With Bitcoin (BTC) hovering around the $90,000 level amid a volatile year-end, industry experts have issued various price outlooks for the asset heading into the new year.
In fact, experts offer mixed opinions, with some suggesting the wealth is likely to surpass its all-time high of over $150,000. This comes as Bitcoin is expected to end the year below the important $100,000 level.
At the time of writing, the virgin cryptocurrency was trading at $87,815, up about 0.1% in the past 24 hours but down more than 6% since the beginning of the year. Below are some notable price predictions for the year ahead.
JP Morgan
JPMorgan, one of Wall Street’s leading firms in crypto analysis, predicts that Bitcoin will reach $170,000 by 2026, positioning it as a serious competitor to gold’s market dominance.
Analysts at the bank suggest this goal could be realized if Bitcoin continues to trade like “digital gold”, with inflows from institutional investors increasingly challenging gold’s market capitalization. They also identify a near-term bottom around $94,000, from which the recovery could gain momentum into next year.
This moderately bullish stance reflects JPMorgan’s view that although risks such as an economic slowdown remain, regulatory clarity and reduced volatility could support sustained growth.
Tim Draper
Venture capitalist Tim Draper, a longtime Bitcoin supporter, remains one of the most optimistic voices, predicting that Bitcoin will surpass $250,000 by October 2026.
Draper attributes this outlook to Bitcoin’s role as a hedge against dollar weakness and its technological advantages over traditional currencies.
He reiterated similar goals in recent interviews, emphasizing widespread adoption in retail payments and financial services, which he believes could give Bitcoin a bigger impact than the internet.
Although some of his previous predictions, including a goal of $250,000 by 2022, did not materialize on time, Draper continues to emphasize that scarcity and changes in the global economy will drive Bitcoin’s long-term appreciation against fiat currencies.
benjamin cowen
In contrast to the bulls, crypto analyst Benjamin Cowen has a more cautious outlook for 2026, predicting a potential peak in the second half of 2025 and a potential market reset. Cowen suggests that Bitcoin could capitulate in Q4 2026 and rise to the $100,000-$110,000 range before entering a downturn similar to past cycles.
His analysis is similar to 2019 market conditions, warning that too much optimism could lead to a sharp correction, and in extreme cases, the downside scenario could reach $25,000.
Cowen extended this caution to altcoins such as Ethereum (ETH), arguing that it is unlikely to reach new all-time highs in 2026 due to Bitcoin’s dominance and widespread market fatigue. His outlook emphasizes cyclical patterns and macroeconomic factors, urging investors to prepare for volatility rather than a permanent rally.
standard chartered
Standard Chartered has cut its forecast in half and now expects Bitcoin to reach $150,000 by the end of 2026, down from its previous forecast of $300,000.
Jeffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital asset research, cited a slowdown in corporate bond purchases and increased reliance on spot ETF inflows as reasons for the downgrade, calling the current pullback a “cold wind” rather than a full winter.
Despite the cuts, Kendrick remains positive for the long term, predicting that Bitcoin could reach $500,000 by 2030 due to supply constraints and portfolio reallocation away from traditional assets such as gold. This revision is in line with a broader softening of 2026 forecasts across multiple agencies.
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