A high-ranking executive from Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company (BSTR) has made an ambitious prediction regarding Bitcoin, suggesting that the cryptocurrency could surge to $150,000 by the end of 2026. This forecast comes despite Bitcoin currently trading about 28% lower than its all-time peak, at around $90,180—a 0.59% decline over the last 24 hours.
Katherine Dowling, president of BSTR, shared her insights in a recent interview, expressing optimism amid ongoing market volatility. She emphasized that several key factors are contributing to her bullish outlook for Bitcoin in 2026, including regulatory clarity, monetary easing, and increased institutional adoption. According to Dowling, these elements create a unique environment favorable for Bitcoin’s growth, even as negative market sentiment persists.
Recent legislative developments bolster Dowling’s prediction. Notably, President Trump has enacted the ‘GENIUS Act,’ which sets a regulatory framework for stablecoins, aimed at enhancing the legitimacy and integration of digital currencies within the broader financial ecosystem. Concurrently, guidance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) allows national banks to provide cryptocurrency brokerage services, effectively lowering hurdles for traditional financial institutions to engage with crypto assets.
Support from the Federal Reserve has also been essential. The central bank has reduced interest rates three times this year, a policy historically seen as beneficial for assets like Bitcoin. This shift in monetary policy coincides with increasing institutional acceptance of cryptocurrencies, further solidifying Dowling’s optimistic projections.
In a striking endorsement, Bank of America has recently allowed its over 15,000 financial advisers to recommend Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) to clients. The bank encourages allocations between 1% and 4% of client portfolios, opening the door for substantial investments in Bitcoin from a large pool of conservative capital. This move has the potential to redirect a considerable portion of the bank’s $3.5 trillion in client assets towards the digital currency.
Brian Huang, CEO of investment platform Glider, echoed Dowling’s sentiments in a separate interview, noting that the Federal Reserve’s recent rate cuts are likely to benefit riskier assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Huang also predicted that Bitcoin could reach the $150,000 mark by the end of 2026.
Ultimately, these developments illustrate a significant shift in how Bitcoin is perceived within traditional financial institutions, moving it from merely a speculative asset to a viable investment option recommended by professional advisers. This change reflects a broader trend of institutional embrace, which could serve as a more stable driver for Bitcoin’s future performance than transient retail investor sentiment.
