$231K Bitcoin? Citibank Issues Bold Short-Term Crypto Prediction

Citibank has issued contemporary 12-month value targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum, laying out a large set of attainable outcomes that vary from steep drops to giant positive aspects.
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In keeping with the financial institution’s newest word, Bitcoin’s base case sits at $181,000, whereas a bearish situation places it at $82,000. A bullish run may push Bitcoin to $231,000 inside a 12 months.
Citi Lays Out Broad Vary
Primarily based on reviews, Citi is avoiding a single forecast and as an alternative offers three clear paths for Bitcoin. The financial institution’s bearish mark of $82,000 represents a 31% fall from Bitcoin’s present quoted value of $120,314.
The bottom case of $181,000 can be a 52% rise. On the high finish, Citi’s $231,000 determine is roughly 95% above right now’s degree. These are massive swings. They present how a lot uncertainty merchants face.
Citi introduces new 12-month value targets for digital belongings:
Bear Base Bull
BTC $82k $181k $231k
ETH $2k $5.4k $7.3k pic.twitter.com/AlpWPaK2YW— matthew sigel, recovering CFA (@matthew_sigel) October 2, 2025

Macro Forces, Institutional Demand
Citi factors to the US greenback and gold as key components that would cap Bitcoin’s upside. A stronger US greenback and weaker gold costs had been famous as headwinds for crypto returns.
On the similar time, the financial institution highlighted continued curiosity from giant traders and extra institutional flows as causes Bitcoin may climb.
The word additionally in contrast these targets with Citi’s earlier year-end calls — $132,000 for Bitcoin and $4,500 for Ethereum — and stated it prolonged the timeline to a 12-month horizon that runs to October 2026.
Market Response, Different Forecasts
Stories have disclosed that during the last 24 hours Bitcoin was up 2% and Ethereum rose 2.10%. Different big-name forecasts had been talked about alongside Citi’s view.
Customary Chartered and Fundstrat’s Tom Lee are amongst analysts saying Bitcoin may attain between $200,000 and $250,000 by the tip of this 12 months.
Tom Lee has put ahead a a lot larger determine for Ethereum, forecasting $15,000 for ETH — a quantity effectively above Citi’s most bullish estimate.
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Ethereum’s Path Much less Clear?
In keeping with Citi, Ethereum faces extra unknowns. The financial institution set a bear case for ETH at $2,000, a base goal at $5,400, and a bullish quantity at $7,300.
These ranges sit round a 65% rise from Ethereum’s present value of $4,480 in the perfect case. Citi defined that Ethereum’s ecosystem continues to be shifting, so it’s tougher to foretell how worth will probably be shared throughout tasks and staking members.
Citi’s vary is each a warning and a roadmap. It warns that costs can fall sharply — as proven by the $82,000 bear case for Bitcoin and $2,000 for Ethereum — nevertheless it additionally maps attainable upside.
Featured picture from Unsplash, chart from TradingView





