Arthur Hayes Predicts New Financial Crisis and Bitcoin Rise to $126,000

cryptonews.ruPublished on 2026-08-24Last updated on 2026-08-24

Abstract

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX and CEO of Flop Labs, predicts a new financial crisis similar to 2008, driven by the massive US national debt nearing $40 trillion. He argues that to avert a collapse, the Federal Reserve will engage in covert money printing and yield curve control, making digital assets a key capital preservation tool. Hayes calls Bitcoin the "purest relief valve" against central bank money printing, forecasting its price could soar to $126,000 by year-end and potentially reach $500,000 after any major capitulation event, possibly triggered by a crash to $35,000. He strongly criticizes US regulatory efforts like the Clarity Act, stating they stifle real innovation and that Bitcoin needs no legislation. Hayes also introduced his new project, Flop Network—a decentralized computing power marketplace designed for an AI agent economy, which will distribute 20% of its tokens via airdrops without venture capital funding. He concludes that crypto is becoming a crucial financial hedge amid global instability but warns investors to exercise extreme patience and discipline.

BitMEX co-founder and Flop Labs CEO Arthur Hayes shared his macroeconomic forecast in an interview for the Altcoin Daily YouTube channel. In his opinion, financial markets are soon due for a repeat of the 2008 crisis scenario.

The main reason for the approaching storm is the colossal US national debt, which, according to Hayes himself, has already approached $40 trillion. Traditional institutional players are seriously concerned that due to rising inflation, government bonds could rapidly depreciate in the next five years.

To avoid collapse and allow foreign countries to dispose of American debt securities without destroying the market, the US Federal Reserve will be forced to activate mechanisms of hidden dollar issuance and switch to rigid yield curve control. In this macroeconomic context, digital assets become the primary means of capital preservation.

Bitcoin is the purest safety valve against money printing by central banks. When the world realizes that 'the emperor has no clothes' and government bonds are worthless, the price of bitcoin will skyrocket to hundreds of thousands of dollars very quickly.

This fundamental backdrop creates ideal conditions for explosive growth of the main cryptocurrency. Expectations of large-scale liquidity injections allow the BitMEX co-founder to predict that by the end of this year, the bitcoin price will renew its historical highs and reach the $126,000 mark.

However, the expert does not rule out short-term market shocks. If the first cryptocurrency were to suddenly crash to the $35,000 level due to forced liquidation of positions by large players, it would become that long-awaited 'capitulation candle,' opening a window for buying before a global rally to $500,000.

Moving from price expectations to regulatory issues, Hayes expressed a tough stance regarding attempts by the American authorities to bring the industry under control. Discussing the Clarity Act bill, which many market participants consider a savior, the trader noted that such rules only benefit venture capital funds as protection from competition. State intervention only harms truly decentralized technologies:

The Clarity Act is a terrible thing for real creativity and for developers building useful products. Bitcoin has not needed laws since 2009 and does not need them now.

Hayes considers artificial intelligence an integral part of innovative progress that does not need strict frameworks. And here he presented his new project, Flop Network, a decentralized marketplace for computing power. The project's name refers to FLOPS, the unit for measuring computer performance. The network's architecture is based on the assumption that the economy of autonomous software agents will soon surpass the human one.

These algorithms will need their own native currency to directly pay for computing resources and data storage. It is important to note that the project completely refuses venture capital investments: 20% of the ten-year token emission will be fairly distributed among users via an airdrop for real activity on the testnet, the launch of which is scheduled for the end of October.

In summary, it can be confidently stated that the cryptocurrency market is entering a phase of large-scale transformation, where the boundaries between traditional finance and the artificial intelligence economy are blurring. Global economic instability and the impending devaluation of fiat currencies make digital assets the most important financial insurance. However, to navigate this market successfully, investors need a cool head and iron discipline.

The market exists right now to take your money, not for you to earn it. Therefore, you must be incredibly patient and infinitely dedicated to your cause, — Hayes advised those just entering the crypto industry.

Related Questions

QWhat does Arthur Hayes predict will happen to the global financial markets and Bitcoin's price by the end of this year?

AArthur Hayes predicts a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis is imminent for financial markets. He forecasts that the price of Bitcoin will surge to new all-time highs, reaching $126,000 by the end of the current year.

QAccording to Hayes, what is the primary cause of the impending financial storm and how should the Federal Reserve respond?

AAccording to Hayes, the primary cause is the colossal U.S. national debt, which he estimates is approaching $40 trillion. He believes the Federal Reserve will be forced to initiate covert dollar emission and implement strict yield curve control to prevent market collapse as foreign nations sell U.S. debt.

QWhat is Arthur Hayes's opinion on government regulation of the crypto industry, specifically referencing the Clarity Act?

AHayes holds a harsh stance against government regulation. He argues that bills like the Clarity Act are terrible for real creativity and developers building useful products. He believes such rules mainly benefit venture capital funds by shielding them from competition, and that Bitcoin has never needed such laws.

QWhat is the Flop Network project that Arthur Hayes introduced, and what is its core purpose?

AFlop Network is Hayes's new project, a decentralized marketplace for computing power. Its name references FLOPS, a unit for measuring computer performance. The network is built on the premise that the economy of autonomous AI agents will soon surpass the human economy, and these agents will need a native currency to pay for computing resources and data storage directly.

QWhat advice does Arthur Hayes give to new entrants in the cryptocurrency industry based on his market philosophy?

AHayes advises newcomers that the market currently exists to take their money, not for them to earn it. Therefore, he urges them to be incredibly patient and infinitely dedicated to their endeavor to navigate the market successfully.

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