Back to News
CryptoEthereumInflationInterest RatesBitcoinFederal Reserve

Arthur Hayes Predicts Altcoin Collapse, Bitcoin to Reach $125K

Arthur Hayes predicts a decline in altcoins while forecasting Bitcoin to reach $125,000 by year-end, citing liquidity as the primary driver.

Sarah Chen
May 6, 2026 1 min read
Arthur Hayes Predicts Altcoin Collapse, Bitcoin to Reach $125K

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, has forecasted that many altcoins will decline significantly, while Bitcoin is expected to reach $125,000 by the end of the year. He shared these insights at the Consensus Miami conference, asserting that the imminent fall of altcoin values will serve as a necessary market correction.

Hayes likened the anticipated shakeup in the altcoin market to historical shifts among companies in the S&P 500 since 1929, expressing confidence that the altcoin ecosystem will ultimately endure. He believes Bitcoin's potential surge will stem from increased global liquidity rather than legislative changes, dismissing the impact of the CLARITY Act on the broader market.

“For Bitcoin to reach $125,000, one catalyst is needed — money printing. It’s that simple,” Hayes stated.

The analyst positions Bitcoin as a blend of technology stock and liquidity, anticipating that ongoing capital injections from the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury will boost prices, overshadowing any negative influences.

Market Sentiment

Meanwhile, another analyst known as Darkfost observed that Bitcoin's market share has risen above 61.3% following a surge past $81,000, indicating a solid capital concentration in Bitcoin. He noted that altcoin trading volumes are gradually recovering, with their market share on Binance climbing from 31% to 49% relative to Bitcoin and Ethereum. Darkfost interprets this as a sign of renewed investor interest, possibly paving the way for a shift in capital back towards altcoins.

Despite recent challenges, he reported that about 12% of assets on Binance have returned to their 200-day moving average, up from a mere 2.3% in early February. However, it is worth noting that inflows into cryptocurrency funds decreased to $117.8 million between April 27 and May 1 amid withdrawals from Ethereum.

Arthur Hayes Predicts Altcoin Collapse, Bitcoin to $125K — Mercation