Bitcoin price predictions 2025–2050: third-party price target
Bitcoin (BTC) is the first cryptocurrency and the largest by market capitalisation. It's a decentralised digital asset used as a medium of exchange, a store of value and is often considered a potential hedge against inflation.
We examine bitcoin price predictions for 2025 and beyond, with insights from third-party analysts and market experts.
Bitcoin price prediction for 2025 and beyond
Analysts bitcoin price predictions for 2025 and beyond reflect mixed sentiment. In an appearance on CNBC News’ Market Alert, CIO of Fundstrat Capital, Thomas Lee stated that ‘bitcoin is becoming more and more a hallmark of what this next administration is going to have’ and continued to say that ‘the next 12 months look pretty good for bitcoin.’
Gautam Chhugani and his team of analysts at a private wealth management firm, Bernstein, set an ambitious target, forecasting a $200,0001 bitcoin price by the end of 2025. Bernstein highlights influencing factors such as Donald Trump’s election win, his pledge to build a national bitcoin reserve and increasing demand from bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Prominent crypto analyst Willy Woo also weighed in, predicting a more conservative consolidation phase around $88,000 before targeting $102,000 in 2025. Woo emphasises the importance of bitcoin’s ‘supply shock dynamics,’ as institutional investors continue to acquire large amounts of bitcoin, limiting its availability on exchanges.
Among the crypto community, 43.7% out of 2,338 participants in a CoinGecko survey believed that the bitcoin price would exceed $100,000 before 2025.
Bitcoin price forecast for 2030: analysts’ outlook
When it comes to the bitcoin price forecast for 2030, cryptocurrency exchange Changelly predicts an average bitcoin price of $102,329 in 2025, climbing to $120,767 in 2026 and $177,160 in 2027. Looking further ahead, it expects that bitcoin will ascend to an average price of $574,902 in 2030, reaching as high as $2,651,174 in 2040 and $3,454,010 in 2050.
Coinpedia forecasts that bitcoin will average at $95,903 in 2025, with a potential $135,449 high and $61,357 low. It provides a slightly less bullish outlook for 2030, anticipating an average $312,767 bitcoin price with a potential high of $347,782. Coinpedia doesn’t provide predictions as far as 2050.
Many analysts haven’t yet published their longer-term predictions due to the market’s unpredictable nature. But if bitcoin’s rapid ascent in late 2024 has taught us anything, it’s that past performance does not guarantee future results.
Looking further ahead, Benzinga forecasts a $120,879 average bitcoin price in 2026, which climbs to $574,902 in 2030. The website expects that bitcoin will surpass $1m in 2032, and trade for around $3,307,788 by the end of 2050.
Meanwhile, Digital Coin Price anticipates a $2339,212 average bitcoin price in 2026 and $689,340 in 2030.
What is the bitcoin price history?
Bitcoin’s price history starts with the genesis block, mined in January 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. The first real-world bitcoin transaction took place in 2010 when 10,000 BTC were exchanged for two pizzas, valuing BTC at fractions of a cent. In 2011, bitcoin reached parity with the US dollar and later surged to around $31 before falling back to $2.
Bitcoin surpassed $1,000 for the first time in 2013, influenced by increased media attention and growing acceptance by merchants. Meanwhile, China's central bank banned financial institutions from handling bitcoin transactions, coinciding with a price decrease. Prices declined significantly in 2014 when the collapse of Mt. Gox, then the largest bitcoin exchange, led to the loss of approximately 850,000 BTC and eroded trader confidence.
The second bitcoin halving event took place in 2016, which reduced mining rewards from 25 BTC to 12.5 BTC, and influenced the price to rise due to scarcity.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
The cryptocurrency boom began in 2017, which increased the bitcoin price significantly due to increased institutional interest in bitcoin, combined with the growing number of initial coin offerings (ICOs) and mainstream news coverage. The following year, regulatory crackdowns on ICOs and concerns about crypto market manipulation contributed to a broader downturn, and bitcoin fell below $4,000 by the end of 2018.
The Covid 19 pandemic highlighted how bitcoin can have a negative price correlation with the US stock market during periods of economic uncertainty. Bitcoin was seen as a hedge against inflation while institutional investments from companies such as MicroStrategy and Square boosted confidence, pushing prices above $20,000 by December 2020.
