Bitcoin Price Could Reach $143,000 Next Year: Citi Bank

"The bitcoin price could climb to $143,000 next year as continued adoption through exchange-traded funds and a more accommodating U.S. regulatory backdrop draw new capital into the market, according to a new forecast from Citi. Analysts at the Wall Street bank set $143,000 as their base-case target for the bitcoin price over the next 12 months. They outlined a bullish scenario that places the price above $189,000, while their bearish case sees the bitcoin price falling to around $78,500 if macroeconomic conditions deteriorate, according to MarketWatch reporting."

"The bitcoin price was trading near $88,000 on Friday, down roughly 30% from its late-October peak. The pullback followed a sharp wave of selling after the rally earlier this year, though Citi noted that outflows from spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds have moderated in recent weeks. "Our forecasts, in particular for bitcoin, rest on an assumption that investor adoption continues with flows into ETFs of $15 billion boosting token prices," the analysts wrote. The note was led by Alex Saunders, Citi's head of global quantitative macro strategy."

"Citi also pointed to potential regulatory clarity in the United States as a key driver of future demand. The U.S. Senate is negotiating its own version of the House-passed Clarity Act, legislation that would place bitcoin under the oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The analysts said clearer rules could encourage broader institutional participation."

Citi forecasts bitcoin at $143,000 as a base-case over the next 12 months, with a bullish path above $189,000 and a bearish scenario near $78,500 if macroeconomic conditions worsen. The price traded near $88,000, roughly 30% below its late-October peak after heavy selling and substantial November withdrawals that erased over $18,000 and marked the largest dollar decline since May 2021. Citi's projection assumes continued investor adoption and $15 billion of flows into spot ETF products. Potential U.S. regulatory clarity via a Clarity Act placing bitcoin under CFTC oversight could increase institutional demand. The downside scenario centers on recessionary pressures and weaker risk appetite.

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