Blockchain entrepreneur Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, predicts that Bitcoin could soar past $250,000 by year’s end or even reach a record high by 2026. He attributes this potential growth to increased adoption by major tech companies and clarity emerging from new regulations, which he believes will drive the next phase of expansion in the cryptocurrency market. During an interview on CNBC’s “Beyond the Valley” podcast, Hoskinson noted that investor behavior is likely to adjust as macroeconomic changes unfold, including rising geopolitical tensions and shifts in U.S. trade policies. He expects capital to flow into digital assets when markets stabilize and the U.S. Federal Reserve lowers interest rates. Hoskinson explains, “As markets adapt to this new normal and the Fed reduces interest rates, we’ll witness a surge of cheap, fast money that is likely to fuel investments in crypto.” While Bitcoin briefly dipped below $77,000 earlier this week before rebounding above $82,000 following the pause on tariffs, it remains significantly below its January record high of over $100,000. Hoskinson, who co-founded Ethereum and now leads Input Output, expressed optimism about the future of cryptocurrency, citing a 13% annual increase in global users, bringing the total to 659 million in 2024. He highlights how the shift away from traditional financial systems, fueled by geopolitical events like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s ambitions regarding Taiwan, underscores the shortcomings of existing global agreements. Consequently, he believes cryptocurrency is essential for bolstering global economies in a fragmented world. Despite his optimistic predictions, Hoskinson was notably not invited to the White House Crypto Summit on March 7th, even though Cardano (ADA) was included on President Trump’s proposed crypto reserve list. This highlights ongoing tensions within the cryptocurrency industry with some key players excluded from major governmental conversations.