As Bitcoin (BTC) hovers around the $90,000 level amid a volatile year-end, industry experts have issued varied price outlooks for the asset heading into the new year.
Indeed, experts have offered mixed views, with some suggesting the asset is likely to surpass a record high above $150,000. This comes as Bitcoin appears set to end the year below the crucial $100,000 level.
As of press time, the maiden cryptocurrency was trading at $87,815, up about 0.1% over the past 24 hours but down more than 6% year-to-date. Below are some notable price projections for the year ahead.
JPMorgan
JPMorgan, one of Wall Street’s major players in cryptocurrency analysis, has forecast Bitcoin reaching $170,000 by 2026, positioning it as a serious contender to gold’s market dominance.
Analysts at the bank suggest this target could materialize if Bitcoin continues to trade like “digital gold,” with institutional inflows increasingly challenging gold’s market capitalization. They also identify a near-term bottom around $94,000, from which a recovery could build momentum into the next year.
This moderately bullish stance reflects JPMorgan’s view that regulatory clarity and reduced volatility could support sustained growth, though risks such as economic slowdowns remain.
Tim Draper
Venture capitalist Tim Draper, a long-time Bitcoin advocate, remains one of the most optimistic voices, predicting Bitcoin will exceed $250,000 by October 2026.
Draper attributes this outlook to Bitcoin’s role as a hedge against dollar debasement and its technological advantages over traditional currencies.
He has reiterated similar targets in recent interviews, emphasizing broader adoption in retail payments and financial services, which he believes could make Bitcoin more impactful than the internet.
While some of his past forecasts, including a $250,000 target by 2022, failed to materialize on schedule, Draper continues to stress Bitcoin’s long-term upside against fiat currencies, driven by scarcity and global economic shifts.
Benjamin Cowen
In contrast to the bulls, crypto analyst Benjamin Cowen offers a more cautious outlook for 2026, predicting a potential market reset following a possible peak in late 2025. Cowen suggests Bitcoin could rise to the $100,000–$110,000 range before capitulating in the fourth quarter of 2026, entering a downturn similar to past cycles.
His analysis draws parallels to 2019 market conditions, warning that excessive optimism could trigger a sharp correction, with downside scenarios reaching as low as $25,000 in extreme cases.
Cowen extends this caution to altcoins such as Ethereum (ETH), arguing that new all-time highs in 2026 are unlikely due to Bitcoin’s dominance and broader market fatigue. His outlook emphasizes cycle patterns and macroeconomic factors, urging investors to prepare for volatility rather than perpetual upside.
Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered halved its forecast, now expecting Bitcoin to reach $150,000 by the end of 2026, down from a previous $300,000 projection.
The bank’s Global Head of Digital Assets Research, Geoffrey Kendrick, cited slower corporate treasury buying and increased reliance on spot ETF inflows as reasons for the downgrade, describing the current pullback as a “cold breeze” rather than a full winter.
Despite the cut, Kendrick remains positive over the longer term, projecting that Bitcoin could reach $500,000 by 2030, driven by supply constraints and portfolio reallocations away from traditional assets such as gold. This revision aligns with a broader softening of 2026 forecasts across several institutions.
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