Bitcoin, the largest digital currency by market capitalization, notched an impressive rally last week, stoking hope that the cryptocurrency has finally bottomed in 2026 and that more upside is ahead.
The jury is still out on that, but it is clear that last week’s resurgence is prompting revisiting and reiteration of some big-time price forecasts for bitcoin. For instance, Standard Chartered reiterated a call that the king of digital currencies will rise to $500,0000. However, the research firm pushed out its timeline on that happening to 2030 from 2028.
That’s more than six times above where bitcoin traded late Monday and, obviously, 2030 is several years away, implying that crypto enthusiasts will need to be patient if they’re betting on that $500,000 projection coming to fruition. Bitcoin patience is easier to exercise with income, which is accessible with the (BTCI ) and the (XBCI).
Some bitcoin bulls believe the stars are aligning for a credible new bull market. Standard Chartered’s Head of Digital Assets Research Geoff Kendrick said in a Bloomberg interview on Saturday that the recent spike in coverage of soaring Treasury yields and Federal Reserve independence may indicate that the “tide is turning” in bitcoin’s favor.
Citing the asset’s well-documented four-year cycles, other crypto experts believe that the bottom is near or that last week’s rebound signifies that bitcoin’s bottom has been notched. Either way, BTCI and XBCI may be appealing to income-hungry crypto investors, because the ETFs compensate market participants while providing some upside participation — appealing attributes for those willing to bank on bitcoin potentially being on the cusp of a new bull market.
As its name implies, XBCI “boosts” the bitcoin income proposition, using an options strategy that creates 150% of notional exposure to its cousin, BTCI. Having debuted in February, XBCI is the younger of the two NEOS ETFs, but like its older relative, XBCI is catching on with investors as highlighted by an assets under management tally of nearly $147 million. That’s impressive work when considering the fund is just seven months old and that bitcoin has languished over much of that time.
Speaking of timing, bitcoin is coming off its best weekly showing in over three years, but patience is still a virtue, particularly when considering the aforementioned $500,000 target. First things first. Investors want to see other marquee technical levels and the all-time high around $126,000 reclaimed before focusing on larger numbers. BTCI and XBCI make those waits more palatable.
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