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    Bitcoin Expected to Deliver Solid but ‘Moderate’ Gains Over the Next Ten Years

    Ethan CarterBy No Comments3 Mins Read
    Bitcoin Expected to Deliver Solid but 'Moderate' Gains Over the Next Ten Years

    Bitcoin might exhibit stable returns over the coming decade, but significantly large gains year-on-year are improbable, according to Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise.

    “I believe we’re entering a 10-year period of steady returns. They may not be extraordinary returns, [but] they will be robust, with lower volatility and some fluctuations,” Hougan stated during his appearance on CNBC last Friday.

    Hougan remains confident that 2026 will be a favorable year for Bitcoin (BTC), a prediction he initially made in July prior to Bitcoin reaching a new all-time high of $125,100 in October. “I anticipate that next year will show growth,” Hougan expressed.

    “Gradual institutional buying” is shielding Bitcoin against downturns

    Simultaneously, Sebastian Beau, chief investment officer at ReserveOne, mentioned that it’s still uncertain if Bitcoin’s four-year cycle is “over.” “The all-time high was $125,000 in early October, and now we’re hovering around $87,000, down 30% relatively quickly, which is quite painful,” Beau remarked.

    Market participants are split on whether the cycle has concluded, as the timing of Bitcoin’s October peaks reflects previous four-year cycle highs, hinting at a potentially rough year in 2026.

    According to Hougan, the “rapidly shifting retail audience” is partly responsible for Bitcoin’s decline at year-end, as retail investors moved out in “expectation of that four-year cycle.”

    As of publication, Bitcoin is trading at $87,818, representing a 3.81% decrease over the last 30 days, based on CoinMarketCap.

    Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin Price, Adoption
    Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan appeared on CNBC last Friday. Source: CNBC

    Hougan indicated that Bitcoin has dropped 30%, rather than the 60% reductions seen in previous cycles, due to “consistent, slow-moving institutional buying.”

    Nonetheless, some analysts remain cautious. Veteran trader Peter Brandt recently forecasted that Bitcoin could decline to as low as $60,000 by the third quarter of 2026.

    Trump administration unlikely to significantly influence Bitcoin’s price

    Bitcoin kicked off 2025 by achieving new all-time highs near $109,000 following Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president, which was broadly viewed as a catalyst for the asset’s early-year surge.