Bitcoin 2026 Outlook: Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Predicts $180,000

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has made one of the biggest Bitcoin predictions of the year. Speaking at Binance Blockchain Week during a panel with Solana Foundation President Lily Liu and Binance CEO Richard Teng, Garlinghouse said he expects Bitcoin to reach $180,000 by December 31, 2026.

The panel brought together three major industry leaders to discuss what the crypto landscape may look like in 2026. With Bitcoin swinging sharply, billions in liquidations, and mixed ETF activity, their views drew strong attention.

What the Leaders Said on Stage

When asked where Bitcoin will be by the end of next year, the answers varied. Richard Teng kept his response simple. He said he could not give a number and focuses on long-term growth, not short-term volatility.

Lily Liu gave a clearer view and said she expects Bitcoin to be above $100,000.

Brad Garlinghouse went even further. He predicted $180,000 by the end of 2026, making the most specific and ambitious call of the panel.

The Shock Crash That Hit Crypto This Month

These predictions came just as Bitcoin faced one of its worst moves of the year. On December 1, Bitcoin fell $5,000 in just 3 hours. More than $200 billion was wiped from the market, and close to $700 million in leveraged positions were liquidated.

There was no crypto-related catalyst. Instead, the trigger came from traditional markets.

The Yen Carry Trade Unwinds

Japan’s government bond yields surged to their highest levels since before 2008. This sudden spike began unwinding the massive Yen Carry Trade, a decades-long strategy where investors borrowed cheap Japanese money to buy assets like tech stocks, US Treasuries, and Bitcoin.

As yields rose, the yen strengthened and leveraged positions became unprofitable. Selling accelerated, margin calls hit, and liquidations followed. By October, $19 billion in crypto positions were liquidated in a single day.

In November, more than $3.45 billion left Bitcoin ETFs, including $2.34 billion from BlackRock’s fund. December 1 added another $646 million in liquidations.

Someone Is Quietly Buying

Despite the panic selling, on-chain data showed that whales accumulated 375,000 BTC during the downturn. Miners also reduced their selling sharply, dropping from 23,000 BTC per month to 3,672 BTC.

The Next Big Moment: December 18

Now the market is watching the Bank of Japan. Its next policy decision could shape Bitcoin’s direction.

According to experts, if Japan hikes rates again, Bitcoin may fall toward $75,000. If it pauses, a sharp short squeeze could send Bitcoin back toward $100,000 much faster than expected.