Strive CEO says Bitcoin bear market is over, sees strong next 12-18 months

Strive CEO Matt Cole said the Bitcoin bear market has ended and voiced optimism on BTC’s price outlook over the next 12 to 18 months. In a post on X, Cole said the BTC/gold chart had been a strong leading indicator for Bitcoin’s price over the past two years, with BTC topping against gold in December 2024 but reaching its peak in U.S. dollar terms only in October 2025. Cole added that Bitcoin bottomed against gold in February this year, while its U.S. dollar low came in July, and said the clear shift into an uptrend against both the dollar and gold convinced Cole the bear market was over. Cole added that the U.S. dollar’s long-term weakness, currency debasement and growing demand for scarce assets amid the spread of AI would act as structural tailwinds for BTC. Cole said stronger BTC returns than gold would likely draw more capital into Bitcoin from the scarce-asset market, and added the next Bitcoin cycle could be stronger than ever.