Bitget CEO: Bitcoin to End 2026 Near Current Levels, US BTC Purchases Unlikely

Bitget CEO Gracy Chen expects Bitcoin to finish 2026 within $10,000 to $20,000 of its current price, citing macroeconomic uncertainty and the possibility of higher interest rates as key headwinds for further upside. Speaking on Cointelegraph's Trade Secrets podcast, Chen noted that BTC has become increasingly intertwined with traditional finance, making it more sensitive to broader economic conditions than in previous cycles. "If any of that happens, the price should go down, at least theoretically," Chen said, while calling her range-bound forecast her "more responsible" projection. Whether Bitcoin closes above or below the $70,000 mark remains difficult to call, she added.

Chen also cast doubt on the US government actively purchasing Bitcoin before the end of President Donald Trump's term. While the Trump administration established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in March 2025 using BTC forfeited to federal authorities, Chen described direct government acquisitions as unlikely within the next two years. "From a policy perspective, it's probably unlikely," Chen said. "I just don't see it coming right now." The US currently holds an estimated 328,372 BTC, according to BitcoinTreasuries.NET, most accumulated through law enforcement seizures and asset forfeitures rather than market purchases.

Chen's skepticism reflects the political hurdles facing any expansion of the federal reserve, even under a crypto-friendly administration. Acquiring additional BTC through budget-neutral strategies would require legislative debate and bipartisan support, a process she considers improbable in the current political climate. Her measured outlook contrasts with more bullish predictions circulating in the industry, such as projections of Bitcoin reaching $1 million by 2030, which 10x Research founder Markus Thielen recently called "mathematically impossible." As Bitcoin miners and treasury companies ride the latest rally higher, Chen's forecast underscores a market caught between institutional momentum and macroeconomic caution.