Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has predicted that Bitcoin will reach $180,000 by the end of 2026. He made this bold statement during his speech at Binance Blockchain Week.

Garlinghouse stated that the main catalyst for Bitcoin's growth in the next 12–18 months will be the United States' move toward clearer and more consistent cryptocurrency regulation. He noted that American authorities have historically been among the main obstacles to the mass adoption of digital assets, but the situation is now changing.

The head of Ripple clarified that "increased transparency gives organizations permission to move, unlocking access to billions of dollars" that had not been used in this sector due to legal uncertainty.

The top manager is confident that the next stage of Bitcoin's growth is linked to the arrival of major players from the traditional financial sector. Companies such as BlackRock, Vanguard, Fidelity, and other asset managers are now allocating resources, creating products, and openly investing in BTC.

Brad Garlinghouse was not the only optimist at Binance Blockchain Week. Lily Liu, president of the Solana Foundation, stated that she believes the flagship crypto asset will surpass $100,000, but did not specify a timeframe.

Binance CEO Richard Teng also expressed confidence in Bitcoin's long-term growth but refrained from making predictions, stating that the next cycle largely depends on macroeconomic liquidity conditions and global adoption trends.