Citi has predicted bitcoin to rise to $143,000 in 2026. That's 62% higher than the current price

The value of bitcoin will reach $143,000 next year, Citi analysts predicted. The price will grow due to the further inflow of money into exchange-traded funds related to the largest cryptocurrency by capitalization, the bank believes. Bitcoin is now worth less than it was at the beginning of 2025.

Bitcoin's price of $143,000 is assumed in Citi's base case scenario, MarketWatch reported. That's 62.5% above the level at which the cryptocurrency traded on Dec. 19 - around $88,000, according to CoinGecko data.

In an optimistic scenario, Citi allows the cryptocurrency to rise above $189,000,(114% higher than the current price), while in a pessimistic scenario it falls to $78,500 (11% lower than the current price).

"Our forecasts, particularly for bitcoin, are based on the assumption that investor adoption of [it] will continue with $15 billion in ETF inflows, which will support token values," said analysts led by Alex Saunders, head of global quantitative macro strategy at the bank(quoted by MarketWatch).

An additional positive factor for bitcoin may emerge thanks to the U.S. Congress, Citi suggested. The U.S. Senate is negotiating its version of the Clarity Act, already passed by the House of Representatives, which would put bitcoin under the regulation of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, MarketWatch writes. This will help encourage the adoption of the cryptocurrency by investors, the bank believes.

"Bearish" scenario is based on recessionary macroeconomic factors, analysts said.

Citi sees less potential for growth in Ethereum, the second most capitalized cryptocurrency. "ETH is sensitive to activity given its potential use as programmable money, as opposed to bitcoin's perception as a 'store of value,' and activity has declined significantly," the analysts said.

Bitcoin is now about 30% cheaper than it was in October, when it rose to a record high. The cryptocurrency's price is now about 7% less than it was at the beginning of 2025. While cryptocurrency-related ETFs faced large outflows after hitting their highs, those flows have calmed down recently, MarketWatch noted.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor