Analysis: Bitcoin's recent pullback has been weaker than the previous cycle, with optimists betting on a year-end surge to $150,000.
TL;DR
Bitcoin's recent pullback is milder than past cycles, attributed to ETF availability and macroeconomic factors. Market predictions for 2026 are split between a significant correction and an optimistic surge to $150,000 by year-end, with full social acceptance like gold expected in 5-10 years.
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According to ChainCatcher, Fu Rao, executive director of the Hong Kong International New Economy Research Institute, wrote an article in the Hong Kong media Ta Kung Pao entitled "Speculative Attributes Fading, Bitcoin Volatility Stabilizing." In the article, he pointed out that the surge in Bitcoin in 2025 was different from previous years. The core reason was the widespread availability of ETFs. The recent price correction was not as large as it had been in the past four or five years. This change may be related to the impact of the macroeconomy on traditional capital operation logic.
Regarding predictions for Bitcoin's price movement in 2026, there are two opposing views in the market. One side believes that Bitcoin may experience a significant correction, even returning to a lower price range. The other side of investors is optimistic that Bitcoin will reach $150,000 by the end of the year and anticipates it will reach $250,000 in 2027. Currently, Bitcoin has largely completed its task of entering the traditional financial sphere, but it will still take 5 to 10 years to achieve the same level of social acceptance as gold.