CryptoQuant, Analysts Forecast Bitcoin Rally to $160k–$200k

CryptoQuant’s on‑chain data show accelerating spot inflows, heavy whale accumulation and strong ETF buying, metrics the firm says historically precede fourth‑quarter rallies and could leave bitcoin on track for a potential $160,000–$200,000 year‑end range if demand persists. Other analysts, including Capriole’s Charles Edwards, say a breakout above about $120,000 could trigger a quick move to roughly $150,000, while technical analysis points to a bull‑flag continuation with near‑term targets around $140,000–$145,000 and some warnings of a short pullback to test about $117,000. Broader market narratives — Chainlink’s corporate‑action work with 24 financial institutions, Ondo’s RWA tokenization efforts and BlockDAG’s large presale and Formula 1 sponsorship — are shifting use cases and drawing new flows. Altcoin activity underscores concentrated short‑term momentum: XRP spiked to roughly $2.97 after whales bought about 250 million tokens and open interest jumped. Sentiment remains mixed (one survey found only ~5% of experts expect $200k by 2026) and some investors are chasing high‑return presales like Mutuum Finance, highlighting a split between institutional adoption and speculative demand.