As the cryptocurrency market attempts to rebound from a deep decline, every wave stirs the nerves of global investors. Unlike the cold data of charts, the voices of key opinion leaders (KOLs) in the market provide a more vivid dimension to understand this turmoil—there are near-religious declarations of faith, cold and pragmatic asset selections, and profound warnings about macro changes. Their views clash intensely, collectively painting a complex and divided consensus landscape in the current market.

1. The Banner of Faith—“Embrace Volatility, Run Towards the Fire”
This type of KOL is the "fundamentalist" and long-term evangelist of the crypto world. They view market volatility as a necessary evil, even a proof of the vibrancy of assets, with a core narrative that transcends short-term ups and downs, pointing directly to fundamental changes in the industry.
Michael Saylor, the pioneer who transformed the publicly traded company MicroStrategy into a "Bitcoin standard" giant, delivered a classic speech on December 3 at the Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai, addressing the market's extreme volatility.
● He did not soothe emotions but instead issued a highly provocative call: “Don't run away from the fire, run towards the fire.”
● In his view, volatility is not a flaw but rather a testament to Bitcoin's powerful strength: “The market is volatile, there is noise and restlessness, and there are doubts… but volatility means this is the most powerful, vibrant, and useful thing in the entire capital market. That’s why it is volatile.” He compared the current skepticism to historical doubts about electricity, cars, and airplanes, believing this is a necessary stage in accepting any revolutionary technology.
● Saylor's confidence stems from his belief in the global adoption of "digital capital." He specifically pointed out that the most exciting development is the global financial community beginning to embrace Bitcoin.
● He cited the shift from Trump's declaration of a "crypto superpower" to the fundamental change in attitudes of major U.S. banks: from none willing to accept Bitcoin as collateral to now eight out of the top ten involved in crypto lending. This fundamental shift in financial infrastructure gives him the confidence to ignore short-term volatility and firmly "run towards the fire."

"Brother Liang" and other steadfast bulls in the market provide a more specific and tactical expression of faith.
● At the end of November, he posted a prediction that “by mid-December at the latest, the crypto market will surely warm up,” giving bold target prices: BTC will break $100,000, and ETH will rise to $3,600.
● His logic combines macro, on-chain, and sentiment: the liquidity tightening period is over, major funds are accumulating, and the market sentiment returning from greed to calm lays the foundation for a rally.
● This open and concrete prediction itself is a strong declaration of faith, aimed at consolidating market confidence and calling on investors to “position for the future, rather than getting tangled in the present.”
2. Cold Pragmatism—“You Only Need BTC and ETH”
Coexisting with the faith-driven are the calm and even cold pragmatists. They are not keen on grand narratives but make highly concentrated choices from the perspectives of capital efficiency, risk management, and asset practicality.
● Kevin O’Leary (also known as "Mr. Wonderful") is a leading figure in this camp. On December 1, he clearly stated that altcoins “will no longer rebound” after this market correction. His logic is direct and utilitarian: investors have realized that holding only Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) is enough to capture 97.5% of the 'alpha' returns in the entire cryptocurrency market.
● “If you have these two, it doesn’t matter what happens elsewhere. Because everything else (assets) is falling with higher trading volumes and is not recovering, because they have no use case.” O’Leary pointed out that unlike previous market cycles, this time altcoins did not show the expected rebound. He has long advised followers to stay away from “irrelevant tokens” and observed that the younger generation (Gen Z) is shifting their investment habits to treat BTC and ETH as core allocations alongside traditional stocks.
● This viewpoint reflects a profound change in market perception: after experiencing multiple bull and bear cycles, a large amount of capital is beginning to question the long-term value of thousands of altcoins, turning instead to concentrate the core value of the crypto market on these two leading assets with the most liquidity, network effects, and (relatively) clear fundamentals. This has led to a severe division within the market, with rebound momentum likely highly concentrated at the top, while the vast majority of projects are abandoned by liquidity.
