Following a rough year, Bitcoin could top 2026 performance charts, according to VanEck.

VanEck Sees Bitcoin as a Top Contender for 2026

Bitcoin (BTC $88,347) has struggled in 2025, underperforming both gold and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, despite expectations it would benefit from fiat currency devaluation.

Yet VanEck predicts a potential rebound next year.

“Bitcoin is trailing the Nasdaq 100 Index by roughly 50% year-to-date, and that gap positions it to be a top performer in 2026,” said David Schassler, head of multi-asset solutions at VanEck, in the firm’s 2026 outlook.

This year’s weakness reflects tighter liquidity and lower risk appetite, but Schassler says Bitcoin’s long-term case remains intact. “As currency debasement accelerates and liquidity returns, BTC has historically responded sharply,” he added.

VanEck’s outlook combines monetary debasement, technological transformation, and the rise of hard assets. Schassler argues that increasing reliance on money printing to fund future liabilities will drive investors toward scarce stores of value, including gold and Bitcoin.

Gold, up more than 70% this year and trading near $4,492 per ounce, could reach $5,000 in 2026. Meanwhile, natural resources are quietly rallying, fueled by AI, energy transitions, robotics, and re-industrialization—“old-world assets” laying the foundation for the new economy.