Bitcoin Price Bottom Could Be Around $40,000, On-Chain Data Shows

bitcoinistPublished on 2026-02-22Last updated on 2026-02-22

Abstract

Based on on-chain data analysis by Ali Martinez, the Bitcoin price bottom in the current bear market could be around $40,000. This projection hinges on the cost basis of long-term holders (LTH), investors who have held their coins for over 155 days. Historically, this level acts as a strong support during downturns, as these investors are less likely to sell and often increase their buying when the price approaches their average acquisition cost, which is currently approximately $40,363. If selling pressure does not overwhelm this renewed buying activity, this cost basis could mark the market bottom. Currently, Bitcoin is trading near $68,330, down over 45% from its all-time high.

The biggest question so far in the bear phase has been when and where the Bitcoin price will bounce back. According to the latest on-chain data, there might be a fresh answer as to where the price bottom will be in the current bear market.

Here’s Why $40,000 Could Be Pivotal To The Bear Market

In a recent post on the X platform, crypto analyst Ali Martinez identified the $40,000 level as a potential bottom for the Bitcoin price in the current market phase. This projection is based on the cost basis of an old investor cohort known as the long-term holders (LTH)

For context, the cost basis of long-term holders refers to the average price at which Bitcoin investors (who have held their coins for 155 days or more) acquired their coins. This price level is often relevant because long-term investors are often referred to as diamond hands, who are less likely to sell during periods of downside volatility.

Moreover, the LTH cost basis tends to act as the ultimate support level during bear markets, as most long-term investors are usually still in profit even in the thick of the bear market. Hence, when the Bitcoin price falls to this support, the long-term holders double down on their positions.

Source: @ali_charts on X

This renewed buying activity by the long-term holders would prop up the price of the premier cryptocurrency above their cost basis, as observed in the chart above. According to the highlighted data, the LTH cost basis is currently around $40,363, about 40% from the current price point.

If the Bitcoin price were to face further downside pressure and approach this cost basis, there is a likelihood it would receive support from the long-term investors’ increased reaccumulation. Hence, this cost basis could become the bottom for the current bear market.

On the flip side, the Bitcoin market could face an even deeper correction if the selling pressure overwhelms the long-term holders’ reaccumulation spree.

Bitcoin Price Overview

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $68,330, reflecting a nearly 1% increase in the past 24 hours. However, this mild single-day action does little to correct the over 2% price decline witnessed by the premier cryptocurrency over the past week. According to data from CoinGecko, the Bitcoin price is currently down from its all-time high by more than 45%.

The price of BTC on the daily timeframe | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView

Related Questions

QWhat is the on-chain data suggesting about the potential price bottom for Bitcoin in the current bear market?

AThe on-chain data suggests that the price bottom for Bitcoin could be around $40,000, based on the cost basis of long-term holders.

QWho are the 'long-term holders' (LTH) mentioned in the analysis, and why is their cost basis significant?

ALong-term holders are investors who have held their Bitcoin for 155 days or more. Their cost basis is significant because it often acts as a strong support level during bear markets, as these investors are less likely to sell and may even buy more when the price approaches their average purchase price.

QWhat is the specific cost basis for long-term holders that is cited as a potential support level?

AThe specific cost basis for long-term holders is currently around $40,363.

QWhat could happen if the selling pressure in the market overpowers the buying activity of long-term holders?

AIf the selling pressure overwhelms the long-term holders' reaccumulation, the Bitcoin market could experience an even deeper correction beyond the $40,000 support level.

QWhat was the price of Bitcoin and its performance at the time of writing, according to the article?

AAt the time of writing, the price of Bitcoin was around $68,330, reflecting a nearly 1% increase in the past 24 hours, but it was still down over 2% for the week and more than 45% from its all-time high.

Related Reads

Uncovering the Truth About Agent Commerce, Payments, and Infrastructure

Decoding Agent Commerce, Payments, and Infrastructure: The Reality Over the past year, I've been building infrastructure for the Agent economy, engaging with major players like Stripe, Visa, Coinbase, Google, and dozens of startups. A clear conclusion emerges: true, large-scale demand does not yet exist. Startups face structural challenges. Data points illustrate this gap. Stripe's Agent commerce platform has over 1,000 merchants but only single-digit transacting agents. Visa's Agent payment token requires 9-month KYC and a $250M revenue threshold, accessible only to giants like Amazon. On-chain analysis reveals actual daily Agent transaction volume is around $17k, half of which are test transactions. The article analyzes four potential markets: **1. Agent-to-Merchant (A2M):** Current AI shopping UX is often inferior to traditional e-commerce for visual, comparison-heavy purchases (clothing, electronics). Chat interfaces are a step back. Real merchant interest is defensive "Agent Engine Optimization," fearing future obsolescence, not current demand. Potential exists in high-frequency, low-decision purchases (e.g., food delivery) or simplifying terrible UX (complex checkouts, non-native shoppers), but these require massive consumer distribution channels dominated by giants like DoorDash and Amazon. **2. Agent-to-API (A2A):** Developers already have subscriptions and billing for core APIs (compute, data). The argument for micro-payments via crypto for sub-dollar API calls is addressed by pre-paid balances today. The deeper issue is supplier resistance; major SaaS firms rely on enterprise contracts, not fractional cent pricing. Opportunity lies in the long tail of niche services, but this is a smaller market catering to developers, a historically low-paying group. **3. Agent-to-Agent (A2A):** This remains a theoretical long-term vision with near-zero current transaction volume. It involves unique challenges: discovery, trust, negotiation, dispute resolution. When it materializes, it will require a fundamentally new settlement infrastructure for high-speed, variable-value, multi-party transactions. It's a real long-term bet, but not the current market. **4. Agent-to-Finance (A2F):** This is the only category with existing, paying demand. Integrating AI into financial workflows (trading, portfolio management) is a natural evolution and enables new capabilities like autonomous rebalancing. However, competition favors incumbents with regulatory licenses, compliance infrastructure, and existing client relationships. **The Real Issue:** Why is infrastructure still being built? Incumbents can afford long-term bets, and payment companies see every problem as a nail for their payment hammer. However, payment is just one piece. The core challenge is *coordination*—orchestrating work between Agents and humans, verifying outcomes, and settling results. Payment is part of settlement, which is part of coordination. Companies that solve the coordination problem will subsume payments, not the other way around. Startups lack the infinite runway of giants and must find today's real market, which, after a year of exploration, lies outside these four categories—in an area with real, growing, and underserved activity.

marsbit3h ago

Uncovering the Truth About Agent Commerce, Payments, and Infrastructure

marsbit3h ago

Trading

Spot
Futures
活动图片