Bitcoin ended 2025 on a sour note, marking its first yearly decline since 2022. However, many crypto experts believe this could be the calm before the storm. They’re predicting that 2026 will be a major turning point for the digital asset market, with a big price rally on the horizon. Several key factors are building excitement: a more crypto-friendly U.S. government, growing interest from big financial institutions, and potential approval of new spot ETFs (exchange-traded funds). All of this could create the kind of bull run investors were hoping for in 2025.

Popular crypto YouTuber Jesse Eckel, who has over 276,000 followers, shared his bold predictions in a recent video. He admitted he was wrong about 2025 being the big year for altcoins and said 2026 is likely to deliver the real breakout. He pointed out that 2025 didn’t follow the usual four-year cycle that many in the crypto world rely on. Instead of being driven by widespread money inflows, the market moved based on hype and institutional buying. That shift led to disappointment, especially as global tariffs and economic uncertainty dragged prices down.

Eckel now believes that by mid-2026, the crypto world will move past the old four-year cycle model. When that happens, he expects prices to jump fast as the market catches up with positive changes that have been ignored. He listed several possible triggers for this shift: rapid growth in stablecoins, more ETF investments in Bitcoin and Ethereum, clearer crypto regulations allowing new token launches, potential approval of altcoin ETFs, interest rate cuts, and even government stimulus ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

Based on these trends, Eckel updated his predictions. He now sees Bitcoin reaching between $170,000 and $250,000 during the next peak. For Ethereum, he expects a price range of $10,000 to $20,000.

Institutional players are also getting more excited. Andrew Forson, president of DeFi Technologies, thinks big investors will push deeper into crypto through stablecoins and real-world asset tokenization. He calls stablecoins crypto’s “killer app” because they let people move money quickly between cryptocurrencies, yield-generating assets, and regular cash. Forson also sees blockchain becoming essential for managing AI data and powering global financial systems.

Still, not everyone is convinced. Some analysts warn that if current momentum fades or if demand from company treasuries weakens, another crypto winter could hit. Bitcoin has already pulled back from recent highs, raising doubts for some.

Whether 2026 becomes a legendary bull market or another letdown remains one of the biggest open questions in crypto today. For now, all eyes are on what the next year holds for Bitcoin, Ethereum, altcoins, and the growing world of digital finance.