significantly deeper retracement, highlighting the risks involved in the current market setup.
Recent cross-market volatility over the weekend, fueled by renewed U.S.–China trade tensions, caused historic liquidations across crypto and traditional markets. Despite this turbulence, several analysts remain optimistic, anticipating that Bitcoin’s upward trajectory could resume as broader macroeconomic conditions stabilize. The current scenario underscores both the short-term risks and potential long-term gains for investors keeping an eye on BTC.
Market Snapshot & Brandt’s Call
Bitcoin could see one more slump before all-time highs: Peter Brandt
Brandt outlined two scenarios: (1) a sharp but brief shakeout followed by a fresh all-time high “within the next week or so,” or (2) a “violation of the parabola,” historically tied to ~75% drawdowns—though he now sees an 80% drop as unlikely and instead cites a possible retest of $50K–$60K. His comments arrive as BTC trades roughly 10–11% below its Oct. 6 record of ~$126,198.
Context on recent price action (and ATH math)
Bitcoin fell sharply during the weekend liquidation cascade linked to tariff headlines, then stabilized above $110K. CoinMarketCap lists the all-time high on Oct. 6, 2025 at ~$126,198, with recent intraday lows near ~$110K–$113K during the rebound.
What Drove the Sell-Off?
Tariff shock and record liquidations
The drawdown coincided with fresh U.S.–China trade measures and threats of 100% tariffs, sparking over $19B in crypto liquidations across leveraged positions. Thin weekend liquidity amplified the move, with some altcoins hit hard before markets steadied early this week.
Macro signals traders are watching
Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted core PCE at 2.9% YoY in August. Risk-asset bulls, including BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes, argue that a turn toward easier liquidity (or the end of quantitative tightening) could fuel crypto upside prompting Hayes’s “back up the truck” post on X. Federal Reserve+1
Sector Moves: Sports-Crypto Shifts Chains
Sorare migration underscores “scalability first”
Fantasy-sports platform Sorare plans to migrate core games and trading cards from Ethereum to Solana, citing throughput and consumer focus, while keeping support for Ethereum (e.g., via Base and ETH deposits). The team also plans Layer0 integration to streamline multichain payments.
Risk Management & Strategy
Using leverage more cautiously after the shakeout
Analysts stress managing position size and leverage after the weekend’s whipsaw, noting how thin liquidity and cascading liquidations can overwhelm stops during headlines
Analysis
Brandt’s framing captures the fork: a last-mile shakeout versus a parabolic break. With BTC ~10% below its ATH and macro uncertainty elevated, near-term path depends on policy and liquidity signals. If trade tensions persist, risk assets may wobble; if financial conditions ease, the path to retest records remains open. (Analysis)
Conclusion
Most analysts expect some short-term market volatility for Bitcoin, with a slight upward bias as the recent tariff shock eases and policy signals become clearer. This “choppy” phase is seen as a normal adjustment period before any strong trend resumes, giving traders time to reposition and assess risks.
Still, Peter Brandt remains cautious. He notes that one more slump is possible before Bitcoin can mount a decisive push toward or beyond its previous all-time highs. This warning highlights that while the overall trend may lean higher, temporary retracements could test investor patience and market resilience.
FAQs
Q : What does “one more slump” mean in this context?
A : A brief, sharp sell-off (“shakeout”) that clears leverage before a move back toward highs.
Q : Did Bitcoin just set a new all-time high?
A : Yes. CoinMarketCap shows an ATH near $126,198 on Oct. 6, 2025.
Q : How did tariffs impact crypto prices?
A : Tariff headlines coincided with >$19B in liquidations, amplifying downside in thin liquidity.
Q : Is liquidity improving and could that help BTC?
A : Some traders expect looser conditions; Powell noted 2.9% core PCE, while others see scope for easier policy later—potentially supportive for risk assets.
Q : What did Arthur Hayes mean by “buy everything”?
A : He argued that an end to quantitative tightening would be bullish for crypto, urging aggressive buying in an X post.
Q : Will Sorare abandoning Ethereum hurt ETH?
A : Sorare calls the move an “upgrade” to Solana for scale while keeping Ethereum integrations (e.g., Base, ETH deposits).
Q : Where could Bitcoin go if the parabola breaks?
A : Brandt cautioned a possible $50K–$60K retest, though not the 80% drawdowns of past cycles.
Facts
Event
Analyst calls after tariff-driven crypto sell-off; potential “one more slump” before BTC ATHDate/Time
2025-10-15T14:00:00+05:00Entities
Bitcoin (BTC), Peter Brandt, U.S. Federal Reserve (Jerome Powell), Arthur Hayes, Sorare, Solana, EthereumFigures
$126,198 BTC ATH (Oct. 6, 2025); >$19B liquidations (Fri–weekend); Core PCE 2.9% (Aug.) CoinMarketCap+2Reuters+2Quotes
“Either a huge shakeout … or a violation of the parabola … perhaps back to $50–60,000.” Peter Brandt. “Back up the … truck and buy everything.” Arthur Hayes. Cointelegraph+1Sources
Cointelegraph; Reuters; CoinMarketCap; Federal Reserve; X (Arthur Hayes). X (formerly Twitter)+4Cointelegraph+4Reuters+4