Bitcoin Predicted to Reach $1.8 Million by 2035 Despite Market Volatility

Bitcoin remains on track to surpass $1.8 million by 2035, according to Joe Burnett, director of market research at Unchained. Despite recent price corrections and waning investor appetite due to ongoing global trade tensions, Burnett maintains a long-term bullish outlook for Bitcoin. He believes that Bitcoin could potentially rival or surpass gold’s $21 trillion market capitalization within the next decade.

Burnett highlighted two models that predict Bitcoin's future value. The first is the parallel model, which suggests that Bitcoin will be around $1.8 million in 2035. The second is Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin 24 model, which predicts Bitcoin will reach $2.1 million by 2035. Burnett considers both models as good base cases, noting that Bitcoin’s trajectory could exceed these predictions depending on broader macroeconomic factors.

Burnett emphasized that Bitcoin’s more advanced technological properties will make it surpass the $21 trillion market capitalization of gold. He explained that if Bitcoin were to reach gold’s market capitalization, it would be valued at $1 million per coin today. This comparison underscores the potential for significant growth in Bitcoin’s value over the next decade.

Despite the optimistic outlook, global markets have been under pressure due to heightened trade war fears since the inauguration of the US President. The threat of sweeping import tariffs has weighed on risk sentiment across both equities and crypto. While Bitcoin’s role as a safe-haven asset may reemerge amid ongoing trade war concerns, physical gold and tokenized gold remain the current winners.

Bitcoin’s volatility is falling during both bear and bull markets, signaling its growing maturity as an asset class. While another 80% drawdown during future bear markets is still possible, this will act as a robust acquisition period for the “strongest” holders. Burnett noted that the highs bring attention to Bitcoin, and the deep, dark bear markets move coins into the hands of the strongest, most convicted holders, as fast as possible.

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX and chief investment officer at Maelstrom, predicted Bitcoin could climb to $250,000 by the end of 2025 if the US Federal Reserve formally enters a quantitative easing cycle. Despite the optimistic predictions, investors remain cautious and continue “rebalancing their portfolios” but are unlikely to take on significant positions in the next 90 days before markets gain more clarity on global tariff negotiations.

With money flowing out of Bitcoin ETFs, investors are looking for safer spots to hold their cash right now, including strong currencies. Gold’s a traditional vehicle in these cases and a go-to when markets are uncertain. Since the beginning of 2025, the price of gold has risen over 23%, outperforming Bitcoin, which has fallen by more than 10% year-to-date.