$231K Bitcoin? Citibank Issues Bold Short-Term Crypto Prediction
Citibank has issued contemporary 12-month worth targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum, laying out a large set of potential outcomes that vary from steep drops to giant positive aspects.
According to the financial institution’s newest word, Bitcoin’s base case sits at $181,000, whereas a bearish state of affairs places it at $82,000. A bullish run might push Bitcoin to $231,000 inside a yr.
Citi Lays Out Wide Range
Based on experiences, Citi is avoiding a single forecast and as a substitute offers three clear paths for Bitcoin. The financial institution’s bearish mark of $82,000 represents a 31% fall from Bitcoin’s present quoted worth of $120,314.
The base case of $181,000 could be a 52% rise. At the highest finish, Citi’s $231,000 determine is roughly 95% above at present’s degree. Those are large swings. They present how a lot uncertainty merchants face.
Citi introduces new 12-month worth targets for digital property:
Bear Base Bull
BTC $82k $181k $231k
ETH $2k $5.4k $7.3k pic.twitter.com/AlpWPaK2YW— matthew sigel, recovering CFA (@matthew_sigel) October 2, 2025
Macro Forces, Institutional Demand
Citi factors to the US greenback and gold as key elements that might cap Bitcoin’s upside. A stronger US greenback and weaker gold costs had been famous as headwinds for crypto returns.
At the identical time, the financial institution highlighted continued curiosity from giant traders and extra institutional flows as causes Bitcoin might climb.
The word additionally in contrast these targets with Citi’s earlier year-end calls — $132,000 for Bitcoin and $4,500 for Ethereum — and stated it prolonged the timeline to a 12-month horizon that runs to October 2026.
Market Reaction, Other Forecasts
Reports have disclosed that over the past 24 hours Bitcoin was up 2% and Ethereum rose 2.10%. Other big-name forecasts had been talked about alongside Citi’s view.
Standard Chartered and Fundstrat’s Tom Lee are amongst analysts saying Bitcoin might attain between $200,000 and $250,000 by the tip of this yr.
Tom Lee has put ahead a a lot increased determine for Ethereum, forecasting $15,000 for ETH — a quantity nicely above Citi’s most bullish estimate.
Ethereum’s Path Less Clear?
According to Citi, Ethereum faces extra unknowns. The financial institution set a bear case for ETH at $2,000, a base goal at $5,400, and a bullish quantity at $7,300.
Those ranges sit round a 65% rise from Ethereum’s present worth of $4,480 in the very best case. Citi defined that Ethereum’s ecosystem continues to be shifting, so it’s more durable to foretell how worth might be shared throughout initiatives and staking contributors.
Citi’s vary is each a warning and a roadmap. It warns that costs can fall sharply — as proven by the $82,000 bear case for Bitcoin and $2,000 for Ethereum — however it additionally maps potential upside.
Featured picture from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
