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Most Bitcoin price forecasts for 2026 are concentrated in the $150,000–$250,000 range, according to the publication WuBlockchain. This optimism is based on expectations of sustained growth in institutional investments, capital inflows through Bitcoin-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and positive regulation of the crypto market.
Other forecasters allow for a price drop to $10,000–$70,000. Such a scenario could be triggered by a slowdown in demand for the leading cryptocurrency and deteriorating macroeconomic indicators, experts believe.
2025 was not the most successful year for forecasts from major players and analysts who predicted a Bitcoin price rise to $200,000 in 2025: as of December 30, the Bitcoin price was around $88,000. The positive forecasts of many experts turned out to be far from reality.
The Bull Camp
The founder of Fundstrat and head of the largest corporate holder of Ethereum, Bitmine's Tom Lee, expects $200,000–$250,000 by the end of 2026. His main argument is increased demand from institutional investors and capital inflows through ETFs.
JPMorgan Bank suggested that a "fair value" for Bitcoin, close to $170,000, will be reached within the next 6–12 months. This conclusion is based on a model of Bitcoin's volatility relative to gold.
The British bank Standard Chartered set a target level for Bitcoin at $150,000 by the end of 2026. The bank maintains long-term optimism but significantly lowered its forecast due to market weakness and a slowdown in inflows into Bitcoin-based exchange-traded funds.
Broker Bernstein has an estimate of $150,000 per Bitcoin for 2026. In the long term, the company maintains a forecast of $1 million per BTC by 2033. They emphasize the importance of institutional demand and inflows into Bitcoin ETFs as the main drivers supporting future growth.
The base scenario of the Citigroup conglomerate is at the $143,000 mark for the next 12 months. The forecast is based on expectations of growing capital inflows into spot ETFs and progress in crypto market regulation in the US. Citigroup's bull forecast is at $189,000, while the bearish scenario suggests a price of around $78,500.
Bitmex founder Arthur Hayes indicated the possibility of Bitcoin rising to the $124,000–$200,000 range. He argues his view with macroeconomic processes, as well as inflationary pressure, which will prompt investors to turn to defensive assets with limited supply, such as Bitcoin.
Catherine Dowling, head of BSTR Holdings, which accumulates Bitcoin as a reserve, expects $150,000 by the end of 2026. She cited regulation of the crypto market in the US, monetary policy easing, and accelerated institutional investments as key growth drivers.
Brad Garlinghouse, head of Ripple, the company developing the XRP crypto project, predicts $180,000 by the end of 2026. Solana Foundation President Lily Liu expects a price above $100,000.
Without specific figures, but with growth forecasts, capital managers from Grayscale and Bitwise spoke, expecting a new all-time high in the first half of 2026. And the head of the largest crypto exchange Binance, Richard Teng, predicts growth from current levels (around $88,000).
The Bear Camp
The head of digital assets at Fundstrat, Sean Farrell, pointed to a possible correction to $60,000–$65,000 in the first half of the year. The company has different analytical approaches. Farrell is focused on active management of crypto portfolios, while Tom Lee is focused on long-term macro trends for institutional investors.
One of the largest analytical companies in the crypto market, CryptoQuant, forecasts that due to weak demand, the Bitcoin price could fall to $56,000 by the second half of 2026 and to $70,000 in the three to six month range.
A well-known technical analyst and trader in the crypto market, Peter Brandt, based on technical analysis, noted the risk of a deep correction to $25,000.
Senior Commodity Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence Mike McGloun voiced an extremely pessimistic scenario of a drop to $10,000. He claims the risk is related to macroeconomic factors, tightening liquidity, and a deep correction in speculative asset markets, which could trigger a larger crash in cryptocurrencies.
Market Consolidation
There are also those who have taken a cautious neutral position. The British bank Barclays did not make a price forecast and expects the market to be weak in 2026 due to the lack of major catalysts.
A similar opinion was expressed by the management company VanEck: 2026 will be a consolidation phase, suitable for accumulation strategies, without sharp price movements.
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