Crypto

This Preeminent Cryptocurrency Will Soar Nearly 2,200% in 5 Years, According to One of Wall Street's Most Famous Money Managers | The Motley Fool

Published

12 months ago

May 31, 2025

This Preeminent Cryptocurrency Will Soar Nearly 2,200% in 5 Years, According to One of Wall Street's Most Famous Money Managers | The Motley Fool

A lofty prognostication from a well-known fund manager appears to have little chance of coming to fruition.

On Wall Street, optimism is something of the norm. Even though historical data tells us that not every stock is going to increase in value over the long run, there’s a wide disparity among analysts between positive and negative ratings. Whereas 56% of all analyst ratings are the equivalent of “buy” on S&P 500 companies, according to Barron’s, just 6% of all ratings fell on the sell side of the equation for S&P 500 companies, as of February.

These ratings, while not always accurate, typically offer investors a baseline of how institutional investors and analysts view their company and/or America’s most-influential businesses.

But every so often, an issued price target by an analyst or financial pundit is so far above and beyond the current price of a security that it’ll stop investors in their tracks.

Image source: Getty Images.

A little over five weeks ago, one of Wall Street’s most famous money managers issued a report that, in the most bullish case scenario, called for the world’s most preeminent cryptocurrency to soar by nearly 2,200% come 2030. While this report was littered with a half-dozen reasons to expect this “digital gold” to skyrocket over the next five years, I believe it’s far likelier this digital currency will lose half (or more) of its value rather than tack on another 2,200%.

Ark Invest’s Cathie Wood goes full bull on Bitcoin

Following the five-week COVID-19 crash in 2020, Ark Invest’s CEO and Chief Investment Officer Cathie Wood made a name for herself on Wall Street. Wood’s penchant for buying highly innovative companies and game-changing cryptocurrencies led to eye-popping returns in 2020 for Ark’s flagship fund, the Ark Innovation ETF.

While some of Wood’s prognostications have been lofty, perhaps nothing tops her firm’s recently updated forecast for the world’s leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC -1.35%).

Previously, Wood had forecast a bull-case scenario of $1.5 million per token by 2027. But due to various factors, she now believes Bitcoin can ascend to $2.4 million in five years, which would represent upside of almost 2,200% as of this writing in the late evening of May 29, 2025.

Ark Invest’s extensive report lists six variables that, under the right circumstances, can send Bitcoin to the moon:

An increase in institutional investment, which will be facilitated through spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Bitcoin being nimbler than physical gold makes it a more easily transferable and convenient store of value.
Investors in emerging markets will seek out Bitcoin as a way to protect their money against the effects of inflation and currency devaluation.
More foreign nations purchase or hold Bitcoin via a strategic reserve.
Additional public companies choose to use their cash to purchase and hold Bitcoin as their asset reserves.
Demand for Bitcoin-driven, on-chain financial services grows and begins to replace legacy financial services.

While there’s no denying that Bitcoin has proved skeptics wrong for more than a decade, there are counterarguments to be made to Wood’s bullish thesis that make her $2.4 million price target by 2030 seem outlandish.

A visibly worried person looking at a rapidly rising then plunging cryptocurrency chart on a tablet.

Image source: Getty Images.

Bitcoin to $50,000 is more likely than $2.4 million by 2030

For example, one of the leading reasons to buy Bitcoin is that it’s a perceived hedge against inflation. With U.S. money supply growing on an almost constant basis for more than 150 years and Bitcoin’s token supply capped at 21 million, it’s viewed as a naturally scarcer asset.

But this isn’t entirely accurate. While it might be easier to transfer Bitcoin digitally between users than it is to exchange physical gold, the latter is a tangibly limited resource. Though we haven’t mined all the gold in existence, we can’t create more gold than currently exists on planet Earth. The same can’t be said for Bitcoin, which is limited solely by lines of computer code and developer consensus. While it’s unlikely that consensus will be reached to increase the supply of Bitcoin, the probability of it happening isn’t 0%. Therefore, Bitcoin’s scarcity is a false perception.

I believe Cathie Wood is also incorrect in her assumption that emerging markets will seek out the world’s leading digital currency to protect against inflation and currency devaluation.

In September 2021, El Salvador became the first country to officially adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. The government purchased Bitcoin, as well as encouraged citizens to utilize this digital gold to pay for everyday items. Less than four years later, the country’s real-world Bitcoin experiment has failed. Few of its citizens adopted the currency for practical use, and the inherent volatility in Bitcoin ran the risk of compromising El Salvador’s financial stability.

