Bitcoin may be on the verge of an unprecedented surge, potentially reaching $250,000 within the year, according to Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson. His bold forecast comes as tech giants like Microsoft and Apple signal deeper interest in the cryptocurrency space.
Speaking on CNBC’s Beyond The Valley podcast, Hoskinson said, “By the end of this year or next year,” Bitcoin could climb to a quarter-million dollars — a prediction that defies recent market jitters but reflects growing long-term confidence in digital assets.
From Volatility to Vision
Crypto markets have weathered a turbulent few months, rattled by global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. Bitcoin recently dipped below $77,000 but rebounded above $82,000 following U.S. President Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on new tariffs — a delay that traders saw as a chance for diplomacy to take the wheel.
Hoskinson believes much of the panic around trade wars will subside. “The tariff stuff will be a dud,” he told CNBC. “People will realize the world is willing to negotiate. It’s really just U.S. versus China.”
As political dust settles and markets adjust, Hoskinson predicts the U.S. Federal Reserve will step in by cutting interest rates — a move that typically floods markets with cheap capital. And when that happens, he says, a fresh wave of liquidity could pour into crypto.
Crypto at the Center of a Shifting World Order
For Hoskinson, Bitcoin’s rise isn’t just about monetary policy. It’s also about a shifting global order where digital assets play a growing role in how capital — and power — moves.
“If Russia wants to invade Ukraine, it invades Ukraine. If China wants to invade Taiwan, it’s going to do that,” he said. “So treaties don’t really work so well. Global business doesn’t really work so well there. Your only option for globalization is crypto.”
Crypto adoption is steadily rising. According to a recent report from Crypto.com, the number of cryptocurrency holders jumped 13% year-over-year in 2024, reaching over 659 million users globally.
The Stablecoin Trigger
Hoskinson also pointed to a critical turning point ahead: stablecoin regulation.
He believes upcoming legislation, including the Digital Asset Market Structure and Investor Protection Act, will accelerate institutional adoption. In particular, stablecoins — crypto assets pegged to real-world currencies — could unlock new use cases for global corporations.
Tech’s elite, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and others in the so-called “Magnificent 7,” could soon begin using stablecoins to pay workers across borders and power instant, low-cost transactions.
“The crypto market will be reignited by these factors,” Hoskinson said. “In particular, the passing of regulation and the adoption of stablecoins by the Magnificent 7.”
What’s Next?
While he cautions that crypto markets might “stall for probably the next three to five months,” Hoskinson sees a surge coming later this year.
He forecasts a “huge wave of speculative interest” arriving in August or September, fueling momentum that could stretch well into 2026.
Even as skeptics point to crypto’s volatility and history of boom-bust cycles, Hoskinson’s $250,000 price target is a signal of rising optimism — and a belief that crypto is maturing into a foundational part of the global financial system.
