Bitcoin – Is it a case of ‘pain today, gains tomorrow’ for BTC’s price?

Despite the prevailing climate, Bitwise has predicted that Bitcoin would break its traditional four-year cycle and push to new highs in 2026.

Their view is that factors like the halving, institutional adoption, and growing ETF demand are changing the way Bitcoin behaves.

To add to the point, Bitcoin is getting less volatile. In 2025, it has already been less volatile than mammoths like Nvidia [NVIDIA], starting to act like a “mature” asset.

If that trend continues, this current weakness may end up looking like a transition into something better.

A sense of permanence

The long-term is about position, and Bitcoin is already standing among giants. Today, it sits comfortably in the top 10 global assets, alongside gold, Apple, and Microsoft.

That alone is a big sign of how far the asset has come.

A decade from now, the conversation will most certainly be about where it ranks, rather than survival. Institutions are now treating it as a core holding, giving it loads of much needed credibility.

The cycles may come and go, but Bitcoin’s place on the global balance sheet looks increasingly permanent.

Final Thoughts

• Bitcoin’s -19% Q4 projection shows near-term weakness, but the only way to go is up.
• With top-10 global asset status, Bitcoin is evolving into a mature asset.