Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has predicted Bitcoin could surge to $250,000 by the end of 2025 or early 2026, dismissing concerns of an impending "Crypto Winter" despite global trade tensions. His forecast joins a growing chorus of industry leaders expressing optimism about cryptocurrency's future amid potential regulatory clarity and institutional adoption.
What to Know:
- Hoskinson believes the "Magnificent Seven" tech giants will bring 3 billion new users to cryptocurrency
- Binance CEO Richard Teng confirmed multiple governments are seeking guidance on establishing national Bitcoin reserves
- Pending U.S. legislation (GENIUS Act and STABLE Act) could provide regulatory clarity needed for traditional financial institutions to enter the crypto space
Industry Leaders Signal Strong Growth Ahead
In an April 18 interview with CNBC, Hoskinson, a longtime cryptocurrency veteran, emphasized the sector's resilience through multiple presidential administrations and economic cycles. "When I started crypto, Bitcoin was under a dollar," Hoskinson said. "I watched it go up and down and up and down. The macro changes – we've lived through Obama, we've lived through Trump One, we've lived through Biden, and now we are in Trump Two."
He pointed to consistent user growth as the industry's foundation. "Presidents change, macro changes, but really, the question is, through every generation, are we gaining users?
Are we gaining liquidity? Are we gaining utility as a system?" The Cardano founder noted that cryptocurrency has now reached approximately 550 million users globally, highlighting adoption in Argentina, Vietnam, and Nigeria as significant examples.
While acknowledging potential short-term disruptions from international trade disputes, Hoskinson maintained that cryptocurrency would ultimately benefit from these tensions. "Eventually the Tariff stuff will be a dud and people will realize that the world is willing to negotiate. And it's really just US v/s China," he stated, suggesting current geopolitical friction would have limited lasting impact on digital assets.
His optimism extends particularly to the influence major technology companies could soon exert on the market. According to Hoskinson, "the magnificent seven (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla) are going to come into crypto, and that is going to bring 3 billion users into crypto."
He explored scenarios where users might have cryptocurrency wallets integrated directly into both Android and Apple devices.
The regulatory landscape appears increasingly favorable for such adoption. The U.S. Congress is currently considering two key pieces of legislation: the GENIUS Act and the STABLE Act, both designed to establish clear regulatory frameworks for stablecoins. These bills would require full backing and comprehensive oversight for issuers. Hoskinson argues these laws, once enacted, will provide the legal certainty necessary for traditional financial institutions and major corporations to confidently enter the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Global Interest Extends to National Reserves
Hoskinson isn't the only one who feels optimistic about Bitcoin future.
Binance CEO Richard Teng revealed that multiple governments are actively seeking guidance on establishing national Bitcoin reserves, though he declined to name specific countries. "We have actually received quite a number of approaches by a few governments and sovereign wealth funds on the establishment of their own crypto reserves," Teng told the Financial Times.
This development appears closely linked to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent decision to establish an American cryptocurrency reserve, potentially triggering a wave of similar initiatives globally.
Messari CEO Eric Turner echoed the broader optimism about Bitcoin's trajectory while suggesting the market may experience varied momentum through 2025. "I think we've seen Bitcoin on one side with flows into ETFs, and then we've had little pockets – meme coins and things that have been interesting," Turner said. He noted that current enthusiasm still falls short of previous cycles: "Compared to where we were when we had DeFi summer in 2020, 2021, we really haven't seen that external capital pouring in."
Turner projected measured growth in the immediate term followed by significant acceleration. "We're probably looking at a muted Q2, but I'm really excited for Q3 and Q4. And I think that's where you start to see something really, really interesting happen in this market," he stated confidently.
Many industry analysts have cited potential shifts in Federal Reserve policy as another factor that could drive Bitcoin toward the $250,000 threshold. Arthur Hayes, former CEO of BitMEX, believes a move toward quantitative easing could increase market liquidity, making risk assets like Bitcoin considerably more attractive to investors.
Closing Thoughts
Cryptocurrency industry leaders remain broadly optimistic about Bitcoin's future value, with regulatory developments and institutional adoption serving as key catalysts. Despite short-term market fluctuations, the potential entrance of major technology companies and sovereign wealth funds suggests cryptocurrency may be approaching its most significant mainstream integration to date.