Post

#BTCBreaksPastMidtermBearishPattern


Bitcoin Just Broke Its 12-Year Midterm Bearish Pattern: This Time Is Different

For 12 years, Bitcoin followed the same midterm script. Fall before the vote, crash in Q4, then rally a year later.

This time, Bitcoin broke the pattern.

Verified Historical Pattern:

Bitcoin fell in the fourth quarter of each of the last three U.S. midterm election years, yet traded higher one year after every vote, according to an analysis by Joe Consorti.

Bitcoin's fourth-quarter losses were 17.3% in 2014, 43.5% in 2018 and 14.8% in 2022.

Over the longer historical comparison, Consorti reported Bitcoin gains of 24.5%, 44.9% and 92.3% one year after the election-day closes in 2014, 2018 and 2022, respectively.

Deepest midterm drops: -49.7% in 2018, -39.8% in 2014, -18.5% in 2022 FTX week — all recovered positive by day 365. 2018 cycle, the worst drawdown of the three, ended +45.8% one year after the midterm low.

This was the bearish midterm pattern everyone feared.

What Happened in 2026? Pattern Broken:

The US midterm elections took place on November 3, 2026. Around election day, Bitcoin was trading near $77,000, approximately 5.2% above its 200-day moving average of $73,169.

Bitcoin reached a low near $57,850 on July 1, approximately 125 days before the November election. By October 22, it had recovered to around $81,455, representing an increase of roughly 40% from that July low.

According to CoinDesk data, Bitcoin was trading near $76,990 on November 3, approximately 5.2% above its 200-day moving average of $73,169.

In 2014, 2018 and 2022, the situation on the midterm election day was the opposite, as bitcoin traded below the average, by about 35%, 9% and 22% respectively. These three years were bear markets.

Bitcoin BTC $78,299.12 has gone into each of the last three U.S. midterm elections licking its wounds. This time is different.

Bitcoin entered the November 3, 2026 U.S. midterm elections 5.2% above its 200-day moving average, breaking a pattern observed in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

The Election Day Selloff And Immediate Rebound:

Bitcoin price has reclaimed $78,000 after falling to a seven-week low near $75,600 as the U.S. midterm election results initially unsettled cryptocurrency markets. According to market data, BTC recovered to approximately $78,300 on November 4, trading nearly 1% higher after erasing its earlier losses.

The cryptocurrency dropped toward $75,600, its lowest level since September 17, after failing to maintain support around $77,000. Bitcoin trades at $77,786 (+1.64% 24h).

This is critical: Even the selloff was shallow compared to history. -49.7% in 2018 vs -7% drop to $75,600 in 2026. And it recovered within 24 hours to $78,300.

Why This Break Matters - Academic View:
1. 200-Day Average Position: In past midterms, Bitcoin was in bear market, below 200-day. Now it is 5.2% above $73,169. This means institutional cost basis is profitable, not underwater. Bearish pattern requires bearish positioning. We are not in it. 2. Q3 Strength: CoinGlass quarterly data shows Bitcoin closed the third quarter of 2026 up 42.7%, its second-best third quarter on record. In 2014, 2018, 2022, Q3 was weak. In 2026, Q3 was strong. Momentum is opposite. 3. One Year After Effect Still Valid: Even though Q4 bearish pattern broke, the one-year bullish pattern after midterms is still intact. Historical gains of 24.5%, 44.9% and 92.3% one year after election-day closes suggest that if history repeats, $77,000 today could be $95,000 - $148,000 one year after.
My Conclusion:

Bitcoin has declined during the August–September window before all three U.S. midterms in its trading history, then fallen further in the fourth quarter each time. Bitcoin fell into each of the last three U.S. midterms, yet rallied hard in late summer 2026, a break the halving clock explains better than the ballot box.

The midterm bearish pattern is broken because this cycle is driven by halving and ETF inflows, not just by election uncertainty.

Bitcoin did not bottom before those elections in past cycles, which he says is not the case now. We bottomed at $57,850 on July 1, 125 days before election, and rallied 40% to $81,455 before vote.

This is the first midterm where Bitcoin went into vote day strong, not weak.

If pattern holds, the next 12 months are historically the strongest period post-midterm. The bearish Q4 pattern is dead. The bullish one-year pattern is alive.

Are you positioned for the post-midterm rally?

#BTCBreaksPastMidtermBearishPattern
#ShareWeekly
$BTC
post-image
This page contains third-party content and does not constitute any advice, nor does it represent Gate's endorsement of such views. For details, please see disclaimer.
BTCBTC-0.67%

  • 3

Add a comment
Add a comment

Comment
User_any
20 minutes ago
Would you buy here?
0
User_any
20 minutes ago
Can BTC reclaim $80K? 🤔
0
User_any
20 minutes ago
First Review
Interesting angle 💡
0