Bernstein Predicts $150,000 Bitcoin Target Amid $1.6B ETF Inflows in March

Bitcoin

Over the past week, the company Strategy, led by Michael Saylor and focused on Bitcoin accumulation, made a significant purchase of $76.6 million in cryptocurrency. This increased their total Bitcoin holdings to 762,099 BTC, which is approximately 3.5% of all Bitcoin in circulation. Following this, Wall Street brokerage Bernstein has reaffirmed its bold prediction: Bitcoin may reach $150,000 by the end of the year.

Institutional Investment on the Rise

In a note to clients on Monday, Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani pointed out that Bitcoin has established a price floor after a period of decline. If this forecast is accurate, it would indicate that the recent drop to around $60,000 in February was the lowest point in the current downturn, suggesting an upward trend from now on.

At the time of the report, Bitcoin was trading over $71,000, meaning that reaching the $150,000 target would signify an increase of more than 110% from current prices. Chhugani attributes this potential price rise to two main factors: increased inflows into Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and growing corporate interest.

The statistics are compelling. Bitcoin spot ETFs saw $167 million in inflows in just one day this week—their first positive day in four sessions—and have totaled $1.6 billion in net inflows since the beginning of March.

Earlier in the week, Bitcoin experienced a temporary boost after news broke that U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered a five-day pause on attacks in Iran, prompting Bitcoin to climb to $71,750 before retracting slightly.

BTCUSD now trading at $71,480. Chart: TradingView

Continued Corporate Demand for Bitcoin

The interest from institutional investors extends beyond Strategy. Hostplus, an Australian pension fund, has announced its plan to provide clients with Bitcoin exposure through self-directed portfolios. Additionally, Morgan Stanley, a major player in the global banking sector, has updated its SEC filing for a U.S. Bitcoin spot ETF, indicating that the product might be launched sooner than anticipated.

Bernstein considers Strategy to be a high-beta investment concerning Bitcoin, meaning its stock tends to fluctuate significantly in tandem with Bitcoin prices—notably more so. While MSTR shares have fallen 50% from their all-time high, Chhugani has set a price target of $450 for the stock, banking on the eventual recovery in Bitcoin's price tied to the company's extensive Bitcoin assets.

However, not all analysts share Bernstein's optimistic outlook. Veteran chart analyst Ali Martinez presented a scenario where Bitcoin could drop to as low as $41,500 by mid-October 2026 before any substantial recovery starts. Furthermore, Standard Chartered Bank has consistently cautioned that Bitcoin may first revisit the $50,000 mark, citing weak economic conditions and limited demand. The bank has also revised its 2026 Bitcoin price forecast down from $150,000 to $100,000.

The divergent views among analysts underscore the uncertainty that still lingers in the market. Bitcoin has yet to experience a price correction comparable to previous bear markets, assuming that February's low holds. If it does, this downturn would be among the more shallow pullbacks from an all-time high in Bitcoin's history.

Key Takeaways:

Bernstein predicts Bitcoin could reach $150,000 by year-end, based on ETF inflows and corporate demand.
Bitcoin spot ETFs have recently experienced significant inflows, accumulating $1.6 billion in March.
Institutional interest is growing with major investments and updated ETF filings from organizations like Morgan Stanley.
There is a range of opinions among analysts, with some predicting declines while others remain optimistic about recovery.