Bernstein predicts $200K BTC, options get greenlight, and Stripe’s stablecoin bet

Crypto markets had a negative week, with the exception of Solana (SOL), which rose by 10.3%. Bitcoin (BTC) fell 1.1%, ether (ETH) declined 7.8%, and the Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI) fell 1.8%.

Bernstein predicts Bitcoin at $200,000 in 2025

Bernstein published a report predicting that Bitcoin could reach $200,000 by the end of 2025, driven by factors such as the halving, increased institutional adoption, and interest in inflation-hedging assets. Additionally, Bernstein foresees a growing integration of Bitcoin mining with artificial intelligence (AI), where about 20% of mining capacity could be redirected to AI by 2027. This underscores the growing integration of crypto and AI, driving technological advancements and boosting demand for both.

SEC gives greenlight for spot bitcoin ETFs options

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted accelerated approval for the NYSE and CBOE to list and trade options linked to spot bitcoin ETFs. This approval offers institutional investors and traders new strategies to amplify or hedge their bets on bitcoin.

Stripe acquires Bridge for $1.1B

Stripe has reportedly acquired the stablecoin platform Bridge for approximately $1.1 billion, becoming Stripe’s largest acquisition and one of the biggest in the crypto sector. Bridge was created to compete with traditional payment networks like SWIFT and credit cards and helps Stripe’s growing interest in building a worldwide stablecoins infrastructure. This move boosts stablecoins credibility and signals an increasing fintech interest in Web3, potentially attracting more institutional investors and expanding blockchain-based financial use cases.