Citi Projects $143,000 Base Case For Bitcoin in 12-Month Outlook
Bitcoin is again in focus after an outlook from Citigroup, the place analysts mapped out a large worth vary for the subsequent 12 months that captures each upside momentum and lingering draw back dangers.
The financial institution’s newest projections level to a base-case goal of $143,000 over the subsequent 12 months, anchored in expectations around a growth in ETF participation and clearer regulatory frameworks. Moreover, Citi outlined an optimistic path that stretches to $189,000, alongside a bearish situation that tasks a downward transfer to $78,500.
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ETF Adoption And Institutional Demand
Citi’s base and bullish situations are constructed across the similar core thesis: the rising function of regulated funding autos in shaping Bitcoin’s market construction. Crypto analysts are all the time noting that Spot Bitcoin ETFs have lowered boundaries for institutional traders, making it simpler for giant swimming pools of capital to achieve publicity with out direct custody considerations.
Analysts at Citi are leaning into this college of thought and are projecting bullish worth ranges for Bitcoin. With the expectations of ETF curiosity and regulatory readability in thoughts, Citi sees Bitcoin trending towards $143,000 below its base case throughout the subsequent 12 months.
Curiously, the outlook of a bullish situation from the analysts projected that Bitcoin might be buying and selling someplace round $189,000 throughout the subsequent 12 months. These projections are notable contemplating the present state of Bitcoin’s worth motion, which is currently struggling near $90,000. They’re additionally contingent on a turnaround within the state of flows surrounding Spot Bitcoin ETFs.
LATEST: 📈 Citi analysts put Bitcoin’s 12-month worth base case at $143,000, pushed by anticipated ETF curiosity and regulatory readability, with a bullish situation of $189,000 and a bearish considered one of $78,500. pic.twitter.com/jAukEDkXQe
— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) December 20, 2025
Regardless of its constructive outlook, Citi additionally flagged draw back dangers that might derail bullish momentum. A bearish framework by Citi analysts tasks the Bitcoin worth sliding to $78,500 throughout the subsequent 12 months.
Fundstrat’s Inside View Contrasts With Citi’s Optimism
Citi’s bullish projections are in distinction to a extra cautious inside outlook just lately reported by Fundstrat International Advisors. Inside discussions throughout the agency are warning of a doable drawdown of the Bitcoin worth towards the $60,000 to $65,000 vary.
In keeping with an internal note circulated to purchasers, Fundstrat’s head of digital asset technique, Sean Farrell, cautioned {that a} additional correction might unfold through the first half of 2026 as macroeconomic pressures and tightening monetary situations weigh on danger belongings.
In keeping with @_FORAB, Tom Lee’s fund, Fundstrat, said in its newest 2026 cryptocurrency technique recommendation to inside purchasers {that a} vital correction is anticipated within the first half of the 12 months, utterly contradicting Tom Lee’s public statements.
The inner report units… pic.twitter.com/HbRoNzr85z
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) December 20, 2025
The report outlined draw back targets that place Bitcoin within the $60,000 to $65,000 vary, a degree that may characterize a 30% lower from its present worth vary. The identical inside framework additionally projected Ethereum retreating downwards to $1,800 to $2,000, alongside Solana falling right into a $50 to $75 vary.
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This goes in opposition to the general public stance of Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee, who has publicly maintained a bullish stance on the long-term trajectory and new all-time highs for Ethereum and Bitcoin.
Featured picture from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