To build on this point, Bitcoin’s first-mover competitive advantages are now effectively gone. While it’s still the largest (by market value) and most well-known digital currency, Bitcoin’s network is nowhere close to the fastest or the cheapest. A number of other popular blockchain projects can accomplish the on-chain financial services Wood speaks of far more efficiently than Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Price Chart

Bitcoin Price data by YCharts. The above chart doesn’t go back further than June 13, 2014.

Lastly, it’s important to recognize the role investor sentiment and historical cycles play in an asset class that’s not driven by much in the way of traditional fundamentals. Despite Bitcoin leaving the benchmark S&P 500 in the dust on a total return basis, cryptocurrencies are also known for their steep and long-winded bear markets.

Over the last 15 years, Bitcoin has endured around a half-dozen declines of 50% or greater. This includes losing 99% of its value in June 2011, an 83% swoon following the Mt. Gox scandal in April 2013, an 84% tumble during the 2017 to 2018 crypto winter, and the loss of 75% of its value between November 2021 and December 2022. It can take years to recoup these emotion-driven moves lower in crypto’s digital gold.

History suggests it’s far more likely Bitcoin will shed more than half of its value and head to $50,000 (or considerably lower) than it is that Cathie Wood’s moonshot price target will prove accurate come 2030.

Crypto

ADI Foundation and Settlemint Launch ADGM Tokenization Rail for $30.9B RWAs

Published

11 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Press Room

ADI Foundation and Settlemint Launch ADGM Tokenization Rail for .9B RWAs

Integrated Infrastructure for Institutional Adoption

ADI Foundation and Settlemint announced a partnership on May 13 to launch a new digital securities infrastructure on the ADI Chain, aiming to streamline the tokenization of assets within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) regulatory framework.

The collaboration integrates ADI Foundation’s compliance-ready Layer-2 blockchain with Settlemint’s digital asset lifecycle platform (DALP). The combined system is designed to handle the entire lifespan of a digital security, from initial token creation and on-chain recording to post-trade servicing and management.

The move addresses a primary hurdle for institutional investors: the difficulty of coordinating issuance, trading, settlement, and custody across fragmented jurisdictions. By providing an integrated architecture, the partners aim to offer a unified pathway for institutions to move traditional assets onto the blockchain.

“The future of investment and trading will not only be digitized, but also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” said Andrey Lazorenko, CEO of ADI Foundation. “Our partnership brings together market infrastructure, institutional-grade blockchain, and a digital asset lifecycle platform to tokenize equities and trade them on secondary platforms.”

According to a media statement, the platform utilizes Settlemint’s implementation of the ERC-3643 standard—a protocol specifically designed for security tokens to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. While the partnership is initially focusing on equity tokenization, the infrastructure is built to support a variety of other tokenized securities and financial instruments, pending regulatory approval.

The announcement comes as institutional interest in real-world assets ( RWAs) on-chain continues to accelerate. According to data from RWA.xyz, tokenized RWAs currently represent approximately $30.92 billion in on-chain value, with tokenized U.S. Treasuries accounting for roughly $15.20 billion of that total. Market analysts expect this trend to scale significantly. A 2026 analysis by BCG suggests the digital asset market could surge from $0.6 trillion in 2025 to $18.9 trillion by 2033.

Matthew Van Niekerk, co-founder and president of Settlemint, characterized the partnership as a “blueprint” for the broader financial industry.

“This partnership proves that regulated, multi-asset tokenization at national scale on public blockchains is not just feasible, but live,” Van Niekerk said. He added that the infrastructure is intended to be a model that central securities depositories (CSDs), exchanges, and clearing houses can adopt to integrate digital assets into existing operations.

Crypto

BlackRock COO: Cryptocurrency Demand Surpasses Firm’s Expectations, Signaling a Shift in Value

Published

23 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Press Room

BlackRock COO: Cryptocurrency Demand Surpasses Firm’s Expectations, Signaling a Shift in Value

BlackRock Chief Operating Officer Rob Goldstein revealed that demand for cryptocurrency has significantly exceeded the firm’s initial projections, marking a notable shift in institutional sentiment toward digital assets. Speaking during a Binance online stream, Goldstein addressed the market’s reception of BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), IBIT, and outlined the asset manager’s broader strategic outlook on blockchain-based finance.

Demand Driven by Value Proposition, Not Speculation

Goldstein emphasized that the global demand for IBIT was stronger than anticipated, describing the interest not as fleeting speculative enthusiasm but as a recognition of a new value proposition rooted in emerging technology. He noted that investors are increasingly viewing cryptocurrency as a distinct asset class with potential for long-term portfolio diversification, rather than a short-term trading vehicle. This perspective aligns with BlackRock’s broader push to integrate digital assets into traditional investment frameworks.

