Two of the most successful hedge fund managers, Ken Griffin and Steven Cohen, boosted their investments in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ: IBIT) during the first quarter of 2025.
Although their stakes are not large, their purchases signal growing confidence among financial institutions in Bitcoin, even as its price declined earlier this year.
Bitcoin currently trades around $110,000, yet several Wall Street experts predict significant price gains before the end of 2025. Notable forecasts include:
- Geoff Kendrick of Standard Chartered expects Bitcoin to reach $200,000 this year, an 81% increase.
- Peter Chun from Presto projects a $210,000 price, up 90%.
- Tom Lee of Fundstrat Advisors forecasts $250,000, a 127% rise.
- Josh Olszewicz of Canary Capital predicts Bitcoin could soar to $300,000, a 172% jump.
These optimistic price targets also suggest similar upside potential for the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF.
Institutional investors are increasingly buying spot Bitcoin ETFs, which have gained traction since SEC approval in January 2024. These ETFs reduce costs and barriers compared to direct cryptocurrency exchanges and help legitimize Bitcoin as an investment.
Data shows that institutional capital in the largest spot Bitcoin ETFs nearly tripled over the past year, reaching nearly $16 billion in the first quarter. The number of large asset managers holding these ETFs also more than tripled.
The trend toward institutional adoption is expected to continue, supported by favorable government policies and Bitcoin’s status as a $3 trillion asset class. Bitcoin remains the largest and most liquid cryptocurrency, making it the preferred choice for institutional investors.
Corporate and state-level interest in Bitcoin is also growing. Over 150 companies have added Bitcoin to their balance sheets.
Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) leads with 582,000 BTC purchased at an average price of $70,086 and plans to invest an additional $56 billion by 2027. Strategy’s chairman, Michael Saylor, predicts Bitcoin could become a $200 trillion asset by 2045, implying nearly 9,000% growth from today’s market value.
Several U.S. states, including Arizona and New Hampshire, have passed laws to create strategic Bitcoin reserves, with more states considering similar measures. Analysts at JPMorgan Chase view this as a potential sustained positive driver for Bitcoin’s price.
In summary, the growing participation of billionaires, institutional investors, corporations, and state governments in Bitcoin and Bitcoin ETFs points to strong growth potential for both Bitcoin and related financial products like the iShares Bitcoin Trust in 2025.
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