2025 is ending with significant debate in both the financial and cryptocurrency worlds. Bitcoin (BTC), contrary to optimistic price predictions at the beginning of the year, underwent a major correction, and 2025 looks set to be remembered as a year that highlighted the uncertainty surrounding price predictions.
While some predictions for 2025 reached up to $1 million, the predictions of major players proved disappointing.
According to predictions compiled by CoinDesk, most of the most optimistic forecasts for the year-end BTC price turned out to be wrong.
Despite optimistic predictions, Bitcoin ended the year well below its peak, experiencing its first full-year loss since 2022.
In fact, optimism prevailed in the market for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies at the beginning of 2025. However, the downward trend that began with the major crash on October 10th continued into the last quarter. During that period, more than $19 billion in forced liquidations occurred, and approximately $500 billion of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization was wiped out.
Jan3 CEO Samson Mow predicted Bitcoin could reach $1 million by the end of 2025, while Blockstream CEO Adam Back estimated it at between $500,000 and $1,000,000 by the end of the year, based on ETF inflows and supply constraints. Venture investor Chamath Palihapitiya similarly offered a $500,000 estimate. However, these predictions proved to be very far-fetched.
VanEck predicted a peak of $180,000 in the first quarter, Bitwise CIO Matt Hogan expected a peak of $200,000, while Fundstrat’s Tom Lee had estimated a range of $200,000-$250,000 by October. However, these figures also proved to be very high.
Even more cautious predictions didn’t come true. At this point, JPMorgan had raised its year-end target for Bitcoin to $165,000 in early October. Similarly, MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor stated at the end of October that Bitcoin could reach approximately $150,000 by the end of the year. However, these predictions also proved incorrect.
Some companies have also revised their forecasts downwards following the collapse. Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz lowered his year-end target range to $120,000-$125,000 in October, while Standard Chartered reduced its December target from $200,000 to $100,000.
In conclusion, while Bitcoin bulls’ predictions proved wrong, Bitcoin defied all predictions and overturned technical charts. In doing so, BTC highlighted that while predictions are easy in the crypto sector, they are rarely accurate.
*This is not investment advice.