Crypto Predictions for 2026: Bitcoin Growth, More Regulation
Crypto enters 2026 on an uneven footing after the October crash wiped out more than $19 billion, pulling bitcoin from a high of $126,080 to around $80,000 — one of the sharpest crashes since 2022.
However bitcoin is set to recover, closing 2025 at around $90,000. And while some major markets expect a conservative market following the sale, analysts and industry experts predict a trading range of $130,000 to $200,000 for BTC at the end of 2026.
For that to happen, liquidity needs to increase and liquidity pressures need to ease.
“There is a historically strong relationship between currency growth and the price of bitcoin,” said Ryan Rasmussen, head of research at global crypto manager Bitwise. “We believe that will continue next year, and that, globally, central banks are more likely to cut rates than raise rates.”
What to expect from bitcoin in 2026
Bitcoin started 2025 at about $93,000, twice as high as its 2024 opening price of $42,280. Nevertheless, many major price forecasts think that bitcoin will surpass its previous peak in 2026 – despite some corrections.
Standard Chartered, a major bank and financial services group, predicts a value of $150,000 by the end of 2026, down from the previous call of $200,000. Crypto asset managers Bitwise and Bernstein remain optimistic, both raising $200,000. Meanwhile, the final estimates for JPMorgan Chase & Co and Citibank stood at $170,000 and $133,000, respectively.
Behind these numbers is the belief that bitcoin is shedding its reputation as a rare commodity and becoming commonplace.
“The biggest asset management companies in the world are selling it, selling it, creating products around it,” said Alexander Blume, founder of SEC-registered crypto lender Two Prime. He argues that this represents a significant shift in who is buying bitcoin and for what purpose.
Institutional investors are a big part of that change, as firms like Vanguard and Merrill Lynch have recently opened up wider access to bitcoin products. But while bitcoin ETFs are allowed as early as 2024, their impact is still being seen.
“This idea that it was an off switch that was turned on once [bitcoin] ETFs were approved and institutional funds started to work too quickly,” Rasmussen said. “I think this is a big ship: It’s turning a little bit, but now it’s heading in the right direction.”
For consumers, the apparent development of crypto in 2026 may have less to do with the price of bitcoin and more to do with how blockchain technology is used.
The next crypto wave is gaining momentum
Outside of bitcoin, analysts expect continued growth in crypto-related infrastructure next year as use cases grow.
Stablecoins, for example, are accepted as a unique, very useful part of the industry. These are cryptos designed to have a stable value by attaching their value to a fixed asset such as fiat currency (think: the US dollar, the euro and the British pound), oil or real estate.
Blume calls stablecoins an “emerging product,” arguing that they are a better way to move money to individuals and businesses than traditional methods, such as bank or wire transfers. This can be done in chalk at its own pace, as transactions can be settled within minutes or seconds on public blockchains. Stablecoins also boast low transaction costs and accessibility, as they only require a digital wallet to move and operate on blockchains that run 24/7.
Tokenization, which means placing traditional assets such as funds, bonds or real estate on blockchains, is also gaining momentum in 2026.
Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins has repeatedly asserted that tokenization is key to modernizing US markets. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink championed this concept, too, calling it the “next generation of markets” in the 2025 earnings call.
The model is already in use with JPMorgan’s OnChain Net Yield Fund, which issues shares of traditional money market fund tokens on Ethereum.
Meanwhile, AI is starting to intersect with crypto in practical ways. Luke Youngblood of distributed finance platform Moonwell says he sees the industry moving beyond previous glimpses, with AI agents now performing tasks such as optimizing yields and payments, changing the way consumers will interact with financial products in the coming year.
What (still) holds crypto
Despite the optimism from experts, 2026 is still likely to be a rough ride for crypto.
Regulatory uncertainty remains an important concern. The passage of the GENIUS Act, which defines the rules for issuance, reserves and supervision of stablecoins, was an important first step in strengthening the role of the US dollar in the digital economy and ensuring that consumers are protected from illegal crypto schemes.
Yet the broad law of market formation stands. Youngblood warns that vague regulations continue to hinder risk-free institutions, as crypto companies increasingly tend to operate in gray areas.
“Although crypto lobbies have been active in trying to get market structure legislation passed, they have not been successful,” he said, due in part to external political reasons such as the government shutdown.
But while institutions continue to participate at higher levels than before, investor sentiment is mixed due to the latest market shock – a rude reminder that volatility remains the defining characteristic of crypto. This is true as the diminishing effect of bitcoin’s four-year bearish cycle reduces the frequency of the market’s ups and downs.
So, what does all this mean for you? Rasmussen attributes the recent dip as an opportunity for long-term investors who are “sitting on the sidelines” and are willing to endure the discomfort. With the price of bitcoin below $100,000, they are able to gain exposure to the market before prices become more expensive again.
He also says he believes the media is overstating crypto volatility compared to similar high-risk stocks and investment vehicles.
“If you look at the volatility of bitcoin compared to Nvidia — which is a popular stock that everybody loves and everybody has in their portfolio,” he said, bitcoin has been quite volatile “at a decent price.”
No matter how crypto performs in 2026, one thing is certain: It’s not going away anytime soon. Smart investors should take note.
“It’s a multibillion-dollar asset class, and it’s been built over 15 years of hard work and real technology,” says Rasmussen, “and I think it’s going to play an important role in how our lives work day to day.”
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