Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan believes Bitcoin will push above $100,000

The Global Head of Research for Bitwise Asset Management, Matt Hougan, is confident that Bitcoin’s price will surpass $100,000. In an interview with Yahoo Finance, he said that regulatory concerns will not hinder the price of BTC from recording newer ATHs.

When asked about regulatory clarity, Hougan said that it matters more for altcoins like Ethereum and Solana than for Bitcoin. He added that such altcoins are more exposed to regulatory risks, while BTC enjoyed a decent amount of regulatory clarity. However, Hougan also expected a prolonged Altcoin and Bitcoin rally under Trump’s administration.  

Hougan suggests why it matters more for Bitcoin to rise in price

The Bitwise CIO clarified that Bitcoin has more regulatory clarity than Ethereum and other assets. He acknowledged that the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Future Trading Commission (CFTC) have already declared BTC a commodity.

Hougan added that the penetration of BTC ETFs and BlackRock’s already huge investment in the sector adds credibility to the number one cryptocurrency. Unfortunately, to him, the situation is different for Ethereum, Solana, and other altcoins. He, however, suspected that a new U.S. SEC could develop regulatory clarity for altcoins, which would drive institutional adoption and potentially ensure a prolonged rally for both BTC and Altcoins.

Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, also reiterated in a post that the U.S. SEC should take note of what happened during elections. He added that voters said loudly and clearly that they wanted change and that “Crypto is no exception.” Grewal also urged the U.S. SEC to stop suing crypto and to start talking about crypto. He compelled the U.S. financial watchdogs to initiate rulemaking immediately since there was no room to wait.

I hope @SECGov understands what has happened tonight. On many, many issues, the voters said loud and clear that they want change. Crypto is no exception.

Stop suing crypto. Start talking to crypto. Initiate rulemaking now. There's no reason to wait.

— paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) November 6, 2024

Hougan reveals his one catalyst for Bitcoin going into 2025

The Bitwise CIO remained certain that all the major existential risks of Bitcoin had already been washed away. He said he considers institutional adoption as the single most important catalyst for BTC moving forward. According to him, the $800M in EFT flows witnessed yesterday is a good example of institutional assets moving in, which further translates to increased demand and, subsequently, higher prices. 

In addition, Nigel Green, the CEO of deVere, also emphasized that investors were potentially taking the view that a Republican victory would lead to a surge in demand for Bitcoin. He also added that a Trump victory could push the world’s first and largest cryptocurrency into uncharted territory, supporting Matt Hougan’s take. 

Green highlighted that Trump’s return to office is likely going to renew the emphasis on deregulation, tax incentives, and economic policies favorable to alternative investments like Bitcoin. Green remained confident that BTC’s price would soar higher in the future, driven by investor expectations under the Trump administration.