Introduction
Bitcoin faces a volatile outlook as analysts warn of a potential short-term rally to $97,000-$107,000 before a deeper correction. Prominent crypto analyst Doctor Profit suggests buying at $86,000 for a tactical trade, while maintaining bearish longer-term views. Wall Street institutions have also scaled back their Bitcoin price targets for 2026, reflecting growing market caution amid a weak December trend that has seen BTC fall over 4% in the past week.
Key Points
- Doctor Profit recommends buying BTC around $86,000 for a tactical trade targeting $97,000-$107,000, but warns of extreme volatility and potential sharp declines.
- Standard Chartered and Bernstein have halved their Bitcoin price forecasts, now projecting $150,000 by end-2026, reflecting more cautious institutional outlooks.
- Analyst Mr. Wall Street predicts a deeper correction to $54,000-$60,000 by Q4 2026, even after a possible brief rebound toward $100,000.
A Tactical Bet on a Short-Term Rebound
Amid ongoing downside pressures that saw Bitcoin slip toward $85,300 before climbing to nearly $86,200, crypto market analyst Doctor Profit has outlined a specific, short-term trading thesis. He stated he is buying back BTC around the $86,000 level to trade what he anticipates will be a potential relief rally over the coming weeks. According to his analysis, there is a reasonable probability that Bitcoin could revisit the $97,000 to $107,000 range before the next major leg lower begins.
Doctor Profit described this potential move as roughly a 20% upside from current levels, which he views as a favorable risk-reward opportunity—but only if managed with what he called the highest level of risk management and strict discipline. He emphasized that this trade is short-term only and his overall outlook remains firmly bearish. His risk management protocol includes placing a stop loss at the entry level once the position moves into solid profit, a clear indication of the precariousness he associates with the current market environment.
The Persistent Bearish Backdrop and Downside Risks
Despite the tactical long position, Doctor Profit’s broader market view is one of extreme caution. He noted that his existing short positions, which were opened in the $115,000 to $125,000 range, remain fully active and unchanged. This dual positioning—a tactical long against a strategic short—highlights the analyst’s view of a market in a distribution phase. He warned that Bitcoin remains extremely unstable and vulnerable to sharp downside moves, adding that a deeper and faster sell-off could occur at any time, even before the price reaches the anticipated $97,000-$107,000 rebound zone.
Consequently, Doctor Profit advised that buying at current levels should be approached with extreme caution. He framed any potential upside as merely ‘distribution and liquidity for the next decline.’ His primary downside target remains firmly in focus: the $70,000 region. This analysis underscores a belief that the current weakness is more than a brief pullback and could be the precursor to a more significant correction.
Conflicting Long-Term Targets and Institutional Caution
The near-term volatility is set against a backdrop of increasingly cautious long-term forecasts from other analysts and institutions. Pseudonymous analyst Mr. Wall Street recently warned that Bitcoin could face a deeper correction after a brief rebound toward $100,000. He forecasted a drop to the $54,000-$60,000 range by the fourth quarter of 2026.
This sentiment of scaled-back expectations is echoed by major financial institutions. Standard Chartered recently cut its Bitcoin forecast in half and is now targeting $150,000 by the end of 2026, a significant reduction from its previous outlook. Bernstein analysts have similarly revised their projection, also settling on $150,000 for late 2026. This collective downward revision by Wall Street entities reflects a more measured, risk-averse stance following the cryptocurrency’s recent declines and macroeconomic uncertainties.
These bearish and cautious projections stand in contrast to more optimistic voices. Analyst Wise Crypto has previously predicted that easing US monetary policy, improving liquidity, and political tailwinds could drive Bitcoin into the $300,000-$600,000 range next year. However, the prevailing sentiment in the current market analysis, as evidenced by Doctor Profit, Mr. Wall Street, Standard Chartered, and Bernstein, clearly disagrees with such a bullish near-term trajectory, favoring a narrative of interim rallies within a broader corrective phase.
📎 Related coverage from: cryptopotato.com
