Bernstein Predicts Bitcoin Rally to $150,000 by 2026

TLDR

• Bitcoin may reach $150,000 by end of 2026.
• ETF inflows projected to hit $50 billion by 2026.
• Standard Chartered revised Bitcoin target to $150,000.

Bernstein analysts have weighed in on the current Bitcoin bear market, predicting a rally for the cryptocurrency despite existing challenges. According to Bernstein’s official client research notes, Bitcoin might reach $150,000 by the end of 2026. The company attributes this potential growth to increasing institutional demand, despite what they term as a “confidence crisis” in the market.

Gautam Chhugani, a managing director and senior analyst at Bernstein specializing in cryptocurrency markets, is noted for making this prediction. He previously contributed to a bullish outlook, suggesting a $200,000 Bitcoin peak in 2027 cycles. The prediction remains focused on Bitcoin, with no mention of other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum (ETH) or altcoins.

Focus on Institutional Demand and ETFs

The forecast suggests that institutional demand from ETFs and corporate treasuries could establish a price floor for Bitcoin. No specific on-chain data regarding Total Value Locked (TVL) changes, liquidity shifts, or staking flows are furnished in these predictions. Instead, the focus is on ETF net inflows, highlighted by the example of $1.1 billion being traded in early 2026.

Analysts point out that ETF inflows, projected to reach $50 billion by 2026, are crucial for this price increase prediction. Previous forecasts by Bernstein had already outlined a long-term prospect of $1 million per Bitcoin by 2033, accentuating the role of spot-ETF inflows. Similarly, Standard Chartered revised its 2026 Bitcoin target to $150,000 from an earlier $300,000 prediction.

Past Predictions and Market Context

Standard Chartered’s revisions illustrate how institutional flows are disrupting traditional market cycles, such as the halving cycle, and fostering bullish outcomes amid temporary market pullbacks. Though affected assets continue to mainly be Bitcoin, predictions from other notable figures also highlight bullish sentiment.

Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, expects Bitcoin to reach $180,000 by the end of 2026, while Lily Liu, President of the Solana Foundation, speculates that prices could climb above $100,000. These outlooks emphasize the various optimistic perspectives within the cryptocurrency community despite market fluctuations.

No Regulatory or Community Developments Mentioned

Bernstein’s forecast does not mention any recent regulatory developments or updates impacting cryptocurrencies. There is also no insight into community or developer sentiment data from sources like GitHub or Twitter. The emphasis remains on institutional inflows as the primary catalyst for price movements.

Despite the predictions implying significant optimism for Bitcoin’s future, they remain strictly focused on institutional factors and monetary forecasts. The lack of community activity metrics or regulatory updates indicates a narrow scope. Further insights from crypto observers, like Bitcoin News, may provide additional perspectives on market movements.