Bitcoin's Big Leap: Why Experts See a $180, 000 Surge by 2026

Big changes are happening in the world of crypto. Brad Garlinghouse, the boss of Ripple, thinks Bitcoin could reach $180, 000 by the end of 2026. He shared this idea at a big event called Binance Blockchain Week 2025. Right now, the mood around Bitcoin is a bit down. But Garlinghouse believes this won't last. He points out that the U. S. is changing its tune on crypto. Instead of being against it, the country is now working on rules to support it. This shift is huge. It means big companies like BlackRock, Vanguard, and Franklin Templeton are starting to invest in digital assets. Garlinghouse also thinks that the demand for crypto ETFs is just getting started. Right now, crypto makes up only 1-2% of all ETF assets. That's a small piece of the pie, and there's room for growth. Ripple is also seeing more action from big players. Their prime brokerage and stablecoin operations are growing fast. Stablecoins, which are digital currencies tied to real-world assets, are becoming more popular. They're not just an experiment anymore. They're being used in real financial systems. Recently, there's been some turbulence in the crypto market. About $20 billion in leverage was wiped out, and traders are moving to stablecoins. But Garlinghouse says this is just short-term noise. The bigger picture shows that crypto is becoming more integrated into the global financial system. He believes that institutional adoption is rising, utility is scaling, and regulation is improving. All these factors could push Bitcoin's price to new highs. So, while the market might be volatile now, the long-term outlook is bright.