**Are Institutions Still Bullish on Bitcoin’s Future?**
A recent Coinbase survey titled *“Navigating Uncertainty”* reveals that institutional optimism toward Bitcoin (BTC) remains strong, with nearly 67% of respondents expecting BTC prices to rise through 2026. However, amid this bullish outlook, uncertainty persists regarding the current phase of Bitcoin’s market cycle.
### Institutional Conviction Grows Amid Debate
While most large investors anticipate a price climb by 2026, there’s no clear consensus on whether Bitcoin is still in an early expansion phase or approaching its next peak. Around 45% of institutions believe we are in the later stages of a bull run, whereas others feel there is still ample room for growth.
David Duong from Coinbase highlights that market liquidity remains robust, maintaining a positive outlook despite recent volatility prompting increased investor caution.
### Whales and Long-Term Holders Lead Accumulation
On-chain data reinforces institutional confidence. Bitcoin exchange outflows remained strong throughout October, signaling continued accumulation even as market sentiment turned cautious. Santiment data shows that large holders — those with 10,000 to 100,000 BTC — increased their balances in Q3, further supporting the view that liquidity is solid and long-term conviction is strong.
Major players such as Tom Lee’s BitMine and Michael Saylor’s Strategy have notably bought the dip, investing in Ethereum (ETH) and Bitcoin (BTC), respectively. This activity suggests big investors are positioning themselves for the next growth phase.
### Conviction Over Speculation
The report also notes that Bitcoin’s illiquid supply decreased by only 2% in Q3 despite price highs, indicating that most long-term holders (LTHs) are holding rather than selling. Glassnode data corroborates this trend, showing an increasing number of coins remaining untouched for over a year.
This steady accumulation indicates that Bitcoin is driven more by long-term confidence than by hype or speculation—aligning with Coinbase’s positive outlook through 2026.
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**About the Author**
Samyukhtha L KM is a Financial Journalist and Market Analyst at AMBCrypto, dedicated to discerning whether blockchain trends are fleeting hype or history in the making. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University and a Bachelor’s in Commerce from the University of Madras, she combines financial expertise with journalistic rigor.
Her work emphasizes high-velocity, community-driven assets such as memecoins, where she assesses both sentiment and fundamentals. Samyukhtha is committed to providing readers with insightful, well-researched commentary that goes beyond immediate market movements to explore the long-term implications of decentralized technologies.
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https://ambcrypto.com/big-money-backs-bitcoin-through-2026-but-the-market-is-split-today