VanEck Signals Bitcoin Bear Market May Be Nearing Its End
Highlights:
- VanEck believes BTC is currently forming a cyclical bottom as the four-year halving pattern concludes in 2026.
- He said the ongoing bear market is primarily due to the historically weaker fourth year rather than new fundamental issues.
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Bitcoin holds key support near $67,000 with recent rebounds and ETF inflows.
In a recent interview with CNBC, VanEck CEO Jan van Eck shared a notable market assessment. He stated that Bitcoin (BTC) may be approaching a cyclical bottom as the four-year halving cycle concludes this year. He pointed out that the current price actions show a possible shift. Even though the market was in a downtrend, it is now stabilizing. He clarified that the bear market of Bitcoin is primarily a reflection of its halving cycle.
Bitcoin’s Four-Year Cycle Points to 2026 Bear Market
Bitcoin usually moves in a four-year pattern. It tends to rise steadily for three years, then slow down in the fourth year. That fourth year lines up with the halving, when miner rewards are cut in half. This reduces new supply and often cools price momentum for a period. According to him, 2026 fits this long-standing cycle. He believes the current market pressure is not something unusual. Instead, it reflects Bitcoin’s normal rhythm.
VanEck said he believes Bitcoin may be forming a bottom. He noted that losses have slowed and recent price gains show signs of resilience. His comments came while Bitcoin was trading near the $68,000 level. Despite broader macro pressure, the price has posted modest gains in recent days.
“There’s been an investing cycle. Bitcoin goes up three years in a row, goes down pretty massively in that fourth year. 2026 is the fourth year. So that’s why we are in a Bitcoin bear market. So I think we can overcomplicate it. Now I think we are making a bottom,” he said.
🚨VANECK CEO JAN VAN ECK: "I THINK WE'RE MAKING A BOTTOM" ON BITCOIN
VanEck CEO Jan van Eck stated he believes $BTC is forming a market bottom, marking a notable shift in tone from the asset management giant that launched one of the first spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States.… pic.twitter.com/rYMecqf1JS
— BSCN (@BSCNews) March 2, 2026
ETF Inflows Show Strong Institutional Demand
Bitcoin remains well below its October peak. However, it has held key support levels and rebounded from recent intra-week lows. At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $66,999, showing 2% increase in the past 24 hours. Week-over-week performance has also improved. Therefore, volatility linked to geopolitical headlines has not fully disrupted BTC’s momentum.
On the other hand, capital inflows into Bitcoin-related products continue to be strong. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen significant inflows. In some trading sessions, inflows were in the order of hundreds of millions of dollars. Such steady inflows of capital demonstrate that institutions continue to show interest despite market uncertainties.
Altcoins Under Heavy Pressure
Altcoins are facing strong selling pressure. VanEck’s cautious outlook comes as the broader altcoin market remains weak. Analyst Darkfrost said on X that nearly 38% of altcoins are trading close to their all-time lows. This is the highest level of decline in the current cycle. The figure stood at 35% in April last year. It reached 37.8% after the FTX collapse. Current levels show deep stress across smaller tokens.
🚨 38% of Altcoins Near ATL, worse than the post-FTX period
The overall environment remains unfavorable for risk-taking, and the first sector to bear the consequences is the cryptocurrency market, particularly altcoins.
At the moment, liquidity in the market remains fragile and… pic.twitter.com/jUrrzI8AHV
— Darkfost (@Darkfost_Coc) March 2, 2026
The general market environment is still weak for risk-taking. Liquidity is flowing into equities and commodities, not crypto. There is little demand for speculative altcoins other than Bitcoin and Ethereum. Darkfrost also said that extreme events such as this have often occurred near major market turning points in previous cycles.
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Syed Ali Haider
Syed Ali Haider is a contributing crypto writer for Crypto2Community. He is a crypto and blockchain journalist with over six years of experience. Syed Ali is a Blockchain enthusiast and writer passionate about enhancing the acceptance, adoption, and integration of Blockchain technology worldwide. He has also advocated for digital freedom and cybersecurity for many years. Haider has been featured in a number of high-profile crypto and finance outlets, including Coincult and more.
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