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    Bitcoin Will See Strong But ‘Not Spectacular’ Returns Over Next Decade

    KryptonewsBy No Comments2 Mins Read

    Bitcoin may post steady returns over the next ten years, but exceptionally large year-on-year gains are unlikely, according to Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan.

    “I think we’re in a 10-year grind upward of strong returns. It’s not spectacular returns, [but] strong returns, lower volatility, some up and down,” Hougan said on CNBC on Friday.

    Hougan is sticking with his forecast that 2026 will be a positive year for Bitcoin (BTC), an outlook he first shared in July ahead of Bitcoin’s run to a new all-time high of $125,100 in October. “I think next year will be up,” Hougan said.

    “Slow-moving institutional buying” is protecting Bitcoin’s downside

    Meanwhile, ReserveOne chief investment officer Sebastian Beau said it is still unclear whether Bitcoin’s four-year cycle is “dead.” “All-time highs were 125,000, that was in early October, we are bordering on $87,000 today, down 30% relatively quickly, pretty painful,” Beau said.

    Market participants are divided on whether the cycle has ended, with the timing of Bitcoin’s October highs mirroring past four-year cycle peaks, suggesting a possible down year in 2026.

    Hougan said the “fast-moving retail crowd” is one reason behind Bitcoin’s year-end decline, as retail investors rotated out in “anticipation of that four-year cycle.”

    Bitcoin is trading at $87,818 at the time of publication, down 3.81% over the past 30 days, according to CoinMarketCap.

    Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan appeared on CNBC on Friday. Source: CNBC

    Hougan said that Bitcoin is down 30%, rather than the 60% declines seen in past cycles, because of “persistent, slow-moving institutional buying.”

    However, some analysts are still cautious. Veteran trader Peter Brandt recently predicted that Bitcoin could fall as low as $60,000 by the third quarter of 2026.

    Trump administration unlikely to have major impact on Bitcoin’s price

    Bitcoin began 2025 by reaching new all-time highs near $109,000 following Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president, which was was widely seen as a catalyst of the asset’s early-year rally.