Analysts from Citigroup have published a forecast for the price movement of Bitcoin in the first quarter of 2026. According to their estimates, the rate of the first cryptocurrency may remain within $82,000-90,000 without significant volatility. This is reported by Coindesk.

Experts call the limited growth due to the decline in investor interest after the October collapse of cryptocurrencies. Many long-term holders began to show concern about the second weak year for Bitcoin after the last halving, which does not correspond to the historical cycles of the asset.

Analysts note that the inflow of funds into the spot Bitcoin ETF by the end of 2025 was expected to exceed $7 billion. However, since November, exchange-traded funds have lost more than $4.92 billion, which indicates the dominance of bearish sentiment in the market.

Citigroup indicates that a potential factor for a significant increase in the price of Bitcoin may be the inflow of capital into exchange-traded funds and a breakthrough in the regulation of the crypto industry in the United States. According to an optimistic scenario, the Bitcoin rate may reach $181,000, but not earlier than the second quarter of 2026.

Experts also note that the current correction of the cryptocurrency corresponds to previous cycles in depth and duration. At the same time, the rise in gold prices and the fall in oil prices, as well as high volatility in the stock market, restrain significant investments in digital assets.

Recall that earlier, the head of digital asset research at Standard Chartered, Jeffrey Kendrick, announced the approaching end of the decline in quotes on the crypto market. According to his forecast, Bitcoin may show growth as early as the end of 2025, which creates potential prerequisites for an increase in the rate next year.