Galaxy Research: Bitcoin Predictions for 2026

The 26-item 2026 cryptocurrency report published by Galaxy Research does not rule out possible new peaks for Bitcoin (BTC) while noting that it could experience a year filled with high uncertainty and sharp price ranges. The cryptocurrency market, which displayed a strong upward trend in 2025, is in a more cautious environment as the year comes to a close. According to the Galaxy Research team, despite the market showing a weak outlook, institutional interest, regulatory clarity, and strengthening on-chain use cases are supporting the infrastructure.

The report suggests that 2026 could be a transition year where "real use stands out over speculation." Avoiding a specific price target for Bitcoin, Galaxy indicates that prices in the options market are being evaluated within a broad range. For instance, by the end of June 2026, scenarios between 70,000 dollars and 130,000 dollars and for the year-end between 50,000 dollars and 250,000 dollars are reported to hold the same probability. This situation reveals that there is uncertainty regarding the market's direction, with both downside and upside risks being priced in.

Galaxy emphasized that if Bitcoin's price does not settle permanently above the 100,000-105,000 dollars band, short-term downside risks may continue. However, it is also stated that increasing institutional access and easing monetary policies could position Bitcoin as a "store of value" similar to gold. While emphasizing that 2026 could be a stability year for Bitcoin, it is indicated that long-term optimism continues.

The report also contains noteworthy forecasts not only for Bitcoin but also for Solana (SOL) and the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. Attention is drawn to the possibility that inflation-reduction efforts in Solana may not yield results in 2026. Additionally, it is predicted that the application layer will generate much more revenue compared to the network layer, and this ratio could double. This situation continues to support the "Fat App" thesis that value may shift more towards applications than infrastructure.

The stablecoin market also holds significant importance in the report. Galaxy points out that the stablecoin transfer volume may lag behind traditional banking infrastructure, while predicting that stablecoin projects collaborating with major financial institutions will gradually consolidate over time. Furthermore, it seems possible that U.S. regulators will develop a waiver mechanism to expand the use of tokenized securities within DeFi.