Bitcoin Price Prediction After This Week: Bulls vs. Bears in a Crucial $60K–$65K Battle

Bitcoin trades near $63,000 as analysts remain divided—here’s what to expect in the coming days

Bitcoin has had anything but a quiet week. After a volatile seven days that saw the cryptocurrency rebound from $57,700 to nearly $65,000, only to slip back toward $63,000, traders and investors are left asking one question: where does Bitcoin go from here?

As of July 18, 2026, Bitcoin is trading around $63,000–$64,000, defending the crucial $60,000 support level that has repeatedly drawn buyers since the June sell-off from its mid-$80,000 highs. The asset rebounded sharply from its recent July low near $57,700, but the recovery has lacked the momentum needed to break decisively above resistance.

With analysts sharply divided and key technical levels looming, the coming days could prove pivotal for determining Bitcoin’s next directional move.

What Happened This Week: A Rollercoaster of Headlines

Bitcoin’s price action this week has been driven by a tug-of-war between bullish macro signals and bearish geopolitical headwinds.

The Bullish Spark: Early in the week, cooler-than-expected U.S. inflation data sent Bitcoin surging toward $65,000. The June CPI report showed headline inflation falling 0.4%—the largest monthly drop since April 2020—crushing expectations and slashing the odds of a July Federal Reserve rate hike. Fed funds futures priced the probability of a quarter-point hike at the July 29 meeting at just 10%, down from 45% at the start of the week.

The Bearish Pullback: However, the rally proved short-lived. Geopolitical tensions escalated as the US-Iran conflict intensified, with military strikes pushing stocks and cryptocurrencies lower. Bitcoin dipped below $62,500 at Friday’s Wall Street open as risk sentiment deteriorated. An AI-driven selloff that spread from equities to cryptocurrencies also weighed on markets, pushing Bitcoin briefly below $63,000 before it recovered toward $64,000.

The result? A week of choppy, rangebound price action—exactly what traders have come to expect from summer markets.

Analyst Outlook: A House Divided

When it comes to Bitcoin’s short-term direction, the experts cannot agree.

A survey of eight chart analysts affiliated with Bitcoin World shows an even 4-4 split: four forecast a decline, while four predict an increase. The highest price target cited is $68,000**, with the lowest at **$56,500. Another panel of analysts from the same network produced a 5-3 split favoring bulls, with targets ranging from $51,500 to $67,000.

What’s driving the division? According to analysts, the split reflects broader market uncertainty. Bitcoin has been trading in a relatively narrow range in recent weeks, failing to break decisively above resistance levels or fall below key support. Factors such as macroeconomic data, geopolitical developments, and institutional flows are all contributing to the indecision.

Some analysts see the recent consolidation as a precursor to a breakout higher, while others warn that the lack of upward momentum could lead to a correction.

Technical Analysis: The $65,000 Trigger

From a technical perspective, $65,000 is the number to watch.

Bitcoin’s weekly RSI (Relative Strength Index) has formed a bullish divergence against the recent drop toward $58,000—a pattern that historically preceded strong rallies. According to on-chain analyst Ali Charts, the previous weekly bullish RSI divergence preceded a rally of more than 700%.

However, the signal does not guarantee an instant rally. It only shows that downside momentum may be fading while buyers start defending lower levels. For the bullish setup to materialize, Bitcoin needs a clean daily close above $65,000**—a move that could push the price toward **$67,500–$68,000.

On-chain analyst Daan Crypto Trades has identified liquidity above $65,600 and a more important level around $67,200. A break above the latter could trigger a larger move and push Bitcoin back toward the middle of its wider $60,000–$80,000 range.

On the downside, bulls must defend the $63,000–$64,000 zone to keep the rebound structure intact. A breakdown below $63,000 could expose the $60,000–$61,500 support zone, with $58,000 as the next line of defense.

The 200-Week Moving Average: A Historic Decision Zone

Perhaps the most important technical indicator right now is the 200-week simple moving average, which sits near $62,667. This moving average has defined every major cycle bottom in Bitcoin’s history.

Bitcoin is currently trading almost exactly on this line—a level that has ended every large drawdown since 2015. The weekly candle recently closed at $62,663 with a 4.96% gain, while the 200-week SMA sits at $62,667.

