Bitcoin's year-end market divergence intensifies: Optimists look towards $100,000, while cautious investors focus on inflationary pressures

According to CoinDesk, institutions have differing views on Bitcoin's year-end performance, with optimists eyeing $100,000 and cautious analysts focusing on inflationary pressures. Bitwise Research Director Ryan Rasmussen believes that Bitcoin could surpass $100,000 by the end of 2026, driven by institutional purchases through ETFs, ongoing corporate buying, concerns about inflation and government debt, and a clearer regulatory environment.

LO:TECH Research Director Adam Morgan McCarthy expects Bitcoin to fluctuate between $85,000 and $95,000 before the end of the year, with inflation pressures and Federal Reserve policies remaining market headwinds; to return above $100,000, the market may need to lower expectations for a rate hike in December, while a drop in oil prices and easing inflation could facilitate this change.

CoinShares Research Director James Butterfill pointed out that the contradiction between persistent inflation and a weakening job market will affect the Federal Reserve's subsequent policy space: cooling inflation may provide room to address job weakness, while renewed inflation could keep monetary policy restrictive.