From 10,000 to 250,000? A comprehensive 2026 BTC price forecast!

We have compiled the 2026 BTC price forecasts from 16 leading institutions/crypto personalities, covering three different stances, to restore the current market’s true expected distribution.

Bullish

Standard Chartered Bank, $150,000 Standard Chartered analyst Geoffrey Kendrick has lowered the end-of-2026 target price for BTC from $300,000 to $150,000, believing that corporate treasury buy-ins (DAT) have peaked, and future gains will mainly depend on ETF capital inflows.

JPMorgan, $170,000 JPMorgan maintains its 6–12 month target price for Bitcoin at $170,000. The bullish logic is based on the “volatility-adjusted gold comparison,” suggesting that if BTC’s investment proportion aligns with gold, its market cap still has 67% upside.

Ripple, $180,000 Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse predicts Bitcoin will reach $180,000 by the end of 2026, mainly optimistic about long-term crypto prospects such as regulatory improvements and institutional adoption.

Ric Edelman, $180,000 Asset management giant Edelman Financial Engines founder Ric Edelman forecasts Bitcoin will rise by 50%–100% by 2026, reaching up to $180,000. The 2025 rally was hindered mainly by early holders cashing out and large-scale liquidations, but now selling pressure has eased, and ETF and institutional buying will drive a rebound.

Tom Lee, $250,000 Previously, Fundstrat’s Tom Lee predicted Bitcoin would reach $150,000–$200,000 by the end of January 2026. At Dubai Blockchain Week, Tom Lee even said Bitcoin could soon hit $250,000. The core reason is the continued expansion of institutional allocations and corporate buy-ins.

Bitwise, new high in BTC in 2026, no specific price forecast Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan expects Bitcoin to hit a new high in 2026, breaking the traditional “four-year cycle” logic. His view is based on three points: weakening halving effects, possible rate cuts in 2026, and accelerated institutional adoption, overall leaning towards structural bullishness in 2026.

Grayscale, new high in BTC in 2026, no specific price forecast Grayscale predicts in the “2026 Digital Asset Outlook” that Bitcoin will reach a new high in the first half of 2026, marking the end of the “four-year cycle” theory. This is mainly due to strong macro demand for alternative store-of-value assets and increased regulatory clarity in the US (including the potential passage of the Clarity Act). The overall outlook is clearly bullish for 2026.

Galaxy, BTC volatile in 2026, long-term bullish Galaxy Research Director Alex Thorn states that Bitcoin’s trend in 2026 will be highly uncertain, with the options market pricing in probabilities of $70k and $130k . Nonetheless, the long-term bullish view remains unchanged, as increased institutional adoption and loose monetary policy could see BTC become a gold-like inflation hedge within two years.

IOSG founder Jocy @jocyiosg, first half of 2026 as a policy honeymoon period 2026 will be a new era led by institutions rather than a continuation of the old four-year cycle. Jocy predicts the first half of 2026 as an institutional accumulation period, based on significant increases in institutional holdings and friendly policy windows (such as stablecoin legislation and regulatory clarity), which will lift the price center.

Neutral

Citigroup, three scenarios at $78,500, $143,000, $189,000 Citigroup forecasts BTC will rise to $143,000 in 2026, with the core logic being ETF capital inflows and a strong stock market driving risk appetite. They expect US digital asset legislation (like the Clarity Act) to accelerate institutional adoption. In a pessimistic scenario, the price could dip to $78,500; in an optimistic scenario, it could reach $189,000.

Fundstrat, $60,000–$65,000 in H1 2026, full-year target $115,000 Fundstrat crypto strategist Sean Farrell predicts Bitcoin may retrace to $60,000–$65,000 in the first half of 2026, with a full-year target of $115,000. He believes that despite a long-term bullish outlook, Q1/Q2 will need to digest risk events first. The overall strategy is conservative, emphasizing waiting for a better entry point.

VanEck, sideways in 2026 Bitcoin is more likely to be a sideways year in 2026 rather than a bull run or crash. Currently, Bitcoin has retraced about 35%, with a potential maximum decline of around 40%, down to the $60,000–$65,000 range. They believe the four-year cycle has not yet failed, with the high point already seen in Q4 2025.

Bearish

Barclays Bank, 2026 as the “low year” for crypto markets UK’s second-largest bank Barclays predicts 2026 will be the “low year” for the crypto market, possibly due to a lack of major catalysts (such as policy or product developments) leading to continued declines in spot trading volume. The only potential turning point could be legislation like the Clarity Act, but uncertainties remain.

CryptoQuant, $56,000–$70,000 CryptoQuant states that Bitcoin has entered a bear market, with a possible dip to $70,000 in the coming months, and if the downtrend continues, it could reach $56,000 in the second half of 2026. Reasons include ETF net selling, weak spot demand, slowing growth of key addresses, and declining funding rates for perpetual contracts.

Peter Brandt, $60,000 Veteran trader Peter Brandt suggests Bitcoin could dip to $60,000 in Q3 2026. He believes that although the upcoming Clarity Act is favorable for industry regulation, this is already reflected in market prices. While a long-term bullish case exists, he maintains a short-term bearish stance unless BTC can re-establish a strong trend.

Mike McGlone, around $10,000 Bloomberg strategist Mike McGlone believes that in extreme scenarios, BTC could fall to around $10,000 in 2026. The reasons include the realization of ETF and policy benefits, a surge in crypto assets, market expectations being fully priced in, and capital possibly withdrawing from high positions to safe assets, exerting structural downward pressure on BTC.

Summary Looking back at these views, several signals are noteworthy:

Most optimistic forecasts are based on ETF capital inflows, regulatory clarity, and accelerated institutional adoption, but there is no consensus “bull market expectation.”

Neutral and bearish parties generally believe the current phase is still digesting, with no clear trend reversal yet.

Which camp do you agree with? Welcome to discuss in the comments! (Risk warning: for reference only, not an endorsement)