Will Bitcoin Hit a New All-Time High This Year? Expert Weighs In

Swan Bitcoin CEO Cory Klippsten said that despite the continued influx of institutional capital into the cryptocurrency market, the influence of individual investors on Bitcoin price movements remains quite strong.

Klippsten pointed out a common misconception in the market, stating that investors believe institutions like BlackRock and Fidelity Investments own Bitcoin, but the vast majority of Bitcoin ETFs are actually held by individual investors who invest in Bitcoin through ETFs. He added that ETF issuers have to buy actual Bitcoin from the spot market and store it, therefore the demand stemming from ETFs is real and impactful on the market.

However, Klippsten noted that some financial products, such as futures contracts, could increase the “paper supply” in the market, adding that Bitcoin’s most important feature is its ability to maintain its nature as a real asset on the blockchain.

Klippsten, also commenting on the market outlook, stated that expectations for Bitcoin reaching a new all-time high in 2026 have significantly weakened. He noted that when the price was trading near $95,000, he estimated the probability of a new peak during the year at approximately 50%, but after the price subsequently fell to the $60,000 range, he reduced this probability to the 20-25% range.

On the other hand, data shows a net outflow of approximately $2.9 billion from US spot Bitcoin ETFs since May 15th. During the same period, the price of Bitcoin also lost about 9.5% of its value. The Fear and Greed Index, which measures investor sentiment in the cryptocurrency market, is currently at 23, indicating an “extreme fear” zone, suggesting a cautious atmosphere persists in the markets.

*This is not investment advice.