This article was first published on Deythere.
Economist and avid gold advocate Peter Schiff has again raked over his decade-long criticism of cryptocurrencies, this time flatly declaring that both Bitcoin and Ethereum aren’t just in a temporary correction but are in fact squarely in the midst of a crypto bear market alert.
Just recently; Schiff took to the social media platform X to challenge the idea that the most recent price drops are any more than “corrections” when he said:
“CNBC just described Bitcoin and Ether as being in ‘correction territory.’ However, bitcoin has fallen 21.6% and ether 38.3% from their respective highs, putting both in bear markets.”
The crypto community, markets, and investors are now staring a fresh round of scrutiny in the face under this bear alert.
What Does Schiff Mean by a Crypto Bear Market Alert
Schiff’s argument is about the magnitude of the declines and what he sees as a mismatch between market hype and structural fundamentals.
Further, Schiff warned that the losses could quite easily top those seen during the dot-com crash; a warning that in itself is a stark note of caution in his commentary.
He says Bitcoin’s 21.6% and Ethereum’s 38.3% drop from their highs should not be considered a minor correction.
In one post he wrote:
“The losses that will be suffered by Bitcoin HODLers and crypto investors will be staggering. More money will be lost in this bubble than was lost when the dot-com bubble popped.”
By issuing a crypto bear market alert; Schiff is saying the current environment is in for a deeper downturn; more like a cycle shift than a pause in an uptrend.
Market Context
Schiff’s crypto bear market alert comes as the crypto market is under pressure. The entire crypto market has reportedly lost over $1 trillion in market cap since early October. Bitcoin briefly broke below $100,000 recently and altcoins plummeted.
Schiff and others point to institutional flows, leverage and macro headwinds such as waning tech stock sentiment and regulatory uncertainty as the reason.
Responses from the Crypto Community
The crypto bear market alert has sparked different reactions. On one side, skeptics and some analysts see this as a normal cycle, pointing out that previous bull runs had 20-30% pullbacks before resuming the uptrend.
Others like Schiff see these numbers as structural damage not a reset.
Critics of Schiff’s view point to his long history of bearish calls; he has made over 200 bearish predictions since 2011 and many of them didn’t happen.
Bear Market Alert Implications
For investors, a bear market alert from Schiff is a reminder of downside risk and that this phase may last longer or go deeper than expected.
For market structure, it’s a question of whether the market is in a low volatility, range-bound period or a breakout bull run. For sentiment and capital flows, if enough investors accept a bear phase is underway, risk appetite could weaken further.
Schiff emphasizes the speculative nature of crypto and its detachment from many real world fundamentals, but others argue that fundamentals like supply constraints, institutional adoption and blockchain innovation still matter.
His bear market alert brings those tensions to the surface.
Conclusion
Schiff’s bear market alert is a stark reminder that Bitcoin and Ethereum may be entering a more serious down cycle rather than just a correction. He mentioned 20% and 38% drops respectively and warned of losses greater than the dot-com bubble.
The crypto community is divided on the depth and duration of this phase but his alert takes the conversation away from speculative upside and towards resilience, structural strength and risk management.
Though a defined recovery is possible but stability and upward momentum may require a stronger foundation than in previous cycles.
Glossary
Bear market alert: A signal that an asset or market is entering a down cycle rather than a correction.
Correction territory: A phase where prices drop but are still within a bigger uptrend.
Speculative asset: An investment whose value is driven more by speculation than by real world fundamentals.
Institutional flows: Capital moving into or out of assets by big players like banks, hedge funds and asset managers.
Support: A price level where an asset will find buying and potentially stop a decline.
Frequently Asked Questions About Peter Schiff’s Crypto Bear Market Alert
Why is Peter Schiff issuing a crypto bear market alert now?
He says Bitcoin (21.6 %) and Ethereum (38.3 %) are down from their highs and that’s a bear market not a correction.
Does this mean crypto is worthless?
No. He’s talking risks and structural problems but not total collapse. It’s a warning to reevaluate assumptions and recognize more downside.
What level of price drop triggered this bear market alert?
He specifically mentioned continent wide drops in major tokens and said the magnitude and speed of the drop is a bear sign.
How will this bear market alert affect the crypto market?
A high profile alert like this may influence sentiment, make traders more cautious, reduce leverage and make people reevaluate valuations. If widely accepted it could delay or soften a bounce.

