Citigroup Lifts Bitcoin and Ether Price Targets Amid ETF Inflow Recovery

Citigroup has revised its 12-month outlook for bitcoin and ether, raising its price targets as exchange-traded fund inflows resume and macroeconomic conditions improve. The financial services firm now projects a 12-month target of $113,000 for bitcoin, up from its previous forecast of $82,000. The target for ether has been adjusted to $3,028, an increase from $2,240.

The bank expects investment products to see $5 billion in inflows over the coming year, driven by a gradual increase in bitcoin allocations from brokerages and advisers. This shift follows a period of net outflows for U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs, which reached $5.8 billion by July 13. By late September, those figures had reversed, with net inflows for 2026 totaling $800 million.

Market sentiment has also been bolstered by recent developments following the U.S. Senate's rejection of the Clarity Act on September 15. Although the legislation failed to advance, subsequent rule announcements from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission helped dampen negative sentiment. Bitcoin gained more than 10% in the period following the Senate vote.

Citigroup also pointed to the U.S. Treasury’s decision to buy back longer-dated bonds as a catalyst that helped revive momentum across the crypto market. This move allowed the sector to break out of a slump where it had been trailing other risk assets.