Bitcoin has moved close to $88,000, but the larger point in Bob Loukas’s analysis is not a single price spike. It is the fact that the advance has lasted for 88 days. He argues that rallies inside downtrends are usually fast and sharp, while this move has been unusually steady, making it stand out from the usual pattern.
In Loukas’s view, this does not look like a brief jump. He sees it as a possible early phase of a long-term bottom, with market conditions resembling a foundation-building period rather than a classic bull run. He also says this cycle could extend through 2026.
The $85,000 to $88,000 range remains the key barrier
Loukas noted that Bitcoin has been holding around $81,000, even as large market participants remain cautious. For traders, the $85,000 to $88,000 area has turned into what he described as a “glass ceiling.”
If Bitcoin fails to break that resistance soon, he warned that the chance of revisiting lower levels increases. His framework does not fit the familiar script of sudden breakouts or sharp crashes. Instead, he expects a longer consolidation phase and repeated tests of the $60,000 to $70,000 region.
ETF inflows and macro pressure are shaping the setup
On the flow side, $1.16 billion has entered Bitcoin ETFs as of May. Loukas also pointed to ongoing CLARITY Act developments as a factor supporting market expectations. At the same time, persistent geopolitical tensions and the rise in traditional equity indexes, especially the S&P 500, are keeping pressure on risk assets such as Bitcoin.
That is why he places so much emphasis on time. The main feature of the last 88 days, he said, has not been dramatic volatility but persistence and stability. His comparison was simple: this phase looks more like a marathon than a sprint.
Recovery may require patience
Loukas said, “Bitcoin’s rise points less to quick surges and more to a long-lasting bottom built up over time. The market’s full recovery may demand patience.”
For now, Bitcoin remains centered near $81,000, while the $85,000 to $88,000 zone stands as the main inflection point that could shape the next leg. The source article also noted that the information does not constitute investment advice and that crypto assets remain highly volatile and risky.