Because the market rally continues, Bitwise’s CIO has outlined among the bullish catalysts that he believes the market is overlooking and will ship the crypto market costs considerably increased within the coming months and years.
Governments, Central Banks To Push Crypto Costs Larger
In a Wednesday memo to purchasers, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan outlined some developments he believes the crypto market has not but priced in regardless of the folks’s bullish sentiment on the trade.
Hougan highlighted that there’s “loads to be enthusiastic about” now, together with crypto regulation and laws transferring in a constructive route, stablecoins gaining momentum, company crypto purchases hovering, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experiencing outstanding adoption, and the “much-needed altcoin power” being injected into the broader crypto market by Ethereum’s (ETH) rally.
Nonetheless, he asserted that the “downside (…) is all these are well-known,” which may recommend that the market is “underestimating the size of every of those developments.” To Bitwise CIO, there are “vital upside surprises in retailer for the market by the top of the yr,” which may push costs considerably increased within the coming months and the beginning of 2026.
Hougan listed governments probably buying Bitcoin (BTC) as the primary key catalyst not priced in. He defined that “The Three Horsemen of Bitcoin Demand” for this yr have been ETFs, firms, and governments, however solely the primary two have delivered.
Notably, ETFs have bought 183,126 BTC, in accordance with Bitwise’s CIO, whereas public firms have acquired 354,744 BTC. In the meantime, governments have failed to indicate up regardless of some “dribs and drabs” from some jurisdictions like Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, and even the US. He emphasised that the US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), established by President Donald Trump in March, solely holds belongings seized by prison forfeiture.
Within the memo, Hougan affirmed that, primarily based on the conversations he’s having at Bitwise, international locations and central banks “are transferring,” albeit slowly, clarifying that he doesn’t imagine “there shall be a rush of nationwide bulletins by year-end,” however suspects there shall be sufficient to “set up this as a serious potential catalyst for 2026. That realization alone may push costs considerably increased.”
It’s price noting that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed on Thursday morning that the federal government is not going to be buying extra Bitcoin for its SBR. As an alternative, the US will cease promoting these belongings and proceed to construct up the reserve’s stash by confiscated BTC
What Else Has Not Been Priced In?
Bitcoin buying and selling close to all-time highs whereas rates of interest hover close to historic highs is uncommon, the Bitwise CIO mentioned when discussing the second issue. Regardless of traders having priced in a number of price cuts by yr’s finish, he asserted that the market is lacking a a lot greater story.
Notably, the Trump administration “has a powerful need” for a weaker greenback and a extra dovish Federal Reserve. The administration is “strongly signaling that it needs a lot decrease charges and a a lot weaker greenback.” To him, Bitcoin may commerce considerably increased with a lot decrease charges and a a lot weaker greenback because of cash printing.
Hougan additionally underscored the diminishing volatility development as a 3rd potential catalyst, as each BTC’s volatility and the speed at which its volatility is altering have fallen dramatically because the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024.
The expansion of ETFs and company purchases injected new kinds of consumers into the crypto market, and advances on the regulatory and legislative aspect dramatically decreased threat out there. I believe that is the “new regular” for bitcoin. It’s now roughly as risky as high-volatility tech shares, like Nvidia.
Lastly, he recommended {that a} comeback of Preliminary Coin Choices (ICOs) may very well be across the nook, bringing a wave of latest capital. Hougan argued that ICOs have had a horrible fame since 2018, which led most traders and observers to jot down them off “as broken items.”
Nevertheless, Securities and Change Fee’s (SEC) Chairman, Paul Atkins, not too long ago “laid out a imaginative and prescient for a rebirth of ICOs” along with his Undertaking Crypto speech. “Unleashing a brand new ICO Market 2.0 may attract vital new capital to the crypto market,” Hougan affirmed.
“Markets don’t rise on excellent news. They rise on excellent news that isn’t priced in,” he affirmed, concluding that “the market normally underappreciates the size of the bull market going down in crypto. However I additionally assume it’s overlooking some particular catalysts that can play out within the months and years to return.”

Bitcoin is buying and selling at $118,248 within the one-week chart. Supply: BTCUSDT on TradingView
Featured Picture from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
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