Bitwise’s CIO Matt Hougan Envisions a New Dawn for Bitcoin, Anticipates Surge in 2026
Bitwise’s Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan anticipates a significant surge in Bitcoin’s value in 2026, breaking away from the traditional four-year cycle. Clarity in regulations within the U.S. and rising buyer interest from institutions are expected to propel prices.
Matt Hougan, the Chief Investment Officer of Bitwise Asset Management, foresees a crypto asset boom in 2026. The peak in crypto prices occurred in January 2025 before experiencing a correction. 
BTC ▲0.92% dropped to $75,000, negatively impacting some of the leading Solana meme coins such as TRUMP crypto.
Discover: Best High-Risk, High-Reward Cryptocurrency to Invest in July 2025
Is 2026 Set to Be an “Up Year” for BTC?
The recent dump was a necessary crypto market correction to eliminate speculative 100X leveraged traders from various crypto exchanges.
Following the downturn, prices surged past $110,000, eventually reaching $123,000. As of July 28, 2025, prices are nearing record highs, although bulls must surpass $120,000 and break July highs for the upward trend to persist.
Hougan asserts that this uptrend trend is unavoidable, not happening in 2025 but rather in 2026. In a recent interview, the CIO conveyed his optimism for a substantial price rebound, envisioning 2026 as an “up year,” with a “consistent, steady boom” for Bitcoin. Unlike the erratic fluctuations of previous cycles, he forecasts BTC will steadily advance, generating “god candles” towards new all-time records.
The four-year cycle is finished, and adoption has caused its demise.@Matt_Hougan claims we’re advancing in 2026.
Early profit takers will miss out!!!
Complete breakdown with @JSeyff and @Matt_Hougan in comments
— Kyle Chassé / DD
Should BTC surpass $123,000 and reach, for instance, $150,000 or $500,000 in 2026, it would disrupt the historical four-year cycle linked with the cryptocurrency. For over ten years, BTC prices, along with some of the top cryptocurrencies to purchase, have loosely adhered to a four-year cycle influenced by halving events.
The Bitcoin network approximately halves miner rewards every four years, establishing a deflationary model. The latest halving occurred on April 20, 2024, reducing block rewards to 3.125 Bitcoin.
The BTC halving will decrease incoming supply by 50%.
No need to overthink it.
When market demand is 10-20x greater than circulating supply, basic economics indicates that prices will need to rise to accommodate all.
Check out my segment with @cvpayne on Fox Business today. pic.twitter.com/qNvAO5Uk9E
— Anthony Pompliano
Such token supply shocks typically push prices upward, evident in the years 2013, 2017, and 2021. Hougan contends that this cycle has become obsolete due to fundamental changes affecting Bitcoin pricing.
Compliance and Interest Rates to Propel Prices
Macroeconomic conditions and regulatory changes are vital influencers.
Following Donald Trump’s election, he proclaimed the United States the center of crypto and Bitcoin.
POMPLIANO: “The U.S. government is likely to announce that it will purchase Bitcoin at some point.”
A Bitcoin strategic reserve is on the horizon
— Bitcoin Archive (@BTC_Archive) July 28, 2025
The development of a BTC reserve and the enactment of the GENIUS Act, which outlines a regulatory framework for stablecoins, represent significant regulatory clarity.
Though not directly linked to BTC, this situation benefits platforms for smart contracts like Ethereum and Solana and mitigates the risk of regulatory crackdowns experienced during the tenure of Gary Gensler.
Thanks to clear regulatory guidelines, institutions have allocated over $151 billion into BTC ETFs, with $130 million in BTC-backed ETF shares acquired on July 25, 2025.
Furthermore, President Trump is advocating for reduced interest rates. Since April, Hougan has noted that Trump has urged Jerome Powell to lower rates, which could channel funds into Bitcoin and gold.
An environment with low interest rates is generally “favorable for crypto,” as was evident during the 2020–2021 bull trading market when the Federal Reserve reduced rates to almost zero to stimulate economic growth. Should rates be lowered on July 30, 2025, Bitcoin prices may surge.
DISCOVER: 18 Upcoming Cryptocurrencies Set to Explode in 2025: Expert Predictions & Analysis
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan Foresees a New Phase for Bitcoin
- Matt Hougan anticipates a crypto asset and BTC surge in 2026
- Could Bitcoin surpass its four-year cycle?
- Regulatory clarity enhances trader confidence
- Federal Reserve may cut rates in July
The article Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan Predicts a New Era for BTC, Forecasts 2026 Rally was initially posted on 99Bitcoins.
