Bitcoin could surge to $250,000 as early as this year as technology giants like Microsoft and Apple enter the cryptocurrency space, according to Cardano blockchain founder Charles Hoskinson.
In a recent interview with CNBC for the “Beyond The Valley” podcast, the industry veteran expressed strong optimism despite recent market turbulence.
Crypto markets have faced significant pressure amid a broad sell-off triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” on countries worldwide.
Over the past week, the price of Bitcoin has been trading below $77,000. However, after Trump lowered taxes to 10% for 90 days for the majority of countries, Bitcoin price surged past $82,000 on Wednesday.
Despite Bitcoin falling considerably from its January record high of more than $100,000, Hoskinson maintains a bullish outlook.
He told CNBC during the Tuesday podcast recording,
“I believe bitcoin will reach $250,000 by the end of this year or next year.”
Factors driving Bitcoin price rally
Hoskinson outlined several key catalysts that could propel Bitcoin price toward his $250,000 price target.
First, he pointed to the expanding cryptocurrency user base. It grew by 13% year-on-year in 2024 to reach 659 million people as per data from Crypto.com.
The Cardano founder also highlighted geopolitical shifts as a major factor. “We’re moving from a rules-based international order to a great powers conflict,” Hoskinson explained, adding,
“If Russia wants to invade Ukraine, it invades Ukraine. If China wants to invade Taiwan, it’s going to do that. So treaties don’t really work so well, and global business doesn’t really work so well there. So your only option for globalization is crypto.”
Once these market-moving factors align, Hoskinson expects a specific timeline for Bitcoin’s rise.
“The markets will stabilize a little bit, and they’ll get used to the new normal, and then the Fed[eral Reserve] will lower interest rates, and then you’ll have a lot of fast, cheap money, and then it’ll pour into crypto,” he said.
Big Tech’s Crypto Integration Through Stablecoins
Hoskinson opined that acceptance of stablecoins by major technology corporations is a significant game-changer for the cryptocurrency industry.
According to him, now that the legislation for stablecoins has approval in Congress, the Magnificent 7 – a collective of mega-cap technology stock including Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon – will start to introduce these digital assets into their companies.
Hoskinson believes some of the use cases will include paying employees in multiple countries using stablecoins or potentially utilizing small transaction values on their platforms.
The traditional payment rails that diminish stability make it very costly and prohibitive to make such transactions.
Conversely, stablecoins can be transferred instantaneously between wallets in milliseconds at a low cost to users.
Waiving the adoption of stablecoins by big tech companies will first add legitimacy but also representation of real utility for the crypto ecosystem and its citizens.
Hoskinson believes the collaboration and legitimacy corporate involvement provides will help “reignite” markets, especially with regulatory clarity to follow.
While Bitcoin price currently struggles with volatility, technical analysts have noted that it continues to consolidate between two bull market exponential moving averages (EMAs).
Analyst Rekt Capital pointed out that the 21-week EMA, currently representing approximately $86,500, is declining, which could make it easier for Bitcoin to break out once market conditions improve.
Crypto Analyst Insights: Bitcoin Price Bottoming Pattern
Technical analysts are closely monitoring Bitcoin’s price patterns for signs of a potential market bottom forming amid the current downturn.
Crypto analyst Rekt Capital has identified a pattern of lower lows in Bitcoin’s price action that could eventually lead to a bullish reversal signal.
Rekt Capital noted on X,
“Bitcoin continues to make Lower Lows on the price action. And it will be worth watching the Daily RSI as to whether it will start developing Higher Lows.”
This observation points to the possibility of a bullish divergence pattern forming. This is where price makes lower lows while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) creates higher lows.
The analyst also highlighted that Bitcoin continues to consolidate between two important bull market Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs).
“The consolidation between the two Bull Market EMAs continues. However, the 21-week EMA (green) represents lower prices as it declines. This week the green EMA represents ~$86500,” Rekt explained.
