Bitcoin had a wild ride in 2025. The cryptocurrency hit an all-time high above $126,000 last October before tumbling to around $80,000 by year’s end. Now, as we move through 2026, you’re probably wondering where the price will go next. Industry experts have shared their predictions, and the forecasts range dramatically—from $75,000 to $225,000.
The Push and Pull of Institutional Money
Bitcoin’s market has undergone significant changes in the last couple of years. While the majority of retail traders previously dominated this market, it is now being entered by large-scale institutional players. Banks and other mainstream financial institutions are now seeing Bitcoin as a legitimate asset class. And while this has added some stability to the market, it has also introduced additional forms of stress.
In 2025, digital asset treasury companies, which accumulate large amounts of Bitcoin, drove significant buying activity. However, as their valuations dropped with the market correction, their ability to keep purchasing at the same pace came into question. As more investors enter this space, many are becoming more conscious about how they store and manage their digital assets, with privacy concerns becoming a priority for some holders. For those looking to participate in this market, using an anonymous crypto wallet such as Best Wallet or Walletium can provide privacy advantages while managing your holdings during these uncertain times.
Having that in mind, Standard Chartered analyst Geoff Kendrick expects the abovementioned treasury companies will consolidate rather than sell, but they won’t provide the same buying support they did before. This means other forces will need to drive prices higher in 2026.
The Role of Bitcoin ETFs
ETF buying has been a key driver of Bitcoin’s price movement, as an increasing number of these exchange-traded funds are now available to track Bitcoin, allowing traditional financial portfolio investors to easily incorporate digital assets into their investment strategy.
Kendrick believes that ETF buying will be the sole leg supporting Bitcoin’s price this year. Additionally, as these funds attract more capital from both institutional and retail investors, there may be ongoing upward pressure on bitcoin’s price. The concern is whether this increased demand will be sufficient to push Bitcoin’s price to its highest level.
Monetary Policy and Regulatory Clarity
The monetary policy environment may be one of the most significant factors impacting Bitcoin in 2026. Many analysts believe that an easing of monetary policy (potentially through rate cuts) will drive Bitcoin prices higher in 2026. Sidney Powell, CEO of Maple Finance, believes Bitcoin’s price can reach $175,000 in 2026, driven by easier monetary policy and increased institutional adoption.
Another factor to consider is the regulatory environment in the United States. A bill called the Clarity Act, aimed at creating a framework for regulating digital assets, may pass in 2026. According to James Butterfill, CoinShares’ chief investment officer, regulatory uncertainty is currently holding back the digital asset space, so if clarity around regulations were to emerge, it would likely be a significant positive catalyst for digital asset prices.
A Wide Range of Expert Predictions
Finance professor Carol Alexander from the University of Sussex is predicting Bitcoin’s price to be between $75,000 and $150,000, with the expected price being centred on $110,000. Her prediction is based on how the market will begin to adjust as institutional liquidity becomes more dispersed across the system.
Butterfill is forecasting a price range of $120,000 to $170,000. He believes there may be stronger price activity in the second half of the year. Butterfill also warned about the possibility of increased demand for non-sovereign monetary assets, such as Bitcoin, in the event of inflation shocks or incorrect Federal Reserve policy.
Bank Standard Chartered has lowered its price target for Bitcoin to $150,000, from an initial call of $300,000. This lower call was made by Standard Chartered after it reassessed the influence that Digital Asset Treasury Companies have on those companies’ buying capacity.
Nexo analyst Iliya Kalchev has called for Bitcoin to reach $150,000 to $200,000 if financial conditions become more favourable through easier monetary policy or renewed liquidity. Kalchev has also pointed out that long-term holders have now sold all of their positions, thus removing pressure on supply in the market.
Youwei Yang, an analyst at Bit Mining, provided the highest price forecast among the group, calling for a wide trading range of $75,000 to $225,000. Yang is basing his optimistic price call on potential interest rate cuts and improved regulations of cryptocurrency markets. However, Yang also stated that volatility will continue in the cryptocurrency space due to other economic and political uncertainties.
