How High Can Bitcoin Go? Trump’s BTC Price Prediction Says It Will Hit $1 Million
- Finance
ThePostMaster- 0
- 47 minutes read
Bitcoin (BTC) is
trading at roughly $66,900 on February 19, 2026, less than
half the all-time high of $126,198 set just four months ago.
Yet despite one of the sharpest drawdowns in recent memory, some of the
market’s most prominent voices are doubling down on bullish long-term calls.
According
to my technical analysis, Bitcoin has settled into a new consolidation corridor
between $60,000 and $71,000-$72,000, with both the 50-period EMA
and the 200 EMA sitting far above current price levels – a clear sign that the
broader trend remains firmly bearish.
Based on my
over a decade of experience as an analyst and trader, these accumulation zones
are precisely where the next major directional move begins to take shape.
In this
article, I examine why the Bitcoin price prediction of $1 million has
re-entered the conversation, analyze the BTC chart, and present the newest
Bitcoin price predictions from institutional analysts.
Follow
me on X for more Bitcoin market analysis: @ChmielDk
Bitcoin
opened February 19, 2026 at $66,420, reaching an intraday high
of $66,930 before settling around $66,900 –
up a modest 0.74% on the day. That quiet session masks a
brutal recent history. From the ATH of $126,198 in October
2025, BTC has shed nearly 47% in value.
The 24-hour
trading volume currently stands at $33.33 billion, while Bitcoin ‘s
total market capitalization has dropped below the psychological $2
trillion threshold to approximately $1.34 trillion,
according to CoinMarketCap data.
The slide
accelerated after Bitcoin began 2026 oscillating between $82,000 and
$98,000 – a tight range that held for the first two months of the
year. That structure collapsed. The question now is whether the new, lower
range holds, or whether the next leg down has already begun.
Bitcoin Price Technical
Analysis
According
to my technical analysis, after a very dynamic start to 2026, Bitcoin has found
a new consolidation range. Where the market previously moved sideways
between $82,000 and $98,000 for roughly two months, the new
channel is materially lower – bounded by $60,000 support on
the downside and $71,000-$72,000 resistance on the upside. As
I can see on the chart, these are the lowest price levels since October 2024.
The overall
trend context remains clearly bearish. The 50-period moving
average is located at $79,000 – a considerable distance from current
price. The 200 EMA sits at $93,000. Only a recovery and sustained
close above that 200 EMA level would signal that the Bitcoin chart is genuinely
returning to a bullish trend structure.
Key
technical levels as I see them right now:
- Current
price: $66,900 - Resistance zone: $70,000-$72,000 (upper
range boundary, recent rejection area) - 50
MA: $79,000 (distant bearish overhang) - 200 EMA: $93,000 (major trend
reversal threshold) - Support: $60,000
(lower range boundary) - Downside target on breakdown: $52,000 (September 2024
lows)
Bitcoin price technical analysis. Source: Tradingview.com
As shown on
my chart, what this environment offers traders is swing trading within
the range – buying near tests of $60,000 support, selling into tests
of $70,000-$72,000 resistance, and waiting to see what Bitcoin does next.
If we break
convincingly below $60,000, I would target $52,000 – the
September 2024 floor. A breakout above $72,000, however, would demand close
attention. The character of that move will determine whether the bull market is
truly resuming or whether resistance simply shifted higher.
Why Is Bitcoin Falling?
The trigger
was a violent deleveraging event on February 6, which sent implied
volatility spiking and wiped out billions in leveraged positions before a rapid
– and deceptive – recovery.
“The
retreat in implied volatility since the February 6 spike is often read as
stabilisation. I would characterise it differently,” said Adam Saville
Brown, Head of Commercial at Tesseract Group. As he described the mechanics,
“What we are seeing is the mechanical aftermath of a significant
deleveraging event, not a market that has found equilibrium.”
The numbers
are stark. Open interest across major exchanges contracted by roughly
22% in a single week. Over $2.5 billion in leveraged positions
were liquidated. Funding rates have turned negative for the first
time since 2023 – a signal that speculative excess has been fully
purged.
Spot
Bitcoin ETF flows compound the picture. The ETF complex has flipped to net
negative flows for 2026. Fund-level allocators – many of whom entered at an
average cost basis around $81,000 – are mechanically
de-risking as drawdown thresholds are triggered.
That
selling is visible, predictable, and structural. Yet at the same time, wallets
holding more than 1,000 BTC have accumulated
approximately 53,000 BTC over the past two weeks – the largest
accumulation wave since November, representing roughly $4 billion
in capital deployment. The market is not doing one thing. It is splitting
between those managing quarterly benchmarks and those using the dislocation to
build structural positions.
On the
macro front, CPI cooling to 2.4% and the Federal Reserve in
pause mode compresses real yields – historically supportive for risk assets
including Bitcoin. But uncertainty around the incoming Fed chair has placed a
policy overhang over institutional decision-making.
“The
volatility spike observed on February 6 has now subsided, with Deribit pricing
BTC implied volatility at 52. While this remains elevated relative to the
12-month average, it is still toward the lower end of the 35-65 range where
volatility has oscillated over the past two years,” said Paul Howard,
Senior Director at Wincent.
As he added
regarding the near-term setup, “This aligns with our broader thesis that
we do not expect an aggressive move higher or lower in the near term. Instead,
markets appear to be awaiting clearer catalysts.”
Eric Trump: “I’ve
Never Been More Bullish on Bitcoin”
Against a
backdrop of carnage, Eric Trump – son of US President Donald Trump and
co-founder of World Liberty Financial – delivered one of the
most emphatic public endorsements of Bitcoin since the crash began. In a
February 18 CNBC interview, he declared he has “never been more
bullish on Bitcoin” in his life and predicted BTC will ultimately
reach $1 million.
“We
still are, I’m a huge proponent of Bitcoin. I do think it hits a million
dollars. I think it’s one of the greatest performing asset classes. I mean, go
back two years, Bitcoin was at $16,000, you know, where is it at right
now?” Trump said.
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Eric Trump says Bitcoin will reach $1 million.
“I’ve never been more bullish on Bitcoin in my life.” pic.twitter.com/niJH5ILfh9
— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) February 18, 2026
As he
anchored the case in historical data, “If you look at the last 10 years,
Bitcoin has gone up 70 per cent a year on average. Year over year for the last
decade – name an asset class that has performed better than Bitcoin.”
Trump
pointed to the relentless march of institutional adoption as the structural
driver. Fidelity, Charles Schwab, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs –
all are now allocating cryptocurrency to private wealth clients. “Before
they were telling them to put exactly zero into cryptocurrency.
Then it was
2 per cent, now all of a sudden it’s 5-6 per cent, and that number keeps on
climbing,” he said. His message to investors uncomfortable with volatility
was blunt: “If you do not want volatility, go invest in some Munis, go
have a great time, go invest in some Treasuries. You are going to have
volatility with something that has tremendous upside.”
The
sentiment mirrors that of Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of
MicroStrategy – which holds one of the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin
reserves. When Bitcoin fell over 31% from its ATH to $86,800 back in November
2025, Saylor framed the swings as a feature rather than a bug. “Volatility
is the vitality of Bitcoin,” he said. As he put it to CoinDCX, “In a
world where Bitcoin offered steady, predictable returns, Warren Buffett would
own all of it and there wouldn’t be an opportunity for us.”
Bitcoin Price Prediction:
What Analysts Say for 2026
Most
institutional forecasts were built before the current crash deepened – which
makes them useful anchors for what a recovery scenario might look like.
