Here's What a $500 Investment in Bitcoin Could Be Worth by 2030

After a dreadful start to the year, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has rallied over the past two months. This has raised investor hopes that Bitcoin might have already hit bottom, and is about to go on another of its epic bull market runs.

Case in point: Coinbase Global (NASDAQ: COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong now thinks Bitcoin could hit $400,000 by the end of 2030. If that's the case, then a relatively modest $500 investment in Bitcoin today could be worth nearly $2,500 by 2030. Here's how it could happen.

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Bitcoin's path to $400,000

The primary catalyst for Bitcoin right now is institutional adoption. Loosely translated, this just means that banks, Wall Street financial institutions, and big institutional investors are embracing Bitcoin at an ever-faster rate.

These institutions are creating new Bitcoin financial products, developing new Bitcoin portfolio-hedging tools, and boosting their overall Bitcoin portfolio allocations. For example, Coinbase recently introduced a new Bitcoin-backed lending product for its customers. Over time, all of this activity should lead to a rising price for Bitcoin.

The only problem, of course, is that the one factor that was supposed to lead to skyrocketing institutional adoption -- the passage of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act -- has now faded away. That leaves it up to the SEC and the CFTC to fill the regulatory void with new crypto rule-making that will make Bitcoin more attractive to Wall Street banks and institutional investors.

How fast could Bitcoin grow?

Admittedly, $400,000 is a big number. After all, the all-time high for Bitcoin is just $126,000. So Bitcoin needs to regain its all-time high and then triple in value from there, all within four years.

But, if you run the numbers, Bitcoin does have a path to $400,000. Over the past decade, Bitcoin grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34%. So let's assume that Bitcoin continues to grow at the same rate over the next four years. By the end of 2030, the price of Bitcoin would be $275,000.

Obviously, Bitcoin will have to pick up the pace. It will need to grow at a 47% CAGR to reach $400,000 by the end of 2030.

Focus on Bitcoin ETF inflows

That's why institutional adoption matters so much -- if the pace is picking up, then it makes sense to boost Bitcoin's implied future growth rate. In other words, it's OK to use a 47% CAGR instead of a 34% CAGR.

As a proxy for institutional adoption, many investors are now monitoring Bitcoin ETF inflows. As long as these remain positive and trend upward, then the price of Bitcoin should follow.

These Bitcoin ETF inflows were actually negative for the first half of the year. But money has been surging into these ETFs lately. A $5.8 billion deficit has been turned into an $800 million surplus.

That has me convinced that even without the Clarity Act, Bitcoin could be headed for big things ahead. If you're looking for a place to invest $500 today, Bitcoin is worth a closer look.

Dominic Basulto has positions in Bitcoin. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin. The Motley Fool recommends Coinbase Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.