Bitcoin and Ether Hover Near 'Maybe This Year Isn't Doomed' Territory: Analyst

Bitcoin and Ether are both less than 10% away from price levels that could set up a sustained year for the crypto market, according to macro analyst Jordi Visser. The vibes are almost, dare we say, slightly less catastrophic than last week.

"If we trade above $76,000 and at the same time we see Ethereum above $2,400, I believe that is the beginning of a move that will be sustainable this year because I don't think we're going to have a recession," Visser said on the Anthony Pompliano podcast published on YouTube on Friday. That's the kind of optimism that gets you called a permabull on Twitter, but hey, we're all just here for the charts.

A move to $76,000 would represent an increase of 6.1% from Bitcoin's (BTC) price of $71,646 at the time of publication, according to CoinMarketCap data. Ether's (ETH) move to $2,400 would represent an increase of around 8%. For those keeping score at home, that's roughly a "not catastrophic" distance away from territory that might, possibly, if the stars align, yield some green candles.

Visser thinks inflation is going to stay elevated, and people will need to find something that is making money in a world where the S&P is not moving anywhere. Translation: Tradfi is giving you nothing, so maybe, just maybe, digital rocks are the play. Revolutionary take, we know.

Traders on the prediction market Kalshi are leaning toward a similar macro outlook, pricing a 24% chance of a recession in 2026, down 10% over the past 30 days. The market's basically saying "maybe we'll be fine" while simultaneously sweating profusely.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed in a report published on Friday that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in April rose 3.3% year-over-year. Inflation doing inflation things, as per usual.

Visser's recent comments challenge the growing view across the crypto industry that 2026 still has more downside ahead, with some even calling for a move below the February 6 yearly low of $60,000. On March 31, veteran trader Peter Brandt said this may not be the lowest level for 2026, forecasting that Bitcoin could retest or even move "slightly lower" than the price level in September or October this year. "That would then be the bear cycle low," Brandt said. Visser explained that he has never been a "big fan" of labeling Bitcoin price trends as bull or bear markets, especially when we're at all-time highs. Because nothing says "bear market" like printing new ATHs, apparently.