Citigroup has increased its 12-month price targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum, signaling continued optimism in major cryptocurrencies despite their recent volatility. The bank now projects Bitcoin could reach $113,000, up from its previous $82,000 estimate, while Ethereum’s target moves to $3,028 from $2,240. These figures indicate potential gains of about 35% for Bitcoin and 12% for Ethereum from current levels.
Bank Cites Stronger Market Activity and ETF Inflows
The bank attributes the positive outlook to renewed strength in crypto market activity, a favorable macroeconomic environment, and a return of inflows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs). At the time of the forecasts, Bitcoin trades near $83,900 and Ethereum hovers around $2,700, according to CoinGecko data.
Citigroup anticipates that $5 billion will flow into cryptocurrencies over the coming year, with allocations gradually increasing from financial advisers and brokerages. The bank’s latest note, dated Wednesday, mentions that these inbound funds are expected at a slower but more consistent pace in comparison to the erratic flows of previous periods.
ETFs tracking spot Bitcoin illustrate the turnaround. Over the twelve months to September, these funds experienced a small net outflow, including six negative months and a notable $4.51 billion net withdrawal in June, data from SoSoValue show. However, they have reversed course with $880 million drawn in so far in 2026, following $21.37 billion absorbed across 2025. The note does not specify whether the $5 billion forecast applies exclusively to spot Bitcoin ETFs or to a broader range of crypto products.
Citigroup highlighted that although its Bitcoin price target stands at $113,000, this figure remains about 10% below Bitcoin’s all-time high of $126,200 set in October 2025, meaning new records may remain out of reach even if the bank’s expectations are met.
The institution also commented on recent regulatory developments. The bank stated that the failure of the Clarity Act in the Senate last month “narrowed the path to a market-structure bill,” but pointed to subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission rule changes that eased negative sentiment around the sector.
Momentum Builds on ETF Inflows and Market Rebound
Recent months have seen sharp rebounds in both Bitcoin and Ethereum. According to Citigroup, the two largest cryptocurrencies gained approximately 40% and 68%, respectively, over the past quarter, helping recover much of their losses from earlier in the year. Bitcoin remains down roughly 4% for the year, while Ethereum is down about 9%.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs have extended their win streak, registering nine consecutive sessions of net inflows. Data from Decrypt’s ETF tracker indicates the funds drew in $3.08 billion since September 17, narrowly surpassing a similar nine-day stretch in August. The week ending September 25 also saw net inflows of $2.4 billion—marking the strongest week for these products since October 2025 and helping push year-to-date flows back into positive territory.
Bitcoin’s recent climb gathered momentum in August, shortly after the U.S. Treasury announced an increase in its longer-dated bond buybacks to no less than $4 billion per operation, coinciding with the start of new ETF inflows.
Meme Token Trends Highlight Importance of Investor Tracking
The dynamics of timing and investor behavior are especially significant beyond the main cryptocurrencies. In the meme token market, monitoring both price and investor movements can strongly influence outcomes, as demonstrated by the rapid rise of tokens spurred by internet trends. Fomo App data shows that a $99 investment in the “Niu Lai” token grew to approximately $370,000 within days. Tools like Fomo App, which combines token discovery, trading, social feeds, and live trade notifications, are increasingly being used by investors seeking to track top-performing tokens and real-time activity in this sector.
Bitcoin Rallies as ETF Momentum Eases
ETFs continued to attract buyers even as daily momentum began to slow. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows of $66.19 million on Tuesday, maintaining a nine-day streak. Bitcoin traded near $84,400 on Wednesday, recovering ground lost earlier in the week. The streak traces back to September 17 and brought cumulative new inflows above $3 billion, supporting a rise in Bitcoin’s market price. However, gradual cooling has emerged, with inflows dropping to $66 million by September 29.
Despite actual prices still trailing the October 2025 peak by nearly a third, Bitcoin continues to post new gains amid ongoing ETF support and improving investor sentiment.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs have now taken in money for nine consecutive sessions, marking a turnaround from the drawdowns seen earlier this year and contributing to Bitcoin’s latest rally.