3. The Macro Resonance—Listening to the Fed and Liquidity Tides
The role of KOLs is that of "macro interpreters," placing the crypto market within the currents of the global financial system, believing its fate is closely tied to the policy tides of central banks. In December, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve.
● Although not a traditional crypto KOL, Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, has been widely quoted for his warnings about “Asset Melt-up,” which profoundly influences the macro narrative of the crypto market. This viewpoint suggests that under certain conditions, excessive liquidity flowing into the financial system could trigger irrational surges in asset prices. Cryptocurrencies, due to their high volatility and global liquidity, are seen as potential “liquidity sponges.”
● Against this backdrop, every move of the Federal Reserve is magnified and interpreted. On December 2, a commentary article from 21st Century Business Herald pointed out that after the latest release of the Fed's Beige Book, Wall Street's expectations for a rate cut in December quickly rose to 85%. The market is weighing whether the Fed will re-prioritize between “achieving a 2% inflation target” and “supporting job growth.”
● The article further revealed potential divergences between the White House and the Federal Reserve. Former White House economic advisor and current National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett—also a popular candidate for the next Fed chair—publicly stated that “rates should be cut now,” citing data that supports this action. This pressure signal from political high levels reinforces market expectations for a policy shift.
● Meanwhile, some macro strategy analysts (like YouTube channel host Arthur) pointed out that the end of quantitative tightening (QT) by the Fed may be more important than rate cuts themselves, as it marks the formal cessation of the liquidity contraction cycle. They believe this will be the starting point for a new round of global asset price re-evaluation, with cryptocurrencies benefiting from it.
4. The Sentinels of Emotion—Capturing Subtle Moments of Market Psychology
In addition to the profound views mentioned above, there exists a type of KOL in the market that acts as “sentinels of emotion.” They may not provide lengthy analyses, but their brief calls often precisely capture or ignite the collective psychology of the market at a moment.
● Veteran trader Eric Cryptoman (@EricCryptoman) simply called on December 1: “Let’s have a rebound like the good old American trading hours.” This statement, devoid of complex logic, evokes traders' fond memories of past “American trading hours leading global market rebounds,” aiming to inspire a collective bullish sentiment.
● Observing Wall Street's movements, Camilla McFarland (@camillionaire_m) remarked on December 3: “The Wall Street marketing army has been deployed, and cryptocurrencies are on the menu.” This brief comment suggests that traditional financial institutions are positioning crypto assets as the next major product category to promote and sell to mainstream clients, boosting confidence from the perspective of expected capital inflows.
5. Divergence and Consensus
Looking across these clamorous viewpoints, we can outline the core threads of the current ideological clash in the crypto market:
● The disconnection between long-term narratives and short-term realities: The “digital capital” revolution depicted by Saylor and others is a long-term, irreversible narrative; while O’Leary and others focus on the “death of altcoins” as a cold short-term reality. Investors must find a balance between the long view and the present.
● The high concentration of asset choices: A strong consensus is forming that regardless of market ups and downs, capital will further concentrate on these two “blue-chip” assets, BTC and ETH. This may lead to the disappearance of the so-called “altcoin season,” or make it extremely brief and fragile.
● Absolute dependence on macro policies: Regardless of the positions of various KOLs, they all assume one premise: the short-term direction of the crypto market almost entirely depends on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy rhythm and the broader global liquidity environment. The market has become a “secondary volatility amplifier” of the macro economy.
● Fundamental differences in the perception of volatility: This is the most fundamental divergence. One side (like Saylor) sees volatility as a characteristic to embrace, representing vitality; the other side (like many cautious macro investors) views it as a major risk to be managed and avoided. This determines completely different investment strategies and behaviors.
For investors, what matters may not be blindly following the banner of a particular KOL, but understanding the logical spectrum behind these viewpoints. In the trio of faith, pragmatism, and macro, discerning one’s position is essential to making informed decisions in this rebound (or attempted rebound) filled with noise and opportunities. The true direction of the market will ultimately be written by the interplay and integration of these divergent views.
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