Charles Hoskinson, the creator of Cardano and a co-founder of Ethereum, has predicted that Bitcoin’s value could soar to between $250,000 and $500,000 in the next year to two years. During a live stream on November 26, 2024, he mentioned that this increase might be driven by discussions among governments regarding a strategic reserve for Bitcoin and the incorporation of decentralized finance (DeFi) functionalities into its framework.
Anticipated Bitcoin Valuation
Having started his journey in cryptocurrencies with Bitcoin, Hoskinson expressed fresh optimism for its future. He remarked on Bitcoin transitioning from a dormant phase to a vibrant and innovative stage, noting, “The realization that it has a potential path revitalized my enthusiasm for the ecosystem.”
He pointed out the enhancements resulting from Bitcoin’s Taproot update, which, along with tools like BitVM and FairGate, has introduced programmability that was previously lacking. Such advancements open the door for a DeFi layer to be developed on Bitcoin.
Hoskinson is confident that DeFi within Bitcoin will lead other blockchain ecosystems in the next few years. “I believe that Bitcoin’s DeFi will surpass that of all other ecosystems within a 24 to 36-month period,” he predicted.
He emphasized Bitcoin’s unmatched scale and liquidity. “While Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano each have their strengths, let’s be candid: governments are discussing a strategic reserve exclusive to Bitcoin, which may influence future narratives,” he noted.
According to Hoskinson, this factor will play a huge role in propelling Bitcoin’s price upwards. He predicted, “I believe Bitcoin could reach between $250,000 and $500,000 in the next 12 to 24 months due to heightened investment interest.”
Integration of Cardano and Bitcoin DeFi
Discussing the influence of Bitcoin’s DeFi landscape, Hoskinson highlighted Cardano’s role in this development. “A key priority for 2025 is ensuring Cardano remains a player in this narrative,” he stated. He pointed out Cardano’s potential for building hybrid applications that function on both Bitcoin and Cardano platforms.
He outlined how interoperability could be achieved through wrapped BTC tokens on Cardano, utilizing trustless bridging and advancements like BitVM. These mechanisms would enable Bitcoin holders to engage in DeFi on Cardano while keeping control of their assets and avoiding centralized platforms.
Recognizing that the Bitcoin community heavily favors Bitcoin-only transactions, Hoskinson stressed that any interoperability solutions must respect this principle. “It’s clear to me that our model must always allow for transactions using Bitcoin. Including other tokens could compromise the project’s integrity and lead to its failure,” he stated.
Employing technologies like Babel fees, Hoskinson aims to enable users to pay transaction fees in Bitcoin, ensuring a smooth transition for Bitcoin users interacting with DeFi on Cardano.
He also mentioned ongoing partnerships with influential contributors such as Sergio Lerner, recognized for his work on FairGate and BitVM. Furthermore, he shared the successful testing of Halo 2 verification on Cardano’s mainnet, illustrating Cardano’s capacity to manage sophisticated cryptographic proofs at minimal costs.
Looking forward, he planned enhancements for Cardano’s Lace wallet to better support Bitcoin by 2025, which would improve user engagement and interoperability. “The DApp store in Lace will facilitate this Bitcoin-centric DeFi,” he said. He also expressed intentions to connect with other Bitcoin ecosystem participants, like the Ordinals community, to promote collaboration.
In conclusion, Hoskinson reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing interoperability between Bitcoin and Cardano: “We’re determined to make this happen, prioritizing it high on our agenda.”
As of the latest update, ADA was priced at $0.9768.