Whenever Bitcoin experiences a pullback following an extended upward trend, the cryptocurrency community often debates whether this dip is simply a “healthy” correction within a bullish market or if it signals a complete reversal with bears taking control.
However, recent months have deviated from typical corrections. Bitcoin soared above $126,000 in early October but then sharply declined to below $100,000 by year-end. Its promising start to 2026 was abruptly interrupted when the price dropped to $60,000 last Friday—a staggering 52% fall from its all-time peak.
What raises additional concern is that most other asset classes—including precious metals—continued their upward momentum during this period, hitting successive new highs.
Given these developments, we turned to ChatGPT for insight on whether $BTC is truly entering a bear market or merely undergoing another standard correction.
Is This Truly a Bear Market?
The AI acknowledged the significant crash in early February and described it as “a major structural shift.”
“Notably, the $60K level was previously a breakout point during the 2025 rally and now serves as crucial support.”
If Bitcoin manages to hold firm at these levels—as observed over the past week—the decline could mirror earlier instances where prices reset by roughly 50% amid strong cycles. Conversely, falling below this support would considerably reinforce bearish sentiments.
In summary, ChatGPT concluded that $BTC does meet criteria for being in a bear market at present. The uncertainty lies mainly in how deep and prolonged this downturn might be.
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Where Might The Bottom Be?
The OpenAI model estimates there’s about a 35% probability that $60K represents Bitcoin’s bottom. However, its primary forecast anticipates at least one more downward move potentially pushing prices into the $50K-$52K range.
“$50K acts as both an important psychological barrier and previous consolidation zone. A drop here would imply approximately a 60% retracement from all-time highs—consistent with deeper yet still cyclical corrections.”
The AI also discussed two extreme scenarios deemed unlikely: either capitulation leading to crashes between $40K-$45K or widespread investor flight driving prices under $35K. Both outcomes would likely require extraordinary events akin to FTX’s collapse or geopolitical conflicts.
The Future Outlook For Bitcoin
No matter which scenario unfolds next, ChatGPT remains optimistic about bitcoin’s long-term prospects. It reminded users that bitcoin has endured far harsher declines of up to 80-90% during its infancy and recovered each time successfully.
“The most plausible bottom currently lies between $50K and $60K—with potential dips toward low-$40Ks if macroeconomic conditions deteriorate further—but historically bitcoin has demonstrated remarkable resilience without signs of faltering now.”