--- title: "Analysts Warn of “Massive Capitulation” in Which Crypto Investors Just Give Up" description: "Bitcoin bros have long been defined by their near-delusional belief that the currency will always bounce back — but what happens when they lose it?" date: "2022-09-06" modified: "2022-09-06" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/analysts-bitcoin-capitulation-selloff" categories: - "Blockchain" - "Cryptocurrency" - "Future Society" tags: - "bitcoin" - "crypto" - "cryptocurrency" - "Stocks" - "the blockchain" - "the digest" --- # Analysts Warn of “Massive Capitulation” in Which Crypto Investors Just Give Up ![Bitcoin bros have long been defined by their near-delusional belief that the currency will always bounce back — but what happens when they lose it?]() *Conceptual illustration representing the bursting of bitcoin cryptocurrency bubble. Bitcoin is a type of digital currency, created in 2009, which operates independently of any bank. Certain vendors now accept Bitcoins as payment of goods or services. The coins are shown as fragmented, indicating a crash in the currencys market value. \Image: Futurism\* ## Slings and Arrows Crypto bros have long been defined by their [unshakable belief]() that the currency will always bounce back — but what happens if they lose that confidence? In [interviews with *Barrons*](), multiple financial experts warned that investors are showing serious signs of risk aversion as bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continue to plummet in value. As analyst Craig Erlam told *Barrons* that even today's anemic post-crash prices are "really being put to the test as risk aversion sweeps through the markets once more." "A significant break at this point could be really damaging," Erlam said, adding later that "considering the outlook for risk appetite in the near term, it’s not looking good." ## Capitulation Station Other experts agreed, with fellow analyst Naeem Aslam telling the outlet that the narrowing of bitcoin's "daily range" suggests that if it takes another massive hit, investors may finally begin selling off in droves. "This is giving us an indication that a massive capitulation is coming,” Aslam, an AveTrade brokerage analyst, said. "We believe that this capitulation can be any day now as bitcoin has been trading in a narrow range for a long period of time." Though Aslam said that although bitcoin "bulls are holding on to their ground very well" and not allowing the currency "to get battered," any further downward slumps could spell bad news. "The next move isn’t going to be about the $18,000 price level or $15,000," he said, outlining a worst-case capitulation scenario. "The sell-off could be so intense that it could easily push the prices towards the $12,000 price mark." This is far from the first time analysts [have predicted a bitcoin crash](), and should the price remain steady in spite of those warnings, it certainly won't be the last. But given how brutal this summer's crypto crash has been, especially combined with overall financial gloom, it's also possible that the sky will indeed start falling. **READ MORE:** [Bitcoin tumbles as analysts fear ‘a massive capitulation is coming’]() \[*Barrons*\] **More writing on the crypto wall:** [*Tesla Sells Off Most of Its Bitcoin, at a Huge Loss*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()