The market is not near a decision zone—it is standing on it. A clean move through $63,000 would put Bitcoin back above the line and neutralize bearish scenarios, at least temporarily. However, the average has started behaving as resistance on retests, which some desks read as raising the odds of a flush toward $55,000.

Institutional Flows: A Quiet Reversal

One of the most encouraging developments this week has been the turnaround in Bitcoin ETF flows.

After a grinding multi-month stretch of outflows that bled through May and June, Bitcoin ETFs have flipped back to positive territory, registering **$264.4 million in net inflows over the past two weeks** as BTC reclaimed the $64,000 level. Fidelity’s FBTC did the heaviest lifting early on, drawing roughly $166 million as July’s reversal began. ARKB added about $91.8 million, and BlackRock’s IBIT later stepped in with a $138.9 million day.

The distribution matters: when massive flows concentrate in a single fund, the market often treats it as tactical positioning. A spread across Fidelity, ARK, and BlackRock suggests broader re-engagement, not a single mandate.

However, the rebound is meaningful but incomplete. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs remain down around **$5.4 billion in net flows for 2026**. The pace of inflows has slowed each day—from $181 million on July 14 to $79.2 million on July 16. The next critical test is weekly fund flow data throughout the rest of July: if the positive streak extends, the narrative could shift from “dead cat bounce” to a genuine demand recovery.

Macro Headwinds: Geopolitics and Inflation

While ETF flows provide a glimmer of hope, macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds remain formidable.

The US-Iran conflict has intensified, with US airstrikes on Iranian military sites entering a fourth consecutive day. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed to merchant traffic, pushing oil prices higher and feeding inflation expectations. Historically, such tensions would boost Bitcoin as a hedge. This time, expensive oil feeds inflation, and hot inflation pushes the Federal Reserve toward tightening—a scenario that has weighed on risk assets across the board.

The Fed’s next decision arrives on July 29. While markets currently price a 94% chance of no change, the path forward remains uncertain. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has made clear that one favorable inflation report is not enough to declare victory.

Expert Voices: From $40,000 to $150,000

The range of long-term forecasts for Bitcoin remains staggeringly wide:

Benjamin Cowen puts the next Bitcoin bottom in Q4 2026 near $44,000, with his framework formally shifting into bottom-watch mode.
Peter Brandt predicts Bitcoin could rebound by $10,000 before declining to **$40,000**, forming a bottom in early October 2026.
Standard Chartered expects Bitcoin to recover to $100,000 by the end of 2026.
Bernstein maintains a $150,000 year-end target, describing the current selloff as the “weakest bear case in history”.

What to Expect in the Coming Days

Based on the current setup, here’s what traders and investors should watch:

Bullish Scenario

Bitcoin reclaims $65,000 with a clean daily close
RSI momentum builds, pushing toward $67,500–$68,000
ETF inflows continue their positive streak
A break above **$67,200** could trigger a larger move toward the mid-$70,000 range

Bearish Scenario

Failure to hold the $63,000–$64,000 zone
A breakdown below **$62,000** puts $60,000 in play
Geopolitical tensions escalate further, triggering risk-off selling
A drop below $58,000 opens the door to **$56,500–$55,000**

Most Likely Outcome

Given the competing forces at play—bullish ETF flows and cooling inflation versus geopolitical uncertainty and technical resistance—rangebound consolidation seems most probable in the immediate term. Options traders have stacked bearish bets at $62,500 and $56,000 while bulls eye $68,000 and $79,000, a split that points to a range-bound July between roughly $55,000 and $70,000.

Our Thoughts

Bitcoin is at a critical juncture. The combination of a bullish weekly RSI divergence, a turnaround in ETF flows, and cooling inflation provides reasons for optimism. But geopolitical risks, technical resistance, and the broader bear market structure cannot be ignored.

The coming week will likely set the tone for the rest of July. For now, the path of least resistance remains sideways to lower, and each advance is likely to meet fresh supply from traders trapped during the earlier decline from higher levels.

Key levels to watch: $65,000 (resistance), $63,000 (pivot), $60,000 (critical support).

As always, risk management is paramount in this uncertain environment. Whether you’re a trader or a long-term investor, waiting for confirmation before committing to a directional position may be the wisest approach.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile. Always do your own research and consult with qualified financial professionals before making investment decisions.

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