Bitcoin Dips Below $81K as Crude Surges and Fed Signals Hawkish
Bitcoin fell below $81,000 on Thursday as oil surged and a Fed official signaled more rate hikes are likely.
Veteran trader Peter Brandt projects XRP to $5.40 and Ethereum to $8,600 but warns charts are not trade recommendations.
On September 21, veteran trader and Market Wizard Peter Brandt released two long-term charts forecasting XRP to reach $5.40 and Ethereum to climb to $8,600.
These price projections are based solely on traditional technical analysis, absent any fundamental, on-chain, or short-term considerations.
Regarding XRP, Brandt stated that his long-term chart indicates a potential rise to $5.40. When the post was made, XRP was around $1.52, implying an increase of more than 250% from that level.
The chart emphasizes a wide consolidation pattern, with a descending resistance line from previous cycle peaks and an ascending support line from earlier troughs.
Earlier that same day, Brandt posted a comparable Ethereum chart, suggesting it points to a future climb to $8,600 after surpassing $5,000. With ETH at roughly $2,731, the projected gain is significant, conditional on first breaking through $5,000.
Both posts came with a caution. Brandt emphasized that publishing a chart does not equate to executing a trade, and anyone asserting real positions must offer verifiable evidence instead of depending solely on social media statements.
Raoul Pal, founder of Real Vision, publicly endorsed that cautious approach, commending Brandt for presenting probabilities and observations instead of making baseless commitments.
The projections hold influence in part due to Brandtâs track record. He established his name using traditional charting techniquesâtrendlines, support and resistance, and multi-year patternsâlong before digital assets became an asset class.
Additional market factors bolster the optimistic view. Binance saw XRP inflows 663% above its quarterly average, yet exchange reserves increased only slightly, indicating portfolio adjustments rather than aggressive selling. Meanwhile, whale addresses bought over $2 billion in XRP in the lead-up to the current rally.
XRP rose about 5.2% over the past day, trading above $1.50 as overall market mood strengthened. On that same day, Bitcoin hit an eight-month high of approximately $87,329, boosting confidence among major cryptos.
Other analysts have similarly highlighted bullish patterns. Some noted that Ethereumâs weekly close above $2,550 could pave the way for $2,900 to $3,000, while others pointed to a shattered multi-year downtrend, indicating that much higher levels are still achievable in the long run.
âHonestly, I wouldnât be surprised if weâre going to see $ETH rally to $15,000-20,000 this bull cycle. The previous bull cycle has been extremely weak for #Altcoins. This time, it all feels like 2017 again, meaning that the upside is going to be exponentially larger than previous cycles,â said crypto analyst MichaĂ«l van de Poppe on X.
$ETH closed last week above $2,550 and is going up more.
IMO, Ethereum could tap the $2,900-$3,000 soon and then might have a correction.
â Ted (@TedPillows) September 21, 2026
Whether XRP ultimately hits $5.40 or Ethereum rises to $8,600 is a long-term technical prospect, not a certainty. As Brandt noted, a chart reflects an observation of likelihood, not a price guarantee.
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Disclaimer: this article comes from third-party media and is provided for reference only. It does not constitute investment advice. Crypto and other financial products carry significant price volatility risk, so please make your own decisions carefully.
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