Hougan Predicts Bitcoin’s Slow but Steady Rise This Decade

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Hougan Sees Bitcoin Rising Slowly but Surely Over the Next Decade

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: December 29, 2025

Key Takeaways

Bitwise's Matt Hougan expects Bitcoin to grow steadily over the next decade, with lower volatility and fewer extreme yearly swings;
Hougan predicts 2026 will be another positive year for Bitcoin, which follows its 2025 highs near $109,000 and record $125,100 peak in 2024;
Institutional investors are helping stabilize Bitcoin’s price, while clearer US regulations may have already provided most policy benefits.

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Hougan Sees Bitcoin Rising Slowly but Surely Over the Next Decade

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Bitcoin’s BTC $87,200.55 performance over the next decade is likely to be stable but not dramatic, according to Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise.

Speaking with CNBC on December 26, Hougan explained that Bitcoin’s long-term trend should remain positive, though large yearly jumps are less likely.

He said, "I think we’re in a 10-year grind upward of strong returns. It’s not spectacular returns, [but] strong returns, lower volatility, some up and down".

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Hougan expects 2026 to be another positive year for Bitcoin. He added, "I think next year will be up".

He also noted that Bitcoin’s current decline of about 30% is much smaller than the 60% drops seen in earlier cycles. Hougan attributed this to “persistent, slow-moving institutional buying", which he said helps reduce the scale of market pullbacks.

At the start of 2025, Bitcoin climbed to new highs near $109,000 after Donald Trump was sworn in as US president. Many investors saw the event as a short-term boost for the asset.

However, Hougan does not believe the new administration will have much more influence on Bitcoin’s price going forward.

He said, "There’s not much more they can marginally do for Bitcoin", and added that most of the benefits from clearer regulations are already reflected in the market.

A new comparison by analyst and author Adam Livingston showed that Bitcoin’s growth over the past decade has far exceeded that of gold and silver. What did he say? Read the full story.