Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has set a bold target for Bitcoin, predicting it could soar to $250,000 by the end of this year—or early next—citing a coming wave of institutional adoption and improved regulatory clarity in the U.S. crypto sector.
Speaking on CNBC’s Fast Money podcast, Hoskinson said that once the current market slowdown plays out, he expects a “huge wave of speculative interest” to pick up around late summer, driving momentum into early 2026. In his view, the current pullback is temporary, and legislative breakthroughs could act as a trigger for the next major bull cycle.
“The market will stall for probably the next three to five months, and then you’ll have a huge wave of speculative interest come, probably August or September, into the markets, and that’ll carry through probably another six to 12 months,” Hoskinson said.
Hoskinson Ties Bitcoin Surge to Stablecoin Legislation
Charles Hoskinson believes that regulatory clarity around stablecoins could be the catalyst that drives major tech giants into the crypto ecosystem—and ultimately pushes Bitcoin toward his ambitious $250,000 target.
During his CNBC interview, he highlighted the GENIUS Act in the Senate and the STABLE Act in the House. Both bills, supported by the Trump administration, aim to provide clear legal guidelines for stablecoin issuance and usage. Each has passed its respective committee, signaling growing bipartisan consensus on stablecoin oversight.
Hoskinson suggested that once these rules are codified, they could open the door for what he called the “Magnificent 7”—the top U.S. tech firms including Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon—to adopt stablecoins for internal or consumer-facing operations. That, he said, could transform digital assets from a speculative niche into a mainstream institutional asset class.
Backing his forecast, Hoskinson pointed to data from Crypto.com showing that global crypto adoption rose 13% year-over-year in 2024, bringing the total user base to 659 million. He also noted that as traditional geopolitical alliances weaken, crypto’s decentralized infrastructure may become the default system for global commerce.
As the world drifts further from a “rules-based order,” digital assets could become the only option for business connectivity according to Hoskinson
Hoskinson Shrugs Off Tariffs, Sees Fed Pivot Ahead
Despite weeks of turbulence triggered by President Trump’s aggressive tariff policy, Hoskinson believes the market panic is overblown. In his view, the trade war—though disruptive in the short term—is unlikely to pose a lasting threat to digital assets.
Speaking to CNBC prior to Trump’s recent 90-day tariff pause, Hoskinson called the escalating U.S.-China tensions a geopolitical “performance.”
“What will happen is that the tariff stuff will be a dud, and people will realize that the world is willing to negotiate, and it’s really just U.S. versus China.”
He characterized the standoff as more theatrical than systemic and doubted its ability to derail the crypto sector.
Looking ahead, Hoskinson suggested that once trade tensions subside, the Federal Reserve may be pressured to lower interest rates to restore financial stability. That shift, he argued, would inject new liquidity into the economy—fueling risk-on sentiment and potentially sparking crypto’s next rally.
Bitcoin has already shown signs of recovery following Trump’s tariff suspension. Still, the flagship cryptocurrency remains nearly 24% below its January all-time high of $108,786, currently hovering around $81,703. While some analysts remain cautious, Hoskinson sees this lull as a setup for the next leg of upward momentum.
Quick Facts
- Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson predicts Bitcoin could hit $250,000 by year-end or early 2026.
- He believes stablecoin legislation will unlock major institutional adoption.
- Hoskinson dismissed Trump’s tariff drama as a temporary distraction, unlikely to derail crypto.
- Bitcoin is currently trading around $81,703—down 24% from its January all-time high.
