Bitcoin is poised for another year of extreme volatility and potentially record-breaking price movements.
According to the survey of industry analysts and executives conducted by CNBC, predictions for the cryptocurrency’s 2026 price range from a low of $75,000 to a staggering high of $225,000.
Behind this large divergence lies a complex backdrop of changing monetary policy, regulatory uncertainty and issues of institutional demand.
Bitcoin is currently trading around $91,000, about 30% below its all-time high of over $126,000 set in October 2025.
Among the boldest calls, Bit Mining’s chief economist Youwei Yang predicts a trading range of $75,000 to $225,000, citing potential interest rate cuts and a “more accommodating regulatory stance” along with macroeconomic risk.
Other notable predictions include:
- Standard Chartered: $150,000, revised down from $300,000, with gains now expected to be primarily driven by ETF purchases rather than corporate government bonds.
- Maple Finance: $175,000 supported by interest rate cuts and the growth of bitcoin-backed lending.
- Standard Chartered: $150,000, revised down from $300,000, with gains now expected to be primarily driven by ETF purchases rather than corporate government bonds.
- CoinShares: $120,000 to $170,000, with action weighted toward the second half of the year pending regulatory and Federal Reserve clarity.
Overall, analysts agree that the main drivers will include US Federal Reserve Policy, the potential passage of crypto regulatory legislation and the continued flow of funds into spot Bitcoin ETFs, which may now be the main price catalyst
