
(Source: intangiblecoins)
On December 21, Alex Thorn, Head of Research at Galaxy Digital, outlined his outlook on Bitcoin’s medium- and long-term trajectory. He expects a turbulent path for Bitcoin prices in 2026, with no clear short-term trend. Over a longer time frame, however, he sees potential for Bitcoin to reach $250,000 by the end of 2027. This isn’t a single-point price forecast, but rather an observation of shifting asset positioning as market structures evolve.
From the derivatives market perspective, expectations for Bitcoin’s medium- and short-term performance are sharply divided. Options pricing suggests that, by mid-2026, the probabilities of Bitcoin falling to $70,000 or rallying to $130,000 are almost equal. By year-end 2026, the odds of a drop to $50,000 or a surge to $250,000 remain evenly split. This broad range highlights the market’s significant uncertainty about Bitcoin’s future direction.
As of this analysis, the crypto market remains in a bearish phase, and Bitcoin has yet to reclaim a definitive uptrend. Downside risks persist until Bitcoin breaks convincingly above the $100,000 to $105,000 resistance zone. Meanwhile, macroeconomic uncertainties are mounting, including the pace of AI capital expenditures, shifts in monetary policy, and policy ambiguity from the U.S. midterm elections.
Even if Bitcoin retraces or approaches its 200-week moving average in the near term, Galaxy’s core thesis remains intact: Bitcoin’s institutionalization and adoption among professional investors are still accelerating. While 2026 may not see an explosive bull market, the long-term structural bullish case remains unbroken, whether Bitcoin ends up in the $70,000 or $150,000 range.
As institutional access barriers fall and demand for non-dollar hedges rises, Bitcoin is increasingly in sync with an accommodative monetary environment. Over the next two years, Bitcoin could move further toward gold-like status, becoming a mainstream component in capital allocation strategies instead of being viewed solely as a high-volatility speculative asset.
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Galaxy Digital’s analysis isn’t about setting a single price target. It’s grounded in the ongoing transformation of market structure and institutionalization. While short-term volatility and uncertainty are unavoidable, the central question is whether Bitcoin can continue to attract institutional capital and solidify its role as a store of value and hedging asset. Price is just an outcome; institutionalization is the true engine of long-term growth.





