lockstream CEO and longtime Bitcoin developer Adam Back made waves in the cryptocurrency community with his bold prediction that Bitcoin could reach $700k within the next 2 years. In a Twitter post from December 2023, Back broke down his analysis for how and why he believes this is a realistic target.
As one of Bitcoin's earliest supporters and adopters, Back's predictions carry significant weight. Let's take a deeper look at his $700k projection and the factors driving this optimistic outlook.
Bitcoin Flipping Gold's Market Cap
The core pillar of Back's prediction rests on Bitcoin surpassing gold's multi-trillion dollar market capitalization.
He frames Bitcoin as "digital gold" - arguing it will inevitably overtake physical gold as a global store of value due to advantages like portability, divisibility, and low storage costs. Gold currently has a total asset value of around $12 trillion traded globally.
Back postulates that if Bitcoin were able to achieve a larger market cap than this, its price would need to reach $700k per coin to match gold's current value.
Halving Cycle Catalyst
So how could Bitcoin grow its market cap to overtake gold's within the next couple years?
Back cites the upcoming mining reward halving as a key catalyst.
Around every 4 years, the number of new bitcoins entered into circulation each day is cut in half.
This happens through programmed scarcity to control the cryptocurrency's inflation.
The next halving is scheduled for April 2024. Historically, halving events have correlated with strong bull runs and new all-time high prices as supply shrinks. So Back predicts the 2024 halving cycle could provide fuel for a massive surge in Bitcoin's price and market valuation.
Could Other Factors Drive Adoption?
There are also persistent macroeconomic pressures that could contribute to driving more investors into "digital gold" Bitcoin over the next 24 months according to analysts.
Persistent high inflation is eroding the purchasing power of national currencies worldwide. Political instability and economic uncertainty also tend to boost safe haven asset demand. Regulatory clarity from leading jurisdictions regarding Bitcoin ETF approvals may also stoke mainstream institutional involvement.
If several of these adoption catalysts align concurrently with the halving, some feel it's not unrealistic Bitcoin could see its value proposition spark a momentous influx of new buyers and investors.
Analysis and Critiques
Certainly $700k would represent an astronomical return from current prices. Understandably, Back's prediction has received some criticism and skepticism. However, it's also worth noting prominent figures like Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky and Galaxy Digital's Mike Novogratz have projected six-figure Bitcoin prices in the next few years themselves. And past wild BTC price targets from maximalists like John McAfee eventually ended up significantly underestimating the actual gains realized.
While unprecedented, a confluence of factors like the coming halving, ongoing monetary inflation, and regulatory developments opening new onramps could theoretically lay the groundwork for monumental new all-time highs. Back argues Bitcoin is still in the early stages of establishing itself as a global safe haven asset, and price rises will grow exponentially as it scales to meet increased demand from larger players. The coming years may prove this type of ambitious forecast far-sighted or incredibly prescient.
Only time will ultimately tell if $700k Bitcoin comes to pass within Back's predicted two-year timeframe. But his analysis draws from clear on-chain drivers like coin production reductions and factors currently boosting safe haven demand. Given the nascent stage of cryptocurrency overall and Bitcoin's position as a prominent inflation hedge, reaching six figures does not seem completely unfeasible according to other analysts either. Back's bold prediction merits close watching as the coming halving cycle plays out beginning in 2024.
