Bitwise Asset Management released 10 crypto predictions for 2026, outlining a forcefully bullish, bitcoin-centered outlook driven by ETF demand, institutional adoption, regulatory progress, supply constraints, and a shifting market structure favoring sustained upside momentum ahead.
Bitwise Forecasts 10 Predictions as Bitcoin Decouples From Stocks and Follows Crypto-Specific Catalysts
Bitwise Asset Management, a U.S.-based asset manager, released its “10 Crypto Predictions for 2026” on Dec. 15, laying out a bitcoin-centered outlook alongside a clearly defined set of market, regulatory, and institutional forecasts.
The report, authored by Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan and Head of Research Ryan Rasmussen, states:
We think the bulls will win out in 2026. The prevailing positive trends, from institutional adoption to regulatory progress, appear too strong and too far-reaching to be subdued for long.
The first prediction emphasizes: “ Bitcoin will break the four-year cycle and set new all-time highs,” as Bitwise argues that the historical drivers of pullback years—halvings, interest-rate spikes, and leverage-driven blowups—have weakened. The second prediction states that bitcoin will be less volatile than Nvidia, highlighting BTC’s transition toward a lower-risk profile as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) broaden ownership. The third prediction projects that ETFs will purchase more than 100% of new bitcoin supply, alongside ethereum and solana, reinforcing a structural supply-demand imbalance. Explaining the long-term foundation behind these calls, the report adds:
One of the primary reasons we’re bullish on crypto in the long term is that we think demand from institutional investors will outpace new supply for years to come.
The remaining seven predictions expand the framework supporting bitcoin’s outlook. The fourth prediction forecasts that crypto equities will outperform tech equities as regulatory clarity unlocks new revenue streams and product launches. The fifth predicts that Polymarket open interest will reach a new all-time high, surpassing levels seen during the 2024 U.S. election.
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The sixth anticipates that stablecoins will be blamed for destabilizing an emerging-market currency, even as adoption reflects underlying inflation pressures. The seventh predicts that onchain vaults, described as “ETFs 2.0,” will double assets under management as institutional-grade risk controls emerge. The eighth projects that ethereum and solana will reach new all-time highs if the CLARITY Act passes, strengthening the overall regulatory environment for crypto, including bitcoin.
The ninth states that half of Ivy League endowments will invest in crypto, expanding institutional exposure to bitcoin-linked products. The tenth predicts that more than 100 crypto-linked ETFs will launch in the U.S., further broadening access. A bonus prediction returns directly to bitcoin, forecasting that its correlation with stocks will fall as crypto-specific catalysts increasingly drive performance.
FAQ 🧭
- Why is Bitwise bullish on bitcoin heading into 2026? Bitwise believes weakening four-year cycle dynamics, rising institutional adoption, and regulatory progress will drive bitcoin to new all-time highs, improving its long-term risk-reward profile for investors.
- How do ETFs impact bitcoin’s supply-demand outlook? The report projects that bitcoin ETFs will absorb more than 100% of new BTC supply, creating a structural imbalance that could support sustained price appreciation.
- What regulatory developments matter most for crypto investors? Bitwise highlights that clearer U.S. regulation, including potential passage of the CLARITY Act, could unlock new products, boost crypto equities, and support higher valuations for and major .
- What signals growing institutional acceptance of crypto? Predictions that half of Ivy League endowments will allocate to and that over 100 U.S. crypto-linked ETFs will launch point to accelerating mainstream and institutional capital inflows.
Author: Kevin Helms
Source: Bitcoin
Reviewed By: Editorial Team
