Citi: Clearer US crypto rules fit cause Bitcoin and Ether comeback for 2026
Citi Research dey project big rebound for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) for next 12 months, dem link di recovery to clearer US regulatory signals and renewed institutional demand. Citi base-case 12‑month targets na BTC $143,000 (≈+62% from ≈$88,000) and ETH $4,304 (≈+46% from ≈$2,950). Di firm still outline bullish scenario (BTC $189,000; ETH $5,132) and bear case (BTC $78,000; ETH $1,270), show say volatility go still dey. Short-term headwinds include bearish technical patterns, options expiries, ETF outflows, macro weakness and corporate earnings shocks (specially Strategy/MicroStrategy wey cut im 2025 forecast after Bitcoin weakness). Citi expect say regulatory clarity — like passing clearer rules or laws wey go allow ETFs and tokenised institutional products — go unlock institutional capital and trigger inflows into spot markets and ETFs. Traders suppose dey watch regulatory milestones, ETF flows, options expiries and key support levels (psychological $70k and di $78k bear-case wey dem mention) for short-term risk management, and position for possible upside if regulatory progress quicken.
Bullish
Citi research dey frame say regulatory clarity na di main catalyst we fit reopen institutional demand and ETF/spot inflows, wey go dey bullish for BTC and ETH inside 12-month horizon. Di explicit upside targets (BTC $143k base, $189k bull) and di expectation sey capital go move into tokenised products and ETFs mean say price fit appreciate materially if regulatory milestones happen. But di note still highlight serious near-term risks—bearish technical setups, options expiries, ETF outflows, macro weakness and company-level shocks—so short-term price action fit choppy or draw down toward di presented bear-case (BTC $78k) before sustained recovery. For traders, dis mean a bullish medium-term outlook wey depend on regulatory progress, but e require active risk management around ETF flows, expiries and macro events in di short term.