End of Bitcoin’s 4-year cycle? Bitwise CIO sees a safer market ahead in the midst of rising inflow and Altcoin Momentum | Bitcoinist.com

For years, Bitcoin’s price behavior has followed a four-year cycle have led to bullruns, followed by market corrections. But according to Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise Asset Management, that story no longer fits the current market landscape.

“The four -year cycle is dead,” Hougan told investors, pointing to deeper structural shifts that shape the next phase of crypto evolution.

Institutional inflow and ETF requirement reform the market

Instead of halving -driven volatility, the market is now influenced by long -term capital inflow and regulatory progress.

The Bitcoin ETFs approved by the US have attracted more than $ 14 billion in net influx, giving regular investors access to crypto without managing private keys or stock markets. Hougan notes that institutions such as pension funds and hedge funds build up sustainable positions, reducing the dependence on speculation in the retail trade.

Add to the Momentum is the Genius ActSigned in the law at the beginning of 2025 and offers clearer guidelines for crypto operations in the US. This clarity has fueled a wave of institutional trust and released the road for strategic investments in both Bitcoin and Ethereum, which has now deployed more than 33 million ETH, according to BeaconScan.

Bitcoin price trends to the upside on the daily chart. Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview

Altcoins such as XRP Winning Momentum

Because market cycles become less predictable, investors focus on altcoins with a real usefulness. XRP has, despite its long legal battle with the SEC, once again emerged as a strong competition.

The growing acceptance in cross -border payments and support for global financial entities, including investment interest of the VAE, positions it as one of the best altcoins to look at. Some analysts believe that XRP could surpass $ 5 in the coming cycle, driven by the use of business and international traction.

Hougan sees 2026 as a potential breakout year, not for explosive peaks, but for sustainable, steady growth. For investors this can cause a shift from trying to time cycles to understanding long -term trends, and that can be Cryptto’s greatest adjustment to date.

Chatgpt inaugural image, BTCUSD -Graphic of TradingView

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