Bitcoin faced downward pressure in 2022 due to global economic uncertainties including rising inflation and interest rates, the collapse of major crypto platforms like TerraUSD and increased regulatory scrutiny, which pushed it below $20,000.
By 2023, the market showed signs of stabilising, with a cautious return of institutional investors and technological advancements like the Lightning Network, which improved transaction speeds and efficiency.
Significant movements and events in 2024
In January 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved 11 spot bitcoin ETFs. This landmark decision provided regulated and accessible paths for traders to gain exposure to cryptocurrency, significantly boosting market confidence.
In April, bitcoin underwent its latest halving event, reducing the mining reward from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC. While halving events are historically associated with price increases due to decreased supply, the 2024 event did not trigger the immediate surge that some traders had anticipated.
Bitcoin surpassed $90,000 for the first time on November 14, 2024. The momentum continued as it reached $94,800 on November 20 and surged to $99,655.502 by November 22. This rapid appreciation spurred widespread speculation about when bitcoin would hit the $100,000 milestone, drawing significant media attention and investor interest.
When is the next bitcoin halving event?
Bitcoin halving events occur approximately every four years, with the most recent one taking place in 2024. During a halving event, the reward for mining new blocks is halved, reducing the rate at which new bitcoins are created and decreasing the supply of new coins entering circulation.
The most recent halving was on 20 April 2024, which reduced the block reward from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC
The next halving events are expected to occur in April 2028, then in 2032.
A spokesperson for Capital.com's data team said: 'From a historical perspective, every next halving pushes the BTC price surge a little lower, meaning that the effect of bitcoin halving may be winding down. That doesn’t mean that the halving won’t drive the price up; however, its impact is notably decreasing every four years.’
What drives bitcoin price predictions?
Learn the key factors driving analysts’ price predictions, and how they could influence bitcoin's price movements in the coming years:
Political and economic developments
Policies implemented by President-elect Donald Trump could have a notable impact on financial markets, including cryptocurrency.
Forbes Advisor’s Nikita Tambe observes that ‘bitcoin 'skyrocketed immediately after Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election… and has continued rising since his victory.’ She also mentions central bank interest-rate cuts and the SEC approval of spot bitcoin and ethereum ETFs as contributing factors.
Trump’s pro-crypto policies, including the proposal for a US national bitcoin reserve, have boosted market sentiment. Conversely, a failure to deliver on this pledge or a shift in stance could influence the bitcoin price to decrease.
Market sentiment and trader behaviour
Market sentiment is often influenced by media coverage and social networks, and can lead to rapid price fluctuations.
The Crypto Fear and Greed Index, which measures market sentiment on a scale of 0 to 100, provided a score of 94/100 for bitcoin on 22 November 2024. This extreme greed rating suggests that bitcoin may be overbought, indicating a potential for price corrections when confirmed with additional technical analysis indicators.
Positive news, such as endorsements from influential figures or reports of institutional investment, can potentially fuel optimism and drive prices higher. Conversely, negative news such as security breaches, regulatory fines or critical comments from public figures can lead to fear and prompt sell-offs.
Macroeconomic factors
Global economic conditions, including inflation, interest rates and economic growth, can impact bitcoin's appeal as an investment.
JP Morgan analysts said ‘rising geopolitical tensions and the coming U.S. election are likely to reinforce what some investors call the 'debasement trade' thus favoring both gold and bitcoin,’ in an October 2024 note, reported by MarketWatch.
Conversely, traders often move away from cryptocurrencies toward more traditional markets – such as shares and indices – during periods of strong economic growth.
Regulatory environment
Clear and supportive regulations can encourage traders by providing legal certainty.
Gautam Chhugani, an analyst at Bernstein, has stated, ‘The approval of spot bitcoin ETFs by the SEC in January 2024 was a game-changer for institutional investors, significantly boosting market confidence.’ This approval opened the doors for increased institutional participation and positively impacted bitcoin's price.
Conversely, stringent regulations or bans in major economies can hinder market growth.
Learn more about what drives bitcoin prices, and how to trade bitcoin, in our comprehensive guide to bitcoin.
Is bitcoin a good inflation hedge?
Whether or not bitcoin is a good inflation hedge depends on several factors, which include sector-specific and macroeconomic conditions.
