Crypto Journalist

Amin Ayan

Crypto Journalist

Amin Ayan

About Author

Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24/7 Wall St. He has…

Share

Last updated: 

July 27, 2025

Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan believes Bitcoin could break from its historical four-year cycle and post significant gains in 2026 — a call that diverges from mainstream expectations of a cycle peak later this year.

“I bet 2026 is an up year,” Hougan said in a video shared on X, adding, “I broadly think we’re in for a good few years.”

His remarks come as debate intensifies over whether the classic Bitcoin halving-driven model still holds.

Hougan Says Bitcoin Halving Cycle Losing Its Influence

According to Hougan, several factors are now overriding the influence of the halving cycle. He argued the impact of halvings weakens over time, as each one cuts rewards by a smaller absolute amount.

He also pointed to the broader macro environment, where U.S. presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is pressuring the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, a move that could drive capital away from bonds and toward risk assets like Bitcoin.

“Blow-up risk is attenuated, due to improving regulation and the institutionalization of the space,” Hougan said, noting that clearer rules and expanding institutional involvement have reduced the likelihood of market shocks.

He added that ongoing adoption by traditional firms could extend Bitcoin’s bullish momentum well beyond historical timelines.

However, Hougan also flagged risks. He pointed to the rise of Bitcoin treasury companies — firms that buy BTC using debt or equity issuance — as a potential vulnerability.

Asset manager VanEck has echoed similar concerns, warning that such companies could be overleveraged if the market turns.

Despite those caveats, Hougan expects a more measured advance ahead. “I think it’s more ‘sustained steady boom’ than super-cycle,” he said, though he acknowledged the path forward will still include volatility.

Bitcoin is currently trading around $118,169, having climbed over 10% in the past month, according to Nansen.

Hougan’s view aligns with recent commentary from CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju, who declared the four-year cycle “dead,” citing a shift in whale behavior.

“Old whales sell to new long-term whales. Institutional adoption is bigger than we thought,” Ju noted.

Bitcoin Could Peak in October If 2020 Cycle Repeats, Says Analyst

However, not everyone agrees. Crypto analyst Rekt Capital recently warned that if Bitcoin mirrors its 2020 cycle, the market could peak in October, 550 days after the April 2024 halving.

That would keep Bitcoin firmly within its historic rhythm, suggesting the debate over its future trajectory is far from settled.

Bitcoin’s strong performance and growing reputation as a store of value have led analyst Tom Lee to call it “Digital Gold,” with a bold long-term price forecast of $1 million.

Speaking on CNBC, Lee emphasized Bitcoin’s role as an emerging asset class that could challenge gold’s dominance.

He also pointed to recent regulatory progress, such as the approval of the GENIUS Act, as a positive sign for the crypto sector.

Lee believes a $200K–$250K Bitcoin price is achievable, representing just a fraction of gold’s market value.

While overall capital raised in 2024 fell 22.1%, the number of Bitcoin startup deals jumped by nearly 32%, with pre-seed activity alone increasing by 50%.

The report defines “Bitcoin-native” companies as those fundamentally aligned with Bitcoin as a monetary asset and protocol stack, building products that directly benefit from Bitcoin’s growth and functionality.

Unlike broader crypto ventures, which often span various blockchain platforms, these startups are committed to the Bitcoin ecosystem from the ground up.

Bitcoin Startups See Consistent Growth Across All Early Stages

The number of Bitcoin-native pre-seed deals in 2024 was more than seven times higher than in 2021, showing a big rise in new startups and ideas.

Seed and Series A deal volumes also saw year-over-year increases of 30% and 60%, respectively.

Image Source: Trammell Venture Partners

Total capital raised may have dropped, but deal count and new company formation continued to rise. This points to growing confidence in Bitcoin-native startups. TVP notes four straight years of growth as a sign these startups could soon capture a bigger share of crypto venture funding.

Big-Name VCs Back Bitcoin as Ecosystem Matures

Backing this momentum is a growing list of institutional investors. In 2024, firms like Founders Fund, Ribbit Capital, Y Combinator and Valor Equity Partners participated in Bitcoin startup rounds. Their involvement points to rising confidence in business models built on Bitcoin’s protocol layers.

Bitcoin holds over half of the crypto market’s total value. Yet in 2024, it received only 2.3% of venture funding, the report notes. Researchers see this gap as an opportunity to rebalance, as the Bitcoin ecosystem expands beyond mining and asset holding.

Backed by simple business models, clear focus and growing investor interest, Bitcoin-native startups are quietly shaping a new path for crypto innovation.

The post Early-Stage Deals for Bitcoin Startups Jumped in 2024, Defying Broader Market Trends appeared first on Cryptonews.

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Sam Bankman-Fried, currently serving a 25-year prison term, has a new home after completing an unauthorized interview with Tucker Carlson. Before the interview, SBF was housed at the Metropolitan Detention in Brooklyn, where the March 25th remote interview was conducted. The Brooklyn facility was famous for holding high-powered personalities, including R. Kelly, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Although Bankman-Fried’s transfer caught many by surprise, others in the know have long expected the move. Last May, there were rumors that officials would move SBF out of his cell, with SBF’s representatives believing their client may be transferred to Mendota, California.

Unauthorized Interview With Tucker Carlson

Bankman-Fried’s remote interview with Carlson was hosted last March 5th, without authorization by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The interview lasted for over 42 minutes, with the video and outline of the interview available on Carlson’s social media page. 

Bankman-Fried talked about various topics, including his experiences inside the prison, how these experiences changed and shaped his perspectives, and his thoughts on the crypto industry. Also, the interview touched on SBF’s financial standing and his thoughts on the Democratic Party.

Bankman-Fried’s remote interview surprised many since he was largely silent and unavailable since his 2023 conviction. Immediately after the interview, prison officials sent SBF to solitary confinement. Then, the prison officials decided to transfer SBF to another prison facility.

SBF Used Remote Interview To Address The Charges

Tucker Carlson posted a summary of the remote interview on his Twitter/X account on March 7th. The interview covered many topics and issues, and SBF also used the opportunity to deny the charges against him again. When asked by Carlson, SBF re-stated that he doesn’t consider himself a criminal. He then suggested that FTX “was solvent” at its collapse.

Bankman-Fried also contested the charges against Ryan Salame, the FTX Digital Markets co-CEO, saying they were “bogus.” He then implied that the filing of these cases was politically motivated.

Bankman-Fried Continues To Attract Controversies Even While Serving Time

Even after his conviction, Bankman-Fried continued to attract attention and controversy. His latest stunt with Tucker Carlson didn’t go under the radar; the BOP flagged the unauthorized interview, which led to the resignation of SBF’s crisis manager, Mark Botnick.

Even in detention, SBF caused some controversies and has been the subject of investigations. In August 2023, officials revoked his bail over allegations that he attempted to sway witnesses. To help counter SBF’s negative image, his legal team recommended that they work with conservative media personalities, including Tucker Carlson. The team hoped that working with conservative commentators could boost the chances of SBF getting a presidential pardon.

Featured image from ABC News, chart from TradingView

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.