As Bitcoin hovers near the $93,000 mark after a sharp correction, investors are left wondering if the bull run has finally run out of steam. At the Bitcoin MENA Conference, we caught up with James Richmond, better known in the crypto world as JR Cryptex, a leading crypto analyst, content creator, and KOL (Key Opinion Leader), to discuss the market’s latest twists and where he believes the industry is headed next.
A market built on psychology and perception
According to Richmond, the fear that gripped traders in recent weeks was largely psychological. “There was a big scare with Michael Saylor, people thought he might sell off his Bitcoin,” he said with a shrug. “The market’s always manipulated. The charts looked ready for a breakout, so it did the opposite.”
He believes this time is no different in essence, but the scale and structure of the market have evolved dramatically. With institutional investors, banks, and even national governments now involved, the dynamics of Bitcoin’s valuation have become more sophisticated than in any previous cycle. “The market is really like 90% hype,” he said candidly. “If Donald Trump tweets something, the market’s going to go up or down. Fundamentals matter, but sentiment always moves faster.”
A trader’s evolving portfolio
Richmond’s own approach to trading reflects this long-term perspective. Rather than attempting to outmaneuver every price fluctuation, “I didn’t lose anything in the crash,” he said. “I wasn’t trading at that time. I scalp the market, but I also have my long-term portfolio.” He has long been a believer in diversification, holding assets such as Chainlink, Astar, Polkadot, Cardano, and Hyper Liquid. Yet experience has taught him that even blue-chip altcoins rarely outperform Bitcoin in the long run.
Looking back, he admits that if he could rewind time, he would have focused more heavily on Bitcoin accumulation. Its dominance in this cycle, he says, has reaffirmed its position as the cornerstone of the digital asset economy, the benchmark against which all others are measured.
Spotlight on Altcoins
While his primary focus is shifting back to Bitcoin, JR Cryptex still finds opportunities in select altcoins. “I’m a massive fan of Hyper Liquid,” he said enthusiastically. “I bought it at $4 and it went up to $50. It’s currently sitting around $30, and I think it’s going to do really well.”
He also highlighted Astar as an underappreciated project with strong fundamentals and a growing ecosystem. Solana, too, has earned his renewed respect. “I used to see Solana as a meme chain,” he admitted. “But it’s evolved. The blockchain is fast, the payment systems are solid, and they’re building real things on it now. I think Solana could hit $400 to $500 this cycle.”
However, his optimism comes with a warning. The crypto market, he said, has become oversaturated. “The problem this cycle is liquidity, it’s spread too thin,” he explained. “Too many coins, too many projects. There’s not enough money to go into everything.”
In trading it’s about focus over frenzy
When the discussion turns to trading psychology, Richmond becomes almost philosophical. “The biggest mistake beginners make is trying to learn too many strategies,” he said. “You need to get good at one. Stick to it. Don’t jump from one system to another. Consistency beats everything else.”
He insists that successful trading is less about knowledge than about discipline. In his experience, most beginners fail not because they lack skill but because they lack focus. The temptation to chase every new strategy, signal, or token leads to confusion and inconsistency.
He argues that mastery in trading, as in any craft, comes from repetition and refinement, from choosing a single method and perfecting it through experience. “If you make the same mistake twice, that’s on you. But every loss teaches you something important.” build both skill and emotional resilience.
Bitcoin remains the core focus
As for his own strategy moving forward, Richmond is returning to the basics. Despite his interest in promising altcoins, Bitcoin remains his primary focus.
He plans to allocate more of his portfolio toward the world’s largest cryptocurrency, confident that its long-term trajectory will continue upward. He foresees the next major upswing arriving toward the end of the first quarter of 2026, when Bitcoin could once again test and surpass its previous all-time highs.
In his view, the underlying demand, from both institutional and retail investors, is simply too strong to suppress indefinitely. For him, the recent crash represents a temporary pause in a much larger upward trend, not a signal of exhaustion.
A market poised for renewal
As the conference drew to a close and the hum of conversation gave way to the sound of closing doors, Richmond’s outlook felt refreshingly grounded. The Bitcoin market, he believes, is far from fragile.
“Bitcoin isn’t crashing,” he said with conviction. “It’s resetting.”
To him, the recent correction is not a sign of weakness but of maturity. Each cycle, he argues, washes away speculation and re-centers the market on fundamentals. For JR Cryptex, Bitcoin is not falling apart, it is resetting, consolidating, and preparing for the next leg of growth. And when that moment arrives, he says, those who stayed disciplined through the chaos will be the ones best positioned to rise with it.
The UAE: A global epicenter for Crypto innovation
Richmond’s observations extend beyond the charts. He is deeply impressed by the role the United Arab Emirates has taken in shaping the global crypto landscape. “The rulers here are very pro-crypto,” he said. “They’re doing it the right way, regulating, but also encouraging growth.”
The country’s leadership, he says, has managed to strike a rare balance between regulation and innovation. Rather than stifling the industry with rigid restrictions, the UAE has created a framework that encourages responsible growth while attracting international talent and capital.
Events like the Bitcoin MENA Conference are, in his view, proof of this commitment. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have become magnets for blockchain entrepreneurs, offering an environment where ideas can evolve into viable, regulated ventures. For Richmond, that mix of vision, infrastructure, and community makes the UAE the most exciting place in the world for anyone involved in crypto today.