Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has made a bold prediction for the future of Bitcoin. During a panel discussion at Binance Blockchain Week alongside Solana Foundation President Lily Liu and Binance CEO Richard Teng, Garlinghouse forecasted that Bitcoin could reach $180,000 by the end of 2026.
The panel brought together three prominent industry leaders to share their insights on the crypto landscape in 2026. Amidst Bitcoin’s volatile price swings, significant liquidations, and mixed ETF activity, their predictions garnered significant attention.
Insights from the Panel
When asked about Bitcoin’s future price, the responses varied. Richard Teng opted for a long-term growth perspective rather than providing a specific number. Lily Liu anticipated Bitcoin surpassing $100,000, while Brad Garlinghouse made the most ambitious projection of $180,000 by the end of 2026.
Impact of Recent Market Events
These forecasts coincided with a significant downturn in Bitcoin’s price. On December 1, Bitcoin experienced a rapid $5,000 drop in just three hours, resulting in over $200 billion in market value wiped out and nearly $700 million in leveraged positions liquidated.
The trigger for this downturn originated from traditional markets, specifically a surge in Japan’s government bond yields that unraveled the Yen Carry Trade strategy.
Unwinding of the Yen Carry Trade
The sudden increase in Japan’s bond yields led to the unwinding of the Yen Carry Trade strategy, causing a chain reaction that impacted various asset classes including Bitcoin. The resulting sell-off triggered margin calls, leading to massive liquidations in the crypto market.
Despite the market turmoil, on-chain data revealed that whales accumulated a significant amount of BTC during the downturn, while miners reduced their selling activities substantially.
Upcoming Market Influences
Market observers are closely monitoring the Bank of Japan’s upcoming policy decisions, which could significantly influence Bitcoin’s trajectory. Depending on Japan’s rate hike decisions, Bitcoin’s price could either decline towards $75,000 or experience a rapid surge back to $100,000.
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