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Bitwise CIO Signals End of Crypto Winter as Market Cycle Holds

April 13, 2026 at 03:19 PMBy AlphaScalaSource: Benzinga
Bitwise CIO Signals End of Crypto Winter as Market Cycle Holds

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan believes the four-year crypto cycle is holding firm, with the market potentially hitting a bottom by mid-April.

The Turn of the Cycle

Bitcoin appears to be shaking off the lingering effects of its recent downturn. According to Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise Asset Management, the digital asset market is moving away from the cold conditions of the past year. He suggests that the sector is now closer to a recovery phase than another prolonged slump.

Investors who track the Bitcoin (BTC) profile often look to historical patterns for guidance. Hougan remains confident that the established four-year market cycle remains fully intact. Based on his assessment, the market could reach a bottoming phase as early as mid-April.

Market Timing and Data

History provides a roadmap for how these cycles function. The current structure mirrors past periods where the market corrected before finding a firm floor. Investors should consider how these shifts impact their broader crypto market analysis as the mid-April window approaches.

Key Indicators to Monitor

  • Cycle Duration: The standard four-year period continues to hold, suggesting predictable patterns.
  • Recovery Phase: Current data points toward a transition from contraction to growth.
  • Bottoming Window: Analysts identify mid-April as a primary marker for the cycle floor.

"The broader four-year crypto cycle remains intact and could be entering a bottoming phase around mid-April," said Matt Hougan in an April 10 interview.

Implications for Digital Asset Portfolios

For those active in the market, the shift from a "winter" phase carries specific weight. If the bottoming process concludes this month, price action may decouple from the stagnation seen in previous quarters. Choosing the best crypto brokers becomes essential as liquidity potentially returns to the space.

Cycle MetricExpected Status
Four-Year CycleIntact
Current SentimentBottoming Phase
Recovery OutlookEarly Stage

What Traders Should Watch Next

Investors should prioritize monitoring volume and volatility throughout the remainder of the month. While the macro environment remains complex, the technical setup described by Bitwise aligns with historical breakout points. If the cycle holds, the next few weeks will provide the necessary confirmation for a sustained move upward. Traders holding assets like Ethereum (ETH) profile should watch for potential correlation spikes if Bitcoin confirms this bottoming pattern.