In its latest report, asset manager and ETF issuer Bitwise shared an optimistic outlook for the crypto market in 2026, predicting significant growth and new all-time highs for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
Breaking the Cycle
Bitwise argues that Bitcoin is set to move beyond its traditional four-year price cycle, paving the way for new records. Past cyclical factors—like the Bitcoin Halving, interest rate changes, and leveraged market swings—are expected to have less influence going forward.
Notably, the entry of major institutions such as Citi, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and Merrill Lynch into crypto is likely to accelerate institutional investment into spot ETFs and boost on-chain development by 2026. As a result, Bitcoin is projected to become less volatile; the report notes it has already shown lower volatility than Nvidia throughout 2025.
The report is also bullish on Ethereum and Solana, especially if the CLARITY Act passes. Bitwise sees stablecoin growth and tokenization as major “megatrends,” with both Ethereum and Solana positioned as primary beneficiaries.
ETFs to Absorb New Supply
Institutional demand is forecast to surge, with ETFs expected to acquire more than 100% of the new supply of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. By 2026, Bitwise anticipates most institutional investors will have access to crypto ETFs.
The firm estimates new supply hitting the market will include roughly 166,000 Bitcoin (worth about $15.3 billion), 960,000 Ethereum (around $3.0 billion), and 23 million Solana (approximately $3.2 billion). However, ETF purchases are likely to exceed these amounts.
Crypto Equities Outperforming
The report further highlights that crypto-related stocks are expected to continue outperforming traditional tech stocks. While tech shares have risen 140% over the past three years, crypto equities have far surpassed them. The Bitwise Crypto Innovators 30 Index, which tracks companies providing key crypto infrastructure and services, has soared 585% in the same period. Bitwise believes this trend will continue into 2026, driven by potential revenue growth, mergers and acquisitions, and a favorable regulatory environment.
Stablecoins as Scapegoats
As stablecoins gain adoption, Bitwise warns they may be blamed for destabilizing emerging market currencies. The stablecoin market, currently valued at nearly $300 billion and including dollar-pegged tokens like USDT and USDC, is predicted to reach $500 billion by the end of 2026.
With this growth, the firm anticipates one or two countries might blame stablecoins for their economic troubles, even though people typically turn to stablecoins only when their local currencies are unstable.
Regulatory Developments and Institutional Adoption
Bitwise also forecasts the launch of over 100 crypto-linked ETFs in the United States after the SEC issues new listing standards, allowing these funds to enter the market under a unified regulatory framework. This clarity sets the stage for what Bitwise calls an “ETF-palooza” in 2026.
Finally, the firm predicts that half of Ivy League endowments will likely invest in cryptocurrencies, and on-chain vault assets under management will double in the coming years.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $86,165, down 2% over the past 24 hours and nearly 7% over the past week. It currently trades 31.8% below its all-time high of $126,000.Image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Bitwise Predicts New AllTime Highs for Bitcoin Ethereum and Solana by 2026
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q1 What is this prediction from Bitwise
A1 Bitwise a major crypto asset manager has published a research report forecasting that the prices of Bitcoin Ethereum and Solana will surpass their previous highestever prices by the year 2026
Q2 Why is Bitwise making this prediction
A2 Bitwise cites several key drivers including the approval of US spot Bitcoin ETFs bringing in massive institutional investment major upgrades to the Ethereum network making it more efficient and Solanas growing ecosystem and speed making it a strong competitor
Q3 What were the previous alltime highs for these cryptocurrencies
A3 As of late 2023early 2024 the approximate alltime highs were
Bitcoin 73800
Ethereum 4900
Solana 260
Q4 Is this prediction a guarantee
A4 No it is not a guarantee It is an analyst forecast based on current trends and data Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and unpredictable so prices can go down as well as up
Q5 Should I invest based solely on this prediction
A5 No you should not This is one firms opinion Always do your own research understand the risks of crypto investing and never invest money you cant afford to lose Consider it as one data point among many
Intermediate Advanced Questions
Q6 What specific factors does Bitwise highlight for each cryptocurrency
A6
Bitcoin Primarily the influx of capital from spot Bitcoin ETFs and its established role as digital gold
Ethereum Continued network upgrades that reduce transaction fees for layer2 networks boosting its utility for decentralized apps
Solana Its high transaction speed and low cost which have attracted a wave of new developers and users particularly in areas like decentralized finance and consumer apps