Peter Brandt Confirms Bitcoin Has Now Become a Diagonal Pattern: What Next?

Peter Brandt recently confirmed that Bitcoin has moved into a diagonal pattern, a structure he prefers to stay away from. 

His comment comes as Bitcoin shows weaker price action. Data from his chart reveals BTC changing hands at $91,070 after losing $1,526 on the day. This decline follows several weeks of uneven movement that started in November 2025.

Around that time, Bitcoin set a major low at $81,014. Notably, this level acts as the anchor of the entire structure on the chart. From this low, the price rebounded but failed to form a strong uptrend. Instead, BTC moved within two rising trendlines that slowly narrowed, forming the diagonal pattern.

Key Points

• Bitcoin trades near $91,070 following weeks of choppy movement that started after the $81,014 low in November 2025.
• Price has formed a rising diagonal pattern, with support climbing from $81,014 and resistance building between $99,000 and $100,000.
• Multiple rallies into the high $90,000s failed, pushing Bitcoin below the 8-day and 18-day moving averages and strengthening short-term bearish pressure.
• Peter Brandt sees potential downside toward the $58,000–$62,000 range but stresses flexibility if price moves differently.

Bitcoin Enters Diagonal Pattern

This diagonal began shortly after the November 2025 low of $81,000 and has dictated the price action ever since. The lower trendline connects higher lows from $81,014 through late December and into January, rising toward the upper $89,000 area. 

Meanwhile, the upper trendline formed in late November 2025 around $94,000 to $95,000 and now extends toward the $99,000 to $100,000 range. Bitcoin has tested this resistance several times, including a push into $97,900 on Jan. 14, 2026, but sellers stopped every attempt.

Each rejection at the top of the diagonal pushed the price lower. Specifically, the most recent pullback has dragged Bitcoin back to the current price of around $91,000, which is below both the 8-day and 18-day moving averages. These short-term averages have turned lower, confirming growing downside pressure in the near term.

What Are the Different Possibilities for Bitcoin?

Looking ahead, Bitcoin’s next direction depends on how the price reacts at the edges of the diagonal pattern. As long as BTC continues to trade within the rising channel that formed after the $81,014 low, its price action is likely to remain choppy and directionless. The market needs a clear break to resolve the structure.

On the upside, Bitcoin must reclaim and hold above the upper diagonal resistance, which currently sits between $99,000 and $100,000. A strong daily close above that area, followed by follow-through, would invalidate the diagonal and suggest renewed bullish momentum.

Conversely, a decisive daily close below the rising support line in the high-$80,000 region would indicate a breakdown of the diagonal. Such a move would shift momentum firmly bearish and expose lower levels, with the December low near $81,014 coming back into focus. 

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Brandt also shared a downside view on Bitcoin. He said he sees the price moving toward the $58,000 to $62,000 range. However, the market veteran admitted that he may be wrong.

58k to $62k is where I think it is going $BTC
If it does not go there I will NOT be ashamed, so I do not need to see you trolls screen shot this in the future
I am wrong 50% of the time. It does not bother me to be wrong pic.twitter.com/NDOuSrqLwa

— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) January 19, 2026

What Other Analysts Expect

Notably, other analysts remain split on Bitcoin’s next direction. For one, Michaël van de Poppe called attention to the asset’s short-term weakness, noting that Bitcoin briefly tested $96,000 and saw a quick rejection.

He said this rejection triggered a wider market drop and pushed many altcoins to new cycle lows. To him, Bitcoin needs to form a clear higher low and reclaim the 21-day moving average to regain upside momentum. He also warned that holding the 50-day moving average is important to avoid deeper losses.

However, Crypto King believes Bitcoin remains in an uptrend on the weekly chart and has tested the same rising support line three times without breaking it. He noted the recent bounce near $93,000 as evidence that buyers continue to step in. As long as Bitcoin stays above that trendline, he believes the broader trend remains bullish.