While this year’s Bitcoin price action has left some investors unsatisfied, three forces will drive it to a higher ceiling in 2026.
That’s the call from Katherine Dowling, president of the Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company, who says a regulatory shift, quantitative easing, and institutional inflows will push bitcoin far higher despite the asset’s recent weakness.
“I am bullish on Bitcoin in 2026 despite the recent risk-off sentiment and price slide,” Dowling told DL News.
“Outside of the clear fundamentals, we also have the trifecta of a positive regulatory environment, quantitative easing and institutional inflows.”
Her prediction? $150,000 by the end of 2026 — 70% increase from Bitcoin’s current price.
Dowling’s words breathe some respite into an asset that many are already placing in a hospice. Bitcoin has dropped over 25% from its October all-time highs, triggering fears that a bear market has already set in.
But she sees three structural catalysts converging to overwhelm Bitcoin’s short-term selling pressure.
Bitcoin treasures are companies that buy and hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets, allowing investors to get exposure to the top cryptocurrency via their shares on a stock exchange.
The trifecta
Dowling’s bullish case rests on three pillars working in tandem.
First, the regulatory environment in the US has to come together. The Genius Act provided clarity on stablecoins, but now the market structure legislation — dubbed the Clarity Act — has to get approved by the Senate.
Other government agencies are making life easier for crypto companies and products. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said US banks will be allowed to buy and sell cryptocurrencies on behalf of their customers.
Second, quantitative easing is finally back. On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for a third time this year, and just two weeks earlier, formally ended quantitative tightening. Lower rates and improved liquidity conditions historically boost risk assets like Bitcoin.
Brian Huang, CEO of investment platform Glider, agrees that the macro backdrop is shifting.
“If we zoom out, the FED is lowering interest rates. That should bode well for risk assets like Bitcoin and ETH ETFs,” Huang told DL News.
“Expect Bitcoin to reach $150k before year’s [2026] end.”
Third, institutional inflows will continue despite the short-term volatility. Bitcoin ETFs attracted billions in 2025 — a trend that Dowling expects will accelerate as more platforms are granted access.
“Bitcoin ETFs will continue to see inflows and Bitcoin DATs will push through this current noise as well,” Dowling said.
Big banks
The cherry on top for Dowling is that big banks are starting to recommend Bitcoin exposure to their clients.
“It’s important to underscore the fact that we now have big banks actively recommending Bitcoin exposure and bringing Bitcoin products on their platforms,” she told DL News.
Dowling is referring to Bank of America, which recently told its advisers they had the green light to recommend Bitcoin ETFs.
That unlocks a $3.5 trillion pool of capital. Not a small amount.