Tokenization and the Future of Capital Markets

Goldstein predicted that the tokenization of capital market instruments remains in its early stages, with future growth expected to be measured in multiples rather than incremental percentages. He argued that blockchain infrastructure could fundamentally reshape how assets are issued, traded, and settled, reducing friction and increasing transparency. This view is consistent with growing industry interest in real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, a trend that major financial institutions are beginning to explore.

AI Agents and Digital Rail Transactions

In a forward-looking comment, Goldstein suggested that artificial intelligence agents will eventually conduct transactions directly via digital rails, or blockchain infrastructure, rather than logging into traditional bank accounts. This vision points to a future where automated systems interact with decentralized finance protocols, potentially streamlining operations across supply chains, payments, and asset management. While still conceptual, the statement underscores BlackRock’s attention to the convergence of AI and blockchain technologies.

The Education Gap Remains a Key Obstacle

Goldstein identified the primary barrier to broader adoption as a lack of investor education regarding the technical aspects of virtual assets and efficient portfolio allocation. Many institutional and retail investors remain uncertain about how to evaluate cryptocurrencies, assess risks, and integrate them into existing investment strategies. BlackRock’s emphasis on education suggests that the firm sees informed participation as critical to sustainable market growth.

Conclusion

BlackRock’s acknowledgment that cryptocurrency demand has exceeded expectations carries significant weight, given the firm’s status as the world’s largest asset manager with over $10 trillion in assets under management. Goldstein’s comments reflect a maturing institutional perspective that views digital assets not as a passing trend but as a structural evolution in finance. For investors, the key takeaway is that major financial players are moving beyond skepticism and actively building infrastructure for a tokenized future, even as educational gaps persist.

FAQs

Q1: What did BlackRock’s COO say about cryptocurrency demand?
Rob Goldstein stated that demand for cryptocurrency, particularly through BlackRock’s IBIT Bitcoin ETF, has exceeded the firm’s expectations, driven by a recognition of its value as an emerging technology rather than mere speculation.

Q2: What is BlackRock’s view on tokenization?
Goldstein described tokenization of capital market tools as still in its infancy, with future growth expected to be exponential. He believes blockchain infrastructure will play a key role in transforming how assets are managed and traded.

Q3: What is the biggest obstacle to cryptocurrency adoption according to BlackRock?
The main challenge is a lack of investor education on the technical aspects of virtual assets and how to allocate them effectively within a portfolio, according to Goldstein.

Crypto

MEXC Commits to 1,000 BTC Purchase as Guardian Fund Targets $500M Expansion

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2026

Press Room

MEXC Commits to 1,000 BTC Purchase as Guardian Fund Targets 0M Expansion

Key Takeaways

BTC and USDT to Serve as Dual Reserve System for Market Stability

Crypto exchange MEXC is deepening its focus on reserve strength and user protection, announcing plans to expand its Guardian Fund fivefold to $500 million and acquire 1,000 bitcoin as part of a broader risk management strategy.

The exchange said the initiative will be rolled out over the next two years and is designed to create a dual-reserve structure combining liquid stablecoin holdings with long-term BTC reserves. The framework is intended to bolster platform stability and improve resilience during periods of market stress.

The announcement comes as MEXC continues to attract new capital and users. According to data from Defillama, the exchange recorded $271.6 million in net inflows over the past month through May 11, reflecting increased trading activity and participation across global markets.

Under the revised structure, the Guardian Fund will continue to hold significant USDT reserves to ensure immediate liquidity and operational flexibility. The addition of bitcoin is intended to provide a longer-term store of value capable of preserving purchasing power across market cycles.

Transparency Remains Key for MEXC

MEXC said the strategy is part of a disciplined reserve management approach rather than a reaction to short-term volatility. The company framed the expansion as an effort to build infrastructure comparable to institutional-grade financial safeguards increasingly expected in the digital asset industry.

“Trust has to be capitalized, not just claimed. The expansion of the Guardian Fund and the addition of bitcoin reserves reflect our commitment to building protection infrastructure that helps users access infinite opportunities with greater confidence,” CEO Vugar Usi said in a statement.

The exchange also emphasized transparency. Wallet addresses tied to the Guardian Fund’s USDT and bitcoin holdings have been disclosed publicly, allowing users to verify reserve balances on-chain in real time. The move highlights a broader trend among large trading platforms seeking to differentiate themselves through stronger balance sheets and more visible proof-of-reserves mechanisms.

For MEXC, the Guardian Fund expansion forms part of a wider push to position itself as a global platform capable of supporting long-term growth. The company said the initiative aligns with its broader strategy of improving transparency, strengthening risk management, and protecting users during periods of heightened market uncertainty.