Bitcoin ended 2025 with a negative return. However, industry insiders are now bullish on the cryptocurrency’s performance in 2026. Bill Barhydt, CEO of crypto exchange and wallet company Abra, believes that easing monetary policy would inject “massive” liquidity into markets, pushing Bitcoin prices higher.
Coinbase’s head of investment research, David Duong, also expects stronger momentum from crypto exchange-traded funds, stablecoins, tokenisation, and clearer regulations.
Barhydt made the remarks while speaking to Schwab Network, while Duong shared his views in a year-end wrap-up post on X.
- This Bitcoin Prediction From Citi Targets $143,000 in a Year — Here’s What Has to Go Right
- Bitcoin Price Collapse Signals Risk-Off Mood in Crypto Markets
- Bitcoin Bounces Back Above $90K, Giving Traders a Thanksgiving Lift
Bullish Crypto Executives
“We are seeing quantitative easing light right now,” the Abra CEO said. “The Fed is starting to buy its own bonds. I think demand for government debt is going to fall next year, along with lower rates. All of this bodes well for all assets, including Bitcoin.”
He expects a continued interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve this year, which would inject a “ton” of liquidity into the markets.
Like Duong, Barhydt also believes there will be further regulatory clarity around cryptocurrencies in the United States.
The Coinbase executive noted that last year, spot crypto ETFs provided regulated access to cryptocurrencies, and several corporations started digital asset treasuries. There was also growing interest in tokenisation and stablecoins.
“We expect these forces to compound in 2026,” Duong wrote, “as ETF approval timelines shorten, stablecoins take a larger role in delivery-versus-payment (DvP) structures, and tokenised collateral is recognised more broadly across traditional transactions.”
The crypto industry in the US received a strong regulatory push in 2025 following Donald Trump’s return to the White House for a second term. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also has a crypto-friendly chair, who is taking a more relaxed regulatory approach towards the industry.
“The practical outcome is real operational readiness: clearer policy guardrails that support product development, market growth, and the wider use of crypto systems in payments and settlements,” Duong added. “This forms the base on which the next stage of institutional adoption is being built.”
A Tough Year, but Optimism Ahead
Bitcoin had a difficult year in 2025, despite reaching a record high of around $126,000 in August.
The first day of 2026 failed to impress crypto supporters, as the Bitcoin price dropped by more than one per cent over the past 24 hours. It remains to be seen how the crypto markets perform in the coming weeks and months.
