Bitwise CIO's Bold Bitcoin Outlook: $1.3M Target by 2035 Explained

Bitwise’s Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan recently shared an ambitious long-term perspective on Bitcoin, challenging the narrative that treats it merely as a speculative asset. According to PANews, Hougan developed a data-driven forecast suggesting Bitcoin could appreciate to $1.3 million by 2035—a projection grounded in conservative market assumptions rather than speculative enthusiasm.

The Rationale Behind the Forecast

What sets this prediction apart is its foundation in systematic modeling. Rather than relying on trend extrapolation or sentiment analysis, Hougan’s framework incorporates fundamental economic variables and historical performance patterns. The CIO argues that Bitcoin deserves recognition as a potentially premier wealth-creation vehicle for patient investors planning beyond the current market cycle.

At the current price point of $90.68K (as of January 2026), reaching $1.3 million would represent roughly a 14x return over the next nine years—translating to approximately 35% annualized growth. While ambitious, this projection positions Bitcoin among the most significant outperformers relative to traditional asset classes over similar timeframes.

Why This Matters for the Broader Narrative

The distinction between volatile assets and high-return investments is crucial here. Volatility—typically viewed negatively by conservative investors—can actually be a feature rather than a flaw when paired with strong long-term appreciation potential. Hougan’s thesis essentially reframes Bitcoin’s price swings as temporary noise against a powerful underlying trend.

This perspective resonates particularly as institutional investors increasingly allocate capital to cryptocurrency holdings, viewing Bitcoin less as speculation and more as portfolio diversification with asymmetric upside potential. The Bitwise CIO’s model contributes intellectual weight to a growing conviction among wealth managers that the next decade could reshape Bitcoin’s status in global financial markets.