After an all-time high and a major decline bitcoin Last year, industry executives and investors told CNBC that the cryptocurrency could reach new highs in 2026, but with the potential for greater volatility.
on CNBC annual roundup of bitcoin predictionsseveral commentators predict a wide range of bitcoin prices in 2026, falling to $75,000 and rising to $225,000.
In October of last year, Bitcoin reached a record high of over $126,000, then fell to around $80,000 at the end of the year, according to CoinMetrics. Bitcoin is about 30% below its peak.
In the past year, the crypto market has grown in what has been considered as such more favorable regulatory environment In the US under President Donald Trump and the growing interest of traditional financial players such as large institutional investors and banks.
At this time, there was a so-called boom digital asset treasury (DAT) companiesit accumulates large amounts of bitcoins and other digital coins.
Bitcoin price last year.
Meanwhile, the debate over technology stock valuations and whether the artificial intelligence boom is turning into a bubble continues.
Year-end crypto sales came against this backdrop. As investors revalue risky assets and crypto holders sell digital currencies, elimination that boosted sales. This created a complex backdrop for 2026.
“We are in a challenging investment environment. Equity valuations are stretched, the geopolitical environment is chaotic and evolving, there are fears about the near-term sustainability of AI capital deployment, monetary policy conditions appear to be changing and the US midterm elections are on the horizon,” said Alex Thorne, head of research at CBCN.
“In this case, it is difficult to predict the future of Bitcoin in 2026.”
Here are the boldest Bitcoin price predictions in 2026.
Carol Alexander: $75,000-$150,000
In 2026, Bitcoin will remain in a “high volatility range” between $75,000 and $150,000. “The center of gravity” is $110,000, according to Carol Alexander, professor of finance at the University of Sussex.
This “digests the market’s transition from retail cycles to institutionally distributed liquidity.” Historically, the price of Bitcoin has been tied to retailers. But in the last couple of years, the number of institutional investors in the space has been increasing. Many cryptocurrency experts expect this to continue this year.
Alexander has had a good track record of predicting Bitcoin over the past few years. But he previously said that Bitcoin could reach $200,000 in 2026, but that didn’t happen. However, he said that by the summer of 2025, bitcoin could be trading “around $150,000 plus or minus $50,000.” Indeed, in the summer of 2025, Bitcoin traded above $100,000.
CoinShares: $120,000-$170,000
James Butterfill, head of research at crypto-focused asset manager CoinShares, expects to see bitcoin in the $120,000 to $170,000 range in 2026, with “more constructive price action likely in the second half of the year.”
Investors will be watching to see who will be the new chairman of the US Federal Reserve after Jerome Powell’s term ends in May, Butterfill said. The newcomer “may be dovish” but markets will wait for clarity “before more bold repricing of risk assets,” Butterfill said.
Investors are also paying attention to legislation in the US known as the Clarity Act, which will become law in 2026. The Clarity Act aims to create a framework for regulating digital assets.
“Regulation was a constant complication; a solution here would be an important catalyst,” Butterfill said.
Butterfill cited risks such as inflation shocks or Fed policy mistakes as possible reasons for demand for “alternative, sovereign monetary assets” like bitcoin.
In December 2024, Butterfill predicted that Bitcoin could fall to around $80,000 in 2025. He also said that Bitcoin could have gone up to $150,000 last year, but he didn’t get there.
Standard Chartered: $150,000
Standard Chartered’s 2026 bitcoin price forecast is $150,000, down $300,000 from its December call.
Jeff Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital asset research, said the decline seen in 2025 was “within the expected range”. However, the price action led Standard Chartered to reconsider its call.
“Specifically, we believe that the acquisition of Bitcoin digital asset treasury companies (DATs) is over, as valuations … no longer support Bitcoin DAT expansion. We expect consolidation rather than outright sales, but the DAT acquisition is unlikely to provide further support,” Kendrick said in a December note.
DATs are entities that buy and hold cryptocurrency, primarily Bitcoin, and attempt to outperform the market. However, there has been a fall in cryptocurrency prices Some analysts believe that this will hurt the prices of these firms suggests that it may harm their ability to raise additional funding. Kendrick suggests that it is unlikely that DATs will be buying as much Bitcoin as they have in the past to support the market.
According to Kendrick, bitcoin exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, which allow investors to track the price of the digital currency without owning the underlying asset, could drive up prices in 2026.
“As a result, we believe that future growth in the price of Bitcoin will be profitable with only one leg – the purchase of ETFs,” Kendrick said.
Maple Finance: $175,000
Maple Finance CEO Sidney Powell said he has a price target of $175,000 for bitcoin this year, driven by lower interest rates and “increasing institutional adoption of bitcoin.”
In December 2024, Powell predicted that there would be some price correction in 2025, which indeed happened. He also raised a target of $180,000 to $200,000 per bitcoin in 2025, but that was not achieved.
However, he said that 2026 will be a big milestone for bitcoin, when bitcoin-backed loans will exceed $100 billion.
“Bitcoin holders are increasingly sophisticated, they don’t want to sell their BTC; they want to borrow against him. This creates a virtuous cycle: less sales pressure, more utility, higher price.”
Bit Mining: $75,000 to $225,000
Bit Mining Chief Economist Yuwei Yang also predicts bitcoin volatility. Ian said he expects a wide range for Bitcoin in 2026, from $75,000 to $225,000.
“2026 could be a strong year for Bitcoin, supported by a possible rate cut and a more accommodative regulatory stance towards crypto,” Yang said. “However, volatility is likely to increase as macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties continue.”
Ian’s earlier call in December 2024 was partially correct. He predicted that Bitcoin could fall to around $80,000 in 2025, which it did. He also predicted it could trade for $180,000 to $190,000, which didn’t materialize.
Nexus: $150,000-$200,000
According to cryptocurrency exchange analyst Ilya Kalchev, Nexo’s call for $250,000 in Bitcoin in 2025 was “a consequence of the rejection of the long-term thesis and the collision of market mechanics with a shifting microphone.”
Kalchev said the price failed to materialize because long-term holders who had accumulated low prices started selling bitcoin, which was then bought by institutional investors.
But 2026 “looks constructive,” Kalchev said, adding that the period for long-term holders to sell their holdings is coming to an end and institutional allocations will “still gradually rise from modest levels.”
“Bitcoin enters 2026 with less supply risk and a broader capital base,” Kalchev said.
If financial conditions become supportive through easing policies, a soft dollar or increased liquidity, Bitcoin could bounce back and surpass previous highs,” he added.