Bitcoin is again in focus after an outlook from Citigroup, the place analysts mapped out a large value vary for the following 12 months that captures each upside momentum and lingering draw back dangers.
The financial institution’s newest projections level to a base-case goal of $143,000 over the following 12 months, anchored in expectations round a progress in ETF participation and clearer regulatory frameworks. Moreover, Citi outlined an optimistic path that stretches to $189,000, alongside a bearish state of affairs that initiatives a downward transfer to $78,500.
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ETF Adoption And Institutional Demand
Citi’s base and bullish eventualities are constructed across the similar core thesis: the rising position of regulated funding automobiles in shaping Bitcoin’s market construction. Crypto analysts are all the time noting that Spot Bitcoin ETFs have lowered boundaries for institutional traders, making it simpler for giant swimming pools of capital to realize publicity with out direct custody considerations.
Analysts at Citi are leaning into this faculty of thought and are projecting bullish value ranges for Bitcoin. With the expectations of ETF curiosity and regulatory readability in thoughts, Citi sees Bitcoin trending towards $143,000 below its base case throughout the subsequent 12 months.
Apparently, the outlook of a bullish state of affairs from the analysts projected that Bitcoin will likely be buying and selling someplace round $189,000 throughout the subsequent 12 months. These projections are notable contemplating the present state of Bitcoin’s value motion, which is at the moment struggling close to $90,000. They’re additionally contingent on a turnaround within the state of flows surrounding Spot Bitcoin ETFs.
LATEST: 📈 Citi analysts put Bitcoin’s 12-month value base case at $143,000, pushed by anticipated ETF curiosity and regulatory readability, with a bullish state of affairs of $189,000 and a bearish considered one of $78,500. pic.twitter.com/jAukEDkXQe
— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) December 20, 2025
Regardless of its constructive outlook, Citi additionally flagged draw back dangers that would derail bullish momentum. A bearish framework by Citi analysts initiatives the Bitcoin value sliding to $78,500 throughout the subsequent 12 months.
Fundstrat’s Inside View Contrasts With Citi’s Optimism
Citi’s bullish projections are in distinction to a extra cautious inner outlook not too long ago reported by Fundstrat International Advisors. Inside discussions throughout the agency are warning of a attainable drawdown of the Bitcoin value towards the $60,000 to $65,000 vary.
In line with an inner be aware circulated to shoppers, Fundstrat’s head of digital asset technique, Sean Farrell, cautioned {that a} additional correction could unfold through the first half of 2026 as macroeconomic pressures and tightening monetary situations weigh on danger belongings.
In line with @_FORAB, Tom Lee’s fund, Fundstrat, acknowledged in its newest 2026 cryptocurrency technique recommendation to inner shoppers {that a} important correction is predicted within the first half of the 12 months, utterly contradicting Tom Lee’s public statements.
The interior report units… pic.twitter.com/HbRoNzr85z
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) December 20, 2025
The report outlined draw back targets that place Bitcoin within the $60,000 to $65,000 vary, a stage that will signify a 30% lower from its present value vary. The identical inner framework additionally projected Ethereum retreating downwards to $1,800 to $2,000, alongside Solana falling right into a $50 to $75 vary.
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This goes in opposition to the general public stance of Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee, who has publicly maintained a bullish stance on the long-term trajectory and new all-time highs for Ethereum and Bitcoin.
Featured picture from Unsplash, chart from TradingView