Grayscale predicts that bitcoin will reach its peak in 2026, while Barclays believes it will enter a bear market.
At the beginning of this year, the cryptocurrency market showed a bullish trend, but the second half of 2025 saw a sharp downturn. Bitcoin (BTC) once surged to a historical high of $126,080 (UTC+8) in early October, but subsequently dropped by more than 31%. Over the past few months, BTC has struggled to regain its upward momentum, and earlier today even fell to the $85,000 (UTC+8) mark. Financial institution Grayscale predicts that BTC will rebound and reach a new all-time high in early 2026. Barclays, on the other hand, believes the cryptocurrency market will face more challenges. Let’s explore whose prediction is more accurate.
Grayscale vs. Barclays: Will Bitcoin Reach a New All-Time High in 2026, or Continue to Decline?
According to Grayscale’s report, Bitcoin may be deviating from its previous pattern of peaking and then crashing over the past four years. Bitcoin may now be following a five-year cycle. This means that Bitcoin could reach a new peak in 2026, five years after its 2021 peak. Not only does Grayscale believe that Bitcoin is shifting from a four-year to a five-year cycle, but in addition to the five-year cycle theory, Grayscale also points out that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts and bipartisan progress in cryptocurrency legislation are also factors predicting a bull market in 2026.
Barclays, however, holds a more pessimistic view. The financial institution believes that, due to declining spot trading volumes and weak demand, the cryptocurrency market will face more challenges in 2026. The rise in silver and gold prices over the past few months clearly indicates weak demand for Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies. Investors are likely selling off cryptocurrencies and other risk assets.
The starkly opposing stances of these two financial giants precisely reflect the market’s uncertainty. The price of Bitcoin (BTC) is currently likely dependent on macroeconomic factors. If the global economy strengthens, the cryptocurrency market may usher in a new bull run. But if the economy continues on its current trajectory, we may once again face a crypto winter.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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