‘Cryptocurrency as an Alternative Inflation Hedge?’3 – an academic study on crypto returns and inflation – indicates that crypto returns are positively related to short-term shifts in U.S. inflation expectations. But not long-term ones. For instance, it observes how trader behaviours during events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the start of the Ukraine war didn’t show a significant flight to bitcoin as a safe-haven asset.
After the April 2024 bitcoin halving, the bitcoin inflation rate dropped to approximately 0.83% per annum, now lower than gold's annual inflation rate of 1% to 1.5%. This could potentially strengthen bitcoin's position as a store of value and inflation hedge.
Meanwhile, in a July 2024 interview with CNBC, BlackRock CEO, Larry Fink admitted that he ‘was a sceptic’ but now believes that 'bitcoin is a legitimate financial instrument… I look at it as digital gold.’ VanEck echoes this sentiment, pointing to bitcoin’s appeal as a hedge against inflation and a store of value, particularly as regulatory clarity improves.
Find out more about hedging – including diversification and pairs trading – in our comprehensive trader’s guide to hedging.
Potential bitcoin trading strategies
Here are some potential trading strategies aligned with bitcoin’s market dynamics. Choose one which suits your preferences, such as risk tolerance and time commitment. Here are some to consider:
Trend trading strategy
Trend trading strategy involves seeking trends in bitcoin’s price movement. Traders use technical analysis indicators – such as moving averages – to establish potential support, resistance, and to determine their entry and exit points
Trend trading aims to profit from sustained market movements, whether upward or downward
Scalp trading strategy
Scalping is a short-term approach which includes strategies where traders open and close multiple positions within a single day. Those practising this type of trading might focus on fast-moving, high-liquidity markets – such as cryptocurrencies.
Scalp trading aims to profit from rapid price movements, and often involves ultra-short timeframes (e.g. 1–minute or 5–minute charts).
Statistical arbitrage strategy
Statistical arbitrage strategy uses algorithms to analyse historical data and identify temporary price deviations between two or more correlated assets. It’s based on mean reversion theory, which assumes that assets will always eventually return to their historical price relationship.
When the pair deviates, a trader might go long on the asset which appears ‘undervalued’ and short on the asset that may be ‘overvalued’.
Discover the trading strategies available and find one that suits your individual preferences by checking out our trading strategies page.
Alternatively, learn more about cryptocurrencies and how to trade them with our comprehensive guide to trading cryptocurrencies.
What are the potential risks and rewards of crypto trading?
Consider the potential risks and rewards of the cryptocurrency market to help prepare yourself for bitcoin trading:
Buying the dip
Buying the dip involves purchasing cryptocurrency during or shortly after a price decline, anticipating that the asset will rebound.
- Potential rewards – This strategy can be profitable if the market recovers, allowing traders to acquire crypto, such as bitcoin, at a lower price and benefit from the subsequent rise.
- Potential risks – Past performance does not guarantee future results. Prices might not bounce back and the asset could continue to decline, leading to potential losses.
Use technical analysis indicators like moving averages and Fibonacci retracement to establish potential support levels. Combined with candlestick chart patterns, technical indicators can help to signal potential reversals.
Buying during an uptrend
Momentum trading is when a trader opens a long position in a cryptocurrency while it's climbing, aiming to profit with the expectation of continued growth.
- Potential rewards – Traders might open a long position during an uptrend to potentially make gains from sustained momentum, if the price continues to rise.
- Potential risks – Crypto trading is volatile and prices move rapidly in both directions, with potential for sharp corrections and unexpected downturns.
Consider trend indicators such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) to identify strong upward trends. Setting stop-loss orders can help manage risk by automatically closing positions if the market moves against you.
Market volatility
Cryptocurrency markets can move up or down significantly — sometimes within a short period – due to high market volatility.
- Potential rewards – High volatility can lead to greater potential gains, suitable for day traders and high-frequency traders.
- Potential risks – It also increases the potential for significant losses, making it a relatively high-risk market.
Use risk management tools such as stop-loss orders, to limit potential losses; and take-profit, to protect potential gains. Note that stop-loss is not guaranteed. Guaranteed stop-loss may incur additional costs.
Stay informed of the potential risks associated with trading and learn how to manage them effectively by checking out our comprehensive guide to risk management.