February 2026 has once again shaken Bitcoin investors. After a sharp drop to nearly $60,000 on Feb 5, Bitcoin bounced back above $68,000, reopening an old argument in the crypto world:
Are Bitcoinโs famous four-year cycles still relevant, or has the market outgrown them?
For years, Bitcoinโs price action followed a familiar rhythm tied closely to halving events. But todayโs market looks very different. ETFs, institutional capital, and macroeconomic forces now play a much bigger role. Some analysts argue the cycle is finished. Others believe itโs still aliveโjust evolving.
Letโs break it down.
What Exactly Is the Four-Year Bitcoin Cycle?
Bitcoinโs four-year cycle is a recurring pattern that has historically followed each halving, which occurs roughly every four years when miner rewards are cut in half.
These cycles usually move through four stages:
1. Accumulation
After a major crash, prices move sideways. Long-term investors quietly build positions while sentiment remains negative.
2. Expansion (Bull Market)
Roughly 12โ18 months after a halving, prices accelerate rapidly as demand rises, media coverage explodes, and FOMO kicks in.
3. Blow-Off Top & Crash
Excessive leverage and speculation lead to overheating. Prices then fall sharplyโoften wiping out 70% or more of gains.
4. Bear Market & Reset
A long cooldown phase follows, shaking out weak holders and setting the stage for the next cycle.
Think of it like a heartbeat: slow recovery, rapid surge, sharp contraction, then rest.
Why These Cycles Exist in the First Place
The main driver is Bitcoinโs fixed supply model.
Halvings reduce new supply entering the market, creating scarcity.
Market psychology turns each halving into a major narrative event, attracting speculation.
Liquidity and macro trends amplify the moveโeasy money fuels rallies, tightening conditions trigger crashes.
Without halvings, Bitcoin would inflate like fiat currencies. Instead, it enforces scarcity, which historically pushed prices higher over time.
Does History Actually Support the Cycle Theory?
So far, yes.
Every major bull market (2013, 2017, 2021, 2025) followed a halving. Each cycle brought:
Bigger market caps
Lower percentage returns
Brutal drawdowns
Repeated claims that โBitcoin is deadโ (hundreds of timesโฆ and counting)
The pattern has never brokenโonly changed in scale.
Where Does 2026 Fit In?
After the 2024 halving, Bitcoin ran hard, topping near $126,000 in 2025, then corrected roughly 50%, which is very much in line with past cycles.
On-chain indicators like the Puell Multiple suggest the market is coolingโnot collapsing. Some analysts expect a relief rally before deeper consolidation, while others see potential for a final cycle peak later in 2026.
At the same time, things are clearly different:
Post-halving gains are smaller than in earlier cycles
ETF inflows absorb selling pressure
Bitcoin increasingly reacts to interest rates, gold, and global liquidity
This doesnโt look like the old cyclesโbut it doesnโt look dead either.
Are Bitcoinโs Cycles Over? The Two Sides of the Debate
Why Some Say the Cycle Is โDeadโ
Institutional money creates steadier demand
Derivatives and ETFs smooth volatility
Bitcoinโs inflation rate is now very low, reducing halving impact
Some researchers argue cycles are stretching into longer โsupercyclesโ
Why Others Say Itโs Still Alive
40โ50% corrections still happenโjust like before
Fear and hype still move markets
Halvings remain powerful psychological anchors
History keeps โrhyming,โ even if it doesnโt repeat exactly
As one trader put it:
โThe four-year cycle might be changingโbut it hasnโt broken yet.โ
Final Take: Not DeadโJust Growing Up
Bitcoinโs four-year cycle isnโt extinct, but itโs no longer as clean or predictable as it once was. Institutional adoption, macro forces, and market maturity are stretching and softening the pattern.
Halvings still matterโbut theyโre no longer the only driver.
For 2026 and beyond, smart investors should treat cycles as guides, not guarantees, combining them with macro awareness and risk management.
History still whispersโbut the rhythm is changing.
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