As the first half of 2026 ended, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading slightly above $62,500. The leading cryptocurrency is trading 50% lower than the all-time high (ATH) of $126,080 that it hit on Oct.
As the first half of 2026 ended, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading slightly above $62,500. The leading cryptocurrency is trading 50% lower than the all-time high (ATH) of $126,080 that it hit on Oct. 6, 2025.
In fact, June 2026 saw the U.S. spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to Bitcoin post the worst performance since their launch. The month witnessed an outflow of more than $4.50 billion.
The total crypto market cap declined to $2.2 trillion at press time, nearly half of the $4.3 trillion cap at the peak in early October last year.
Amidst this chaos, Fidelity released a report on June 29, "What might end the crypto winter?" The asset manager highlighted five factors that could bring an end to the crypto winter.
Related: Bitcoin sinks lower as traders brace for $45,000
Bitcoin halving is an event in which the mining reward is halved every four years. The process reduces new Bitcoin supply entering circulation so that the cryptocurrency remains a scare asset.
Throughout most of its history, bitcoin has tended to form both bull market tops and bear market bottoms roughly four years apart. If this pattern were to continue, it could mean the current bear market will bottom some time around November 2026, the asset manager said.
As per Fidelity, if Bitcoin's demand remains steady or grows against low supply, its price can surge. But these four-year cycles should be studied for macro analysis, not exact trade timing, the firm cautioned.
Fidelity thinks bull markets necessitate regulatory clarity. For instance, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January, giving a major boost to the cryptocurrency.
The asset manager is now fixated on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which, if enacted into law, can unlock activity that is held back by legal uncertainty.
The Federal Reserve's policies hold enormous influence on the markets, and cryptocurrencies are no exception. Fidelity argued that there is a strong relationship between interest rate cuts and crypto price surges.
When interest rates decline, borrowing is cheaper and investors get more comfortable, which benefits crypto. When rates rise, liquidity gets tightened and crypto prices drop.
As per Fidelity, crypto prices will rise well in advance if they sense a rate cut because markets tend to anticipate such moves.
Fidelity highlighted that meme coins and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) drove the 2019-21 bull run in the crypto market. Currently, tokenization, AI-related crypto applications, and stablecoins are the most popular use cases.
But the asset manager expects an unexpected use case to emerge that will give a boost to the digital assets market. It said that a widespread adoption could trigger a new wave of investor excitement and drive new money into crypto.
Institutional adoption of crypto through steps such as digital asset treasuries (DATs), the promise of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, etc. has boosted prices. But crypto's institutional adoption throughout 2026 has not led to a new bull market.
But a surprising move such as a Magnificent Seven company adding crypto to its balance sheet could spark a new narrative, as per Fidelity.
Fidelity said that though these factors could be a few possible catalysts that could end the crypto winter, there is no certainty. The asset manager advised investors to only invest an amount they are willing to lose.
Related: Treasury Secretary Bessent reveals new information on Bitcoin reserve
