Bitcoin Near $80K as Hoskinson Sees $250K on AI Demand

Bitcoin was trading near $80,000 when Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson forecast it could reach $250,000 within 24 months. He said AI agents may create new demand by using crypto to pay for online services and transfer value, while urging the industry to focus on practical applications such as AI and tokenised real-world assets. He also cited usability, privacy, identity and interoperability as barriers to broader adoption. Near-term signals remain mixed. Santiment reported that Bitcoin had lost about 30,000 non-empty wallets since 16 October, putting the total near 59.95 million; it said retail-holder exits could precede a local bottom. The firm highlighted $80,000 as a key level and a move above roughly $82,500 as stronger confirmation. A CryptoQuant analyst identified the Trader Realized Price in the mid-$70,000 range as possible support, but not a guaranteed floor. Technical indicators in the later update also point to uncertainty. Bitcoin is near its 50-day moving average, with an RSI around 50 and the MACD above its signal line, although sellers still appear to control the trend. Traders are watching support around $76,000 and resistance from $85,000 to $87,000; a daily close below $76,000 could open a path toward $65,000, while a convincing break above resistance would strengthen the bullish case. Hoskinson’s AI-driven Bitcoin forecast is a long-term thesis, and price action has yet to confirm it.
Neutral
The news has a potentially bullish long-term angle for Bitcoin: Hoskinson’s $250,000 forecast rests on the possibility that AI agents will use crypto for payments and value transfers, creating additional demand. However, that use case is prospective, and the article provides no evidence that it has yet translated into material Bitcoin buying. Near-term indicators are mixed: wallet losses may suggest retail capitulation, but Bitcoin remains below the cited confirmation levels, sellers still appear influential, and a break below $76,000 could expose the market to a decline toward $65,000. Support around the mid-$70,000s and a decisive move above $85,000–$87,000 are important reference points. As a result, the forecast may encourage bullish sentiment, but it does not establish a clear immediate direction for BTC; the overall impact is neutral until price action or adoption data confirms the thesis.