TLDR
Veteran crypto investor Dan Tapiero predicts Bitcoin will reach $180,000 during the current market cycle
Stablecoin transaction volumes grew from $19.7 trillion in 2024 to $33 trillion in 2025
Tapiero recommends splitting crypto investments between Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana
Falling interest rates and government AI spending are expected to boost Bitcoin prices
Currency debasement across all fiat currencies creates favorable conditions for Bitcoin growth
Veteran crypto investor Dan Tapiero has made a bold price prediction for Bitcoin in 2026. He expects the cryptocurrency to reach $180,000 during the current market cycle.
Tapiero, who runs growth equity firm 50T Funds, shared his outlook in a recent interview with CoinDesk. He believes recent market pullbacks represent a correction rather than a fundamental shift.
“This is just a correction … the bottom is in,” Tapiero said about recent Bitcoin price movements.
For investors looking to enter the crypto market with $10,000 in 2026, Tapiero offers straightforward advice. He suggests splitting the investment between Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL).
The specific allocation depends on individual preferences. But these three cryptocurrencies form the core of his recommended portfolio strategy.
Infrastructure and Stablecoins Drive Growth
Tapiero sees the biggest opportunities in 2026 coming from crypto infrastructure reaching mainstream adoption. Stablecoins represent a particularly strong growth area.
Transaction volumes for stablecoins jumped to $33 trillion in 2025. This marks a substantial increase from $19.7 trillion in 2024.
“There is an entire world … growing up around traditional players trying to figure out how to incorporate the stablecoin rails into whatever they’re doing,” Tapiero explained.
Traditional financial institutions are working to integrate stablecoin payment systems into their operations. This adoption is happening faster than other crypto applications because of the direct connection to money.
Economic Factors Support Bitcoin Price
Tapiero’s Bitcoin price prediction relies on several economic factors. Falling interest rates create one tailwind for the cryptocurrency.
Government spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure provides another boost. This spending is happening globally, not just in the United States.
The large-scale investment is leading to currency debasement across multiple countries. All fiat currencies, including the US dollar, face this pressure.
“That’s very bullish for Bitcoin,” Tapiero said about the currency debasement trend.
Bitcoin serves as both an investment opportunity and a hedge against monetary policy shifts in this environment.
Tapiero sees promise in several emerging crypto sectors. Tokenization shows growth potential in his analysis.
The convergence of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence offers opportunities. On-chain prediction markets also demonstrate positive prospects.
However, Tapiero expresses caution about crypto treasury companies. He questions the long-term value proposition of most companies in this category.
“There’s no moat,” he said. “I don’t really see what the long-term value proposition is for 95% of them.”
The investor believes these companies lack true innovation and defensible competitive advantages.
Stablecoin adoption is accelerating faster than other crypto applications. Tapiero attributes this to the direct focus on money and payments.
“The reason why the stablecoin and payments and financial aspect is taking off more quickly… is because those people care first and foremost about money,” Tapiero said.
Real use cases are increasingly shaping the crypto market in 2026. Speculation plays a smaller role than in previous cycles.
The industry continues to mature as institutional players and traditional finance companies build on crypto infrastructure.