Institution / Analyst | Price Target | Timeframe | Analyst |
World Liberty Financial | $1,000,000 | Long-term | Eric Trump |
Bit Mining | $225,000 | End of 2026 | Wei Yang, Chief Economist |
Grayscale | New all-time high | Mid-2026 | – |
Nasdaq analysis | $150,000 | End of 2026 | – |
Bloomberg Intelligence | $130,000-$140,000 floor | 2026 | Eric Balchunas |
The bull
case rests on three pillars: accelerating institutional adoption, a Fed pivot
compressing real yields, and the structural supply squeeze driven by
post-halving dynamics and continued ETF accumulation.
Bloomberg’s
Eric Balchunas estimated earlier this year that Bitcoin ETF inflows in 2026
could range between $20 billion and $70 billion – with the
upper end conditional on Bitcoin pushing toward the $130,000-$140,000 range.
But the
derivatives market tells a more cautious short-term story. As Saville Brown of
Tesseract Group noted, “Negative funding and a crowded short base create
the conditions for a sharp reversal if a catalyst emerges. The leverage flush
cleared the board. What happens next depends on whether the macro uncertainty
lifts before the operators finish accumulating.”
FAQ
What is Bitcoin’s price
today, February 19, 2026?
Bitcoin is
trading at approximately $66,900, up roughly 0.7% on the day. That
remains nearly 47% below its all-time high of $126,198 set in
October 2025.
Can Bitcoin really hit $1
million?
Eric Trump
and long-term advocates argue yes, citing Bitcoin’s decade-long average annual
return of 70% and rapidly rising institutional allocation rates. Most analyst
forecasts for 2026, however, are significantly more measured – ranging
from $130,000 to $225,000 by year-end.
What is the Bitcoin price
prediction for the end of 2026?
Analyst
targets range from $130,000 (Bloomberg/Balchunas) to $225,000
(Bit Mining’s Wei Yang), with Grayscale calling for a new all-time high by
mid-2026. These forecasts assume macro conditions improve and ETF flows return
to positive territory.
What are the key Bitcoin
support and resistance levels right now?
Critical
support sits at $60,000, with a confirmed breakdown targeting $52,000 (the
September 2024 floor). Resistance is clustered between $70,000 and
$72,000. A recovery above the 200 EMA at $93,000 would be
the first genuine signal that a new bull trend is underway.
Bitcoin (BTC) is
trading at roughly $66,900 on February 19, 2026, less than
half the all-time high of $126,198 set just four months ago.
Yet despite one of the sharpest drawdowns in recent memory, some of the
market’s most prominent voices are doubling down on bullish long-term calls.
According
to my technical analysis, Bitcoin has settled into a new consolidation corridor
between $60,000 and $71,000-$72,000, with both the 50-period EMA
and the 200 EMA sitting far above current price levels – a clear sign that the
broader trend remains firmly bearish.
Based on my
over a decade of experience as an analyst and trader, these accumulation zones
are precisely where the next major directional move begins to take shape.
In this
article, I examine why the Bitcoin price prediction of $1 million has
re-entered the conversation, analyze the BTC chart, and present the newest
Bitcoin price predictions from institutional analysts.
Follow
me on X for more Bitcoin market analysis: @ChmielDk
Bitcoin
opened February 19, 2026 at $66,420, reaching an intraday high
of $66,930 before settling around $66,900 –
up a modest 0.74% on the day. That quiet session masks a
brutal recent history. From the ATH of $126,198 in October
2025, BTC has shed nearly 47% in value.
The 24-hour
trading volume currently stands at $33.33 billion, while Bitcoin ‘s
total market capitalization has dropped below the psychological $2
trillion threshold to approximately $1.34 trillion,
according to CoinMarketCap data.
The slide
accelerated after Bitcoin began 2026 oscillating between $82,000 and
$98,000 – a tight range that held for the first two months of the
year. That structure collapsed. The question now is whether the new, lower
range holds, or whether the next leg down has already begun.
Bitcoin Price Technical
Analysis
According
to my technical analysis, after a very dynamic start to 2026, Bitcoin has found
a new consolidation range. Where the market previously moved sideways
between $82,000 and $98,000 for roughly two months, the new
channel is materially lower – bounded by $60,000 support on
the downside and $71,000-$72,000 resistance on the upside. As
I can see on the chart, these are the lowest price levels since October 2024.
