Bitcoin's Four-Year Cycle Theory May Be Obsolete
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy MSTR?
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Cycle Theory Transformation: Michael Saylor argues that Bitcoin's four-year cycle is no longer applicable, suggesting that price is now primarily driven by capital flows rather than halving events, which could significantly influence investors' timing and strategies.
- Impact of Institutional Holdings: The increasing institutionalization of Bitcoin, with corporate treasuries controlling over 8.5% of circulating supply, means these entities are unlikely to trade frequently, potentially reducing market volatility and altering traditional investment strategies.
- Diminished Relevance of Halving Events: Despite Bitcoin ETFs absorbing around 50,000 Bitcoin in the past 30 days, daily mining output is only about 450 Bitcoin, indicating a shift in market supply dynamics that may lessen the impact of halving events.
- Limitations of Historical Data: With only four complete cycles available for analysis, some analysts argue that Bitcoin's long-term price movements are closely tied to global liquidity and central bank policies rather than solely halving events, suggesting that future market behavior remains uncertain.
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Analyst Views on MSTR
Wall Street analysts forecast MSTR stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 128.860
Low
229.00
Averages
453.17
High
705.00
Current: 128.860
Low
229.00
Averages
453.17
High
705.00
About MSTR
Strategy Inc., formerly MicroStrategy Incorporated, is a bitcoin treasury and business intelligence company. The Company provides cloud-native, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered enterprise analytics software to thousands of global customers. The Company’s Strategy ONE platform provides access to AI-powered workflows, unlimited data sources, cloud-native technologies, and performance to speed up time from data to action. Strategy One delivers visualization, reporting, and embedded analytics capabilities across retail, banking, technology, manufacturing, insurance, consulting, healthcare, telecommunications, and the public sector. Its Strategy Mosaic is a universal intelligence layer that provides enterprises with consistent definitions and governance across data sources, regardless of where that data resides or which tools access it. The Strategy Mosaic offers data clarity and connection by eliminating trade-offs between flexibility, control, and speed.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Financial Dependency on Bitcoin: Strategy generated $477 million in revenue in 2025, yet its financial success is entirely reliant on its Bitcoin investment strategy, which has driven its stock price up nearly 1,000% over the past six years, highlighting its close ties to the Bitcoin market.
- Price Correction Opportunity: Currently, Strategy's stock is trading 73% below its peak from November 2024, presenting a buying opportunity for investors, especially against the backdrop of Bitcoin's price correction, as historical data shows Bitcoin typically recovers from significant downturns to reach new highs.
- Market Capitalization and Volatility: With a market cap of $44 billion and a current stock price of $128.64, despite a 0.17% intraday decline, the company's gross margin of 68.69% indicates a strong profitability foundation, requiring investors to be prepared for future market volatility.
- Long-Term Investment Outlook: Looking ahead over the next decade, the upside potential for Strategy's stock is immense, and investors who can withstand volatility may position themselves for substantial financial rewards, particularly if Bitcoin prices rebound, which could enhance Strategy's performance even further.
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- Cycle Theory Shift: Michael Saylor argues that Bitcoin's four-year cycle is obsolete, suggesting that price is now primarily driven by capital flows rather than halving events, which could significantly alter investors' timing and strategies.
- Institutional Holdings Impact: Corporations now control over 8.5% of circulating Bitcoin, and these institutions are unlikely to trade frequently, which may reduce market volatility and change the characteristics of previous price cycles.
- Rise of ETFs: In a recent 30-day period, spot Bitcoin ETFs absorbed around 50,000 Bitcoin, while daily mining output is only about 450, indicating that institutional participation is redefining Bitcoin's supply-demand dynamics.
- Market Response: Despite the controversy surrounding Saylor's views, Bitcoin remains in a bear market, currently priced around $68,300, down approximately 44% from its 2025 all-time high, indicating that the market is still experiencing cyclical fluctuations.
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- Change in Halving Cycle: Michael Saylor, a prominent Bitcoin advocate, argues that the traditional four-year halving cycle is no longer the primary driver of price fluctuations, with capital flows now taking precedence, which could significantly influence investor strategies moving forward.
- Impact of Institutionalization: Corporations currently hold over 8.5% of all circulating Bitcoin, and their tendency to maintain positions rather than trade frequently suggests that market volatility may decrease, thereby altering traditional investment approaches.
- Role of ETFs: Recent data indicates that spot Bitcoin ETFs absorbed approximately 50,000 Bitcoin in a 30-day period, while daily mining output is only about 450 Bitcoin, highlighting the substantial impact of ETF approvals on market supply dynamics.
- Debate on Market Cycles: While Saylor claims the halving cycle is dead, historical data suggests Bitcoin prices may still be influenced by global liquidity and central bank policies, indicating that future market trends will require careful observation.
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- Cycle Theory Transformation: Michael Saylor argues that Bitcoin's four-year cycle is no longer applicable, suggesting that price is now primarily driven by capital flows rather than halving events, which could significantly influence investors' timing and strategies.
- Impact of Institutional Holdings: The increasing institutionalization of Bitcoin, with corporate treasuries controlling over 8.5% of circulating supply, means these entities are unlikely to trade frequently, potentially reducing market volatility and altering traditional investment strategies.
- Diminished Relevance of Halving Events: Despite Bitcoin ETFs absorbing around 50,000 Bitcoin in the past 30 days, daily mining output is only about 450 Bitcoin, indicating a shift in market supply dynamics that may lessen the impact of halving events.
- Limitations of Historical Data: With only four complete cycles available for analysis, some analysts argue that Bitcoin's long-term price movements are closely tied to global liquidity and central bank policies rather than solely halving events, suggesting that future market behavior remains uncertain.
See More

Bitcoin Investment Return: Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy, announced that the company's annualized return rate (ARR) on its Bitcoin investments is approximately 2.05%.
Potential for Dividends: If Bitcoin's price appreciates beyond the ARR, Strategy can potentially pay dividends without issuing additional MSTR shares.
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- Bitcoin Holdings Surge: Strategy purchased an additional 4,871 Bitcoins in the first week of April, bringing its total to 766,970, despite Bitcoin's price being significantly lower than its all-time high of $126,000, indicating a strong belief in the asset's future.
- Decline in Market Participants: In stark contrast, other companies collectively bought only 1,000 Bitcoins over the past 30 days, a staggering 99% drop from the peak of 69,000 in August 2025, highlighting a sharp decline in the digital asset treasury trend.
- Shareholder Dilution Risk: Strategy raises funds through issuing new shares and convertible debt to buy Bitcoin, which could lead to significant dilution for shareholders, especially if Bitcoin prices fall, potentially forcing the company to liquidate its holdings to meet debt obligations.
- Long-Term Investment Outlook: While Strategy's stock has risen 95% over the past five years compared to Bitcoin's 19% increase, its ongoing accumulation strategy may positively influence Bitcoin prices in the long run, although this does not necessarily benefit shareholders directly.
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