Coinbase CEO predicts Bitcoin could reach $400,000, but first must break $81,000

Coinbase chief executive Brian Armstrong told Bloomberg and CNBC on September 10 that he believes Bitcoin’s price floor for the current cycle is already set, and that the cryptocurrency could climb to $400,000 by 2030.

Current price and recent performance

Bitcoin is trading around $77,000, about 39% below its October 2025 peak of $126,198. In August the asset rose 25.4%, moving from $62,899 to $78,852, with a 23.5% weekly gain that set a record for dollar‑term weekly increase.

Technical hurdle: $81,000 level

Analysts at Galaxy Research note that Bitcoin’s 50‑week moving average was $81,473 on September 2. A weekly close above this level would be a strong signal that the bear market has ended. In four of Bitcoin’s five prior bear markets, the first break above the 50‑week average occurred after the cycle low was already established.

Factors behind the August rally

• Increased demand for the “debasement trade.”
• Policy developments in Washington.
• Short liquidations and momentum buying.
• US spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $3.4 billion in August, the strongest monthly inflow since July 2025.

Long‑term outlook

Armstrong ties his $400,000 target to Bitcoin’s four‑year halving cycle, with the next halving expected around 2028. He expects the next phase of recovery to unfold over the next one to two years, but acknowledges that Bitcoin must first sustain a move above the low‑$80,000 range, roughly $80,000‑$84,000, to confirm the start of a new cycle.