The overall
trend context remains clearly bearish. The 50-period moving
average is located at $79,000 – a considerable distance from current
price. The 200 EMA sits at $93,000. Only a recovery and sustained
close above that 200 EMA level would signal that the Bitcoin chart is genuinely
returning to a bullish trend structure.
Key
technical levels as I see them right now:
- Current
price: $66,900 - Resistance zone: $70,000-$72,000 (upper
range boundary, recent rejection area) - 50
MA: $79,000 (distant bearish overhang) - 200 EMA: $93,000 (major trend
reversal threshold) - Support: $60,000
(lower range boundary) - Downside target on breakdown: $52,000 (September 2024
lows)
Bitcoin price technical analysis. Source: Tradingview.com
As shown on
my chart, what this environment offers traders is swing trading within
the range – buying near tests of $60,000 support, selling into tests
of $70,000-$72,000 resistance, and waiting to see what Bitcoin does next.
If we break
convincingly below $60,000, I would target $52,000 – the
September 2024 floor. A breakout above $72,000, however, would demand close
attention. The character of that move will determine whether the bull market is
truly resuming or whether resistance simply shifted higher.
Why Is Bitcoin Falling?
The trigger
was a violent deleveraging event on February 6, which sent implied
volatility spiking and wiped out billions in leveraged positions before a rapid
– and deceptive – recovery.
“The
retreat in implied volatility since the February 6 spike is often read as
stabilisation. I would characterise it differently,” said Adam Saville
Brown, Head of Commercial at Tesseract Group. As he described the mechanics,
“What we are seeing is the mechanical aftermath of a significant
deleveraging event, not a market that has found equilibrium.”
The numbers
are stark. Open interest across major exchanges contracted by roughly
22% in a single week. Over $2.5 billion in leveraged positions
were liquidated. Funding rates have turned negative for the first
time since 2023 – a signal that speculative excess has been fully
purged.
Spot
Bitcoin ETF flows compound the picture. The ETF complex has flipped to net
negative flows for 2026. Fund-level allocators – many of whom entered at an
average cost basis around $81,000 – are mechanically
de-risking as drawdown thresholds are triggered.
That
selling is visible, predictable, and structural. Yet at the same time, wallets
holding more than 1,000 BTC have accumulated
approximately 53,000 BTC over the past two weeks – the largest
accumulation wave since November, representing roughly $4 billion
in capital deployment. The market is not doing one thing. It is splitting
between those managing quarterly benchmarks and those using the dislocation to
build structural positions.
On the
macro front, CPI cooling to 2.4% and the Federal Reserve in
pause mode compresses real yields – historically supportive for risk assets
including Bitcoin. But uncertainty around the incoming Fed chair has placed a
policy overhang over institutional decision-making.
“The
volatility spike observed on February 6 has now subsided, with Deribit pricing
BTC implied volatility at 52. While this remains elevated relative to the
12-month average, it is still toward the lower end of the 35-65 range where
volatility has oscillated over the past two years,” said Paul Howard,
Senior Director at Wincent.
As he added
regarding the near-term setup, “This aligns with our broader thesis that
we do not expect an aggressive move higher or lower in the near term. Instead,
markets appear to be awaiting clearer catalysts.”
Eric Trump: “I’ve
Never Been More Bullish on Bitcoin”
Against a
backdrop of carnage, Eric Trump – son of US President Donald Trump and
co-founder of World Liberty Financial – delivered one of the
most emphatic public endorsements of Bitcoin since the crash began. In a
February 18 CNBC interview, he declared he has “never been more
bullish on Bitcoin” in his life and predicted BTC will ultimately
reach $1 million.
“We
still are, I’m a huge proponent of Bitcoin. I do think it hits a million
dollars. I think it’s one of the greatest performing asset classes. I mean, go
back two years, Bitcoin was at $16,000, you know, where is it at right
now?” Trump said.
