$231K Bitcoin? Citibank Issues Bold Short-Term Crypto Prediction

Christian Encila

Last Updated: October 3, 2025 2:00 pm

3 mins read

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Citibank has issued fresh 12-month price targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum, laying out a wide set of possible outcomes that range from steep drops to large gains.

According to the bank’s latest note, Bitcoin’s base case sits at $181,000, while a bearish scenario puts it at $82,000. A bullish run could push Bitcoin to $231,000 within a year.

Citi Lays Out Wide Range

Based on reports, Citi is avoiding a single forecast and instead gives three clear paths for Bitcoin. The bank’s bearish mark of $82,000 represents a 31% fall from Bitcoin’s current quoted price of $120,314.

The base case of $181,000 would be a 52% rise. At the top end, Citi’s $231,000 figure is roughly 95% above today’s level. Those are big swings. They show how much uncertainty traders face.

Citi introduces new 12-month price targets for digital assets:
Bear Base Bull
BTC $82k $181k $231k
ETH $2k $5.4k $7.3k pic.twitter.com/AlpWPaK2YW

— matthew sigel, recovering CFA (@matthew_sigel) October 2, 2025

Macro Forces, Institutional Demand

Citi points to the US dollar and gold as key factors that could cap Bitcoin’s upside. A stronger US dollar and weaker gold prices were noted as headwinds for crypto returns.

At the same time, the bank highlighted continued interest from large investors and more institutional flows as reasons Bitcoin could climb.

The note also compared these targets with Citi’s earlier year-end calls — $132,000 for Bitcoin and $4,500 for Ethereum — and said it extended the timeline to a 12-month horizon that runs to October 2026.

BTCUSD now trading at $120,439. Chart: TradingView

Market Reaction, Other Forecasts

Reports have disclosed that over the last 24 hours Bitcoin was up 2% and Ethereum rose 2.10%. Other big-name forecasts were mentioned alongside Citi’s view.

Standard Chartered and Fundstrat’s Tom Lee are among analysts saying Bitcoin could reach between $200,000 and $250,000 by the end of this year.

Tom Lee has put forward a much higher figure for Ethereum, forecasting $15,000 for ETH — a number well above Citi’s most bullish estimate.

Ethereum’s Path Less Clear?

According to Citi, Ethereum faces more unknowns. The bank set a bear case for ETH at $2,000, a base target at $5,400, and a bullish number at $7,300.

Those levels sit around a 65% rise from Ethereum’s current price of $4,480 in the best case. Citi explained that Ethereum’s ecosystem is still shifting, so it’s harder to predict how value will be shared across projects and staking participants.

Citi’s range is both a warning and a roadmap. It warns that prices can fall sharply — as shown by the $82,000 bear case for Bitcoin and $2,000 for Ethereum — but it also maps possible upside.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Christian Encila

They say journalists never truly clock out. But for Christian, that's not just a metaphor, it's a lifestyle. By day, he navigates the ever-shifting tides of the cryptocurrency market, wielding words like a seasoned editor and crafting articles that decipher the jargon for the masses. When the PC goes on hibernate mode, however, his pursuits take a more mechanical (and sometimes philosophical) turn.

Christian's journey with the written word began long before the age of Bitcoin. In the hallowed halls of academia, he honed his craft as a feature writer for his college paper. This early love for storytelling paved the way for a successful stint as an editor at a data engineering firm, where his first-month essay win funded a months-long supply of doggie and kitty treats – a testament to his dedication to his furry companions (more on that later).

Christian then roamed the world of journalism, working at newspapers in Canada and even South Korea. He finally settled down at a local news giant in his hometown in the Philippines for a decade, becoming a total news junkie. But then, something new caught his eye: cryptocurrency. It was like a treasure hunt mixed with storytelling - right up his alley!

So, he landed a killer gig at NewsBTC, where he's one of the go-to guys for all things crypto. He breaks down this confusing stuff into bite-sized pieces, making it easy for anyone to understand (he salutes his management team for teaching him this skill).

Think Christian's all work and no play? Not a chance! When he's not at his computer, you'll find him indulging his passion for motorbikes. A true gearhead, Christian loves tinkering with his bike and savoring the joy of the open road on his 320-cc Yamaha R3. Once a speed demon who hit 120mph (a feat he vowed never to repeat), he now prefers leisurely rides along the coast, enjoying the wind in his thinning hair.

Speaking of chill, Christian's got a crew of furry friends waiting for him at home. Two cats and a dog. He swears cats are way smarter than dogs (sorry, Grizzly), but he adores them all anyway. Apparently, watching his pets just chillin’ helps him analyze and write meticulously formatted articles even better.

Here's the thing about this guy: He works a lot, but he keeps himself fueled by enough coffee to make it through the day - and some seriously delicious (Filipino) food. He says a delectable meal is the secret ingredient to a killer article. And after a long day of crypto crusading, he unwinds with some rum (mixed with milk) while watching slapstick movies.

Looking ahead, Christian sees a bright future with NewsBTC. He says he sees himself privileged to be part of an awesome organization, sharing his expertise and passion with a community he values, and fellow editors - and bosses - he deeply respects.

So, the next time you tread into the world of cryptocurrency, remember the man behind the words – the crypto crusader, the grease monkey, and the feline philosopher, all rolled into one.

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