Is Bitcoin a 'Buy' Right Now? BlackRock Slashes ETF Swap Minimum 96% From $25M to $1M

Bernstein Eyes $150K Bitcoin by Mid-2027, But Trims Strategy Stock Target

Bernstein analysts expect Bitcoin to reach approximately $125,000 by the end of 2026, set a new high of $150,000 by mid-2027, and hit a cycle peak of around $300,000 in 2029 under their base-case outlook.

Under a bull-case scenario where accelerating currency debasement drives stronger institutional inflows, the firm projects that Bitcoin could surge to $200,000 by mid-2027 and $500,000 by 2029, while maintaining its long-term prediction of $1 million by the end of 2033.

Alongside its updated crypto roadmap, Bernstein maintained its "Outperform" rating on Strategy (MSTR) but trimmed its price target from $450 to $350, citing a revised timeline for the Bitcoin cycle and increased equity dilution from recent share s

Bitcoin ETF Demand Is Improving Again

There is, however, a stronger fundamental argument than BlackRock's threshold change alone.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded nearly $2 billion of inflows across five consecutive trading days last week, their strongest run in months. BlackRock's IBIT alone attracted roughly $1 billion during the period.

IBIT now holds about $60.5 billion in net assets, according to BlackRock, despite remaining down 9.7% for 2026 as of Aug. 25.

That combination tells a more useful story: institutional demand is recovering while Bitcoin remains well below its record high.

So, Is Bitcoin (BTC) a Buy Right Now?

For a long-term investor, the stronger approach is not to ask whether $79,000 is the perfect entry price, because that cannot be known in advance.

The more useful questions are whether the investor can tolerate another 30%–50% decline, whether Bitcoin fits within a diversified portfolio, and whether the holding period is measured in years rather than weeks.

After a 20%-plus weekly rally, putting an entire allocation into Bitcoin at once carries obvious timing risk. Dollar-cost averaging and predetermined position sizing reduce the importance of getting today's price exactly right.

BlackRock cutting its threshold from $25 million to $1 million strengthens Bitcoin's institutional infrastructure. Combined with returning ETF inflows and a price still far below the 2025 peak, it improves the investment case.

But it is not BlackRock telling investors to buy Bitcoin at $79,000. The investment decision still comes down to expected return, downside tolerance, position size, and time horizon.