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Eric Trump says Bitcoin will reach $1 million.
“I’ve never been more bullish on Bitcoin in my life.” pic.twitter.com/niJH5ILfh9
— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) February 18, 2026
As he
anchored the case in historical data, “If you look at the last 10 years,
Bitcoin has gone up 70 per cent a year on average. Year over year for the last
decade – name an asset class that has performed better than Bitcoin.”
Trump
pointed to the relentless march of institutional adoption as the structural
driver. Fidelity, Charles Schwab, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs –
all are now allocating cryptocurrency to private wealth clients. “Before
they were telling them to put exactly zero into cryptocurrency.
Then it was
2 per cent, now all of a sudden it’s 5-6 per cent, and that number keeps on
climbing,” he said. His message to investors uncomfortable with volatility
was blunt: “If you do not want volatility, go invest in some Munis, go
have a great time, go invest in some Treasuries. You are going to have
volatility with something that has tremendous upside.”
The
sentiment mirrors that of Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of
MicroStrategy – which holds one of the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin
reserves. When Bitcoin fell over 31% from its ATH to $86,800 back in November
2025, Saylor framed the swings as a feature rather than a bug. “Volatility
is the vitality of Bitcoin,” he said. As he put it to CoinDCX, “In a
world where Bitcoin offered steady, predictable returns, Warren Buffett would
own all of it and there wouldn’t be an opportunity for us.”
Bitcoin Price Prediction:
What Analysts Say for 2026
Most
institutional forecasts were built before the current crash deepened – which
makes them useful anchors for what a recovery scenario might look like.
Institution / Analyst | Price Target | Timeframe | Analyst |
World Liberty Financial | $1,000,000 | Long-term | Eric Trump |
Bit Mining | $225,000 | End of 2026 | Wei Yang, Chief Economist |
Grayscale | New all-time high | Mid-2026 | – |
Nasdaq analysis | $150,000 | End of 2026 | – |
Bloomberg Intelligence | $130,000-$140,000 floor | 2026 | Eric Balchunas |
The bull
case rests on three pillars: accelerating institutional adoption, a Fed pivot
compressing real yields, and the structural supply squeeze driven by
post-halving dynamics and continued ETF accumulation.
Bloomberg’s
Eric Balchunas estimated earlier this year that Bitcoin ETF inflows in 2026
could range between $20 billion and $70 billion – with the
upper end conditional on Bitcoin pushing toward the $130,000-$140,000 range.
But the
derivatives market tells a more cautious short-term story. As Saville Brown of
Tesseract Group noted, “Negative funding and a crowded short base create
the conditions for a sharp reversal if a catalyst emerges. The leverage flush
cleared the board. What happens next depends on whether the macro uncertainty
lifts before the operators finish accumulating.”
FAQ
What is Bitcoin’s price
today, February 19, 2026?
Bitcoin is
trading at approximately $66,900, up roughly 0.7% on the day. That
remains nearly 47% below its all-time high of $126,198 set in
October 2025.
Can Bitcoin really hit $1
million?
Eric Trump
and long-term advocates argue yes, citing Bitcoin’s decade-long average annual
return of 70% and rapidly rising institutional allocation rates. Most analyst
forecasts for 2026, however, are significantly more measured – ranging
from $130,000 to $225,000 by year-end.
What is the Bitcoin price
prediction for the end of 2026?
Analyst
targets range from $130,000 (Bloomberg/Balchunas) to $225,000
(Bit Mining’s Wei Yang), with Grayscale calling for a new all-time high by
mid-2026. These forecasts assume macro conditions improve and ETF flows return
to positive territory.
What are the key Bitcoin
support and resistance levels right now?
Critical
support sits at $60,000, with a confirmed breakdown targeting $52,000 (the
September 2024 floor). Resistance is clustered between $70,000 and
$72,000. A recovery above the 200 EMA at $93,000 would be
the first genuine signal that a new bull trend is underway.
