Bitcoin rally looms with projections hinting at $200,000 surge

Bitcoin may be positioned for a steep rally in the final quarter of 2025, with prices potentially climbing as high as $200,000 if demand momentum continues, according to onchain analytics firm CryptoQuant.

The firm stated that spot demand has been rising sharply since midsummer, averaging more than 62,000 BTC in net inflows per month.

It added that this level of buying pressure has historically preceded fourth-quarter surges in prior cycles, including in 2020, 2021, and 2024.

Signs of strength

CryptoQuant reported that whales, the industry’s term for large Bitcoin holders, are accumulating coins at an annualized pace of 331,000 BTC, up from 255,000 in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, U.S.-listed bitcoin exchange-traded funds, which purchased more than 200,000 BTC in the fourth quarter of 2024, could post a similar intake this year, the firm added.

The market has also broken above the “realized price” for traders at roughly $116,000.

With Bitcoin trading near $117,300 as of press time, the firm argued that a breach signals a return to the bull phase of the cycle, opening the door to a $160,000 to $200,000 range this quarter.

Heightening optimism

CryptoQuant’s internal “bull score index” ended September at levels typically seen before major rallies, supported by expanding stablecoin liquidity and reduced unrealized profits among traders, factors that indicate lower selling pressure.

Other forecasters are similarly bullish, with major firms like Standard Chartered, 21Shares and Bitwise each suggesting Bitcoin could touch $200,000 before year-end.

Looking further ahead, Standard Chartered projects that Bitcoin could approach $500,000 by 2028 as broader access and lower volatility reinforce its role in global markets.

At the time of press 9:58 pm UTC on Oct. 1, 2025, Bitcoin is ranked #1 by market cap and the price is up 2.69% over the past 24 hours. Bitcoin has a market capitalization of $2.34 trillion with a 24-hour trading volume of $70.26 billion. Learn more about Bitcoin ›

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