Contrary to the market sentiment pushing Bitcoin to the $79,000 level in the same week, the head of one of the major crypto exchanges chose to temper expectations. Speaking on the Cointelegraph Trade Secrets podcast, Bitget CEO Gracy Chen projected a flat trajectory for the digital asset. She predicted that Bitcoin would only end 2026 within a range of $10,000 to $20,000 from its current price level - and that movement could be either upward or downward.
Instead of seeing room for a breakout to higher numbers, Chen’s view is anchored in the growing integration of the crypto ecosystem with traditional financial structures. This integration makes Bitcoin much more sensitive in responding to global macroeconomic conditions. She pointed to high interest rates as the main pressing factor still weighing on prices and holding back the asset’s momentum.
Why the United States Won’t Buy Crypto
Beyond price projections, Chen also cooled speculation that the United States government will start buying up Bitcoin. For the next two years, she views the chances of the country stepping in to buy crypto for a national reserve as virtually zero.
“From a policy perspective, the probability is low - I don’t see it happening now,” Chen said when discussing the issue.
The public has indeed seen Donald Trump’s administration establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve since March 2025. The United States also currently sits on a stash of around 328,372 BTC. However, the source of those reserves comes purely from a series of law enforcement seizures, not from direct purchases on the open market.
The New Reality Determining Prices
Without an injection of new demand from the United States government to directly purchase coins to add to national reserves, this prediction of stagnating prices has a strong footing. The bullish sentiment that lifted the price to $79,000 this week faces the wall of an unchanged global economic reality, where the money supply is still restricted by high interest rates.
For those caught up in the euphoria of this week’s price rally, the prediction from the crypto exchange executive carries a clear message. As Bitcoin integrates deeper into the mainstream financial system, it becomes subject to macroeconomic laws - a phase of maturity that demands investors look at the broader economic picture rather than just daily green charts.
As reported by Cointelegraph.
Read also: What Is Bitcoin Halving?
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
