Key Insights:
- Citi projects approximately $5 billion in net crypto ETF inflows over the next 12 months.
- Ethereum (ETH) has outperformed Bitcoin (BTC) across multiple timeframes, showing broader strength.
- Analyst CW said Bitcoin’s “Bull On” signal rose as its “Bull Off” signal weakened.
Banking giant Citibank has shared a bullish outlook for Bitcoin and Ethereum, projecting price targets 20-25% higher for each over the coming year. This development coincides with a strong recovery across the wider cryptocurrency market since mid-August, alongside improving macroeconomic indicators as PCE inflation cools and expectations for an interest rate hike decline.
Citi Raises 12-Month Target for Bitcoin to $113,000, and Ether Target to $3,028
Citigroup has revised its 12-month price predictions upward, lifting its Bitcoin forecast from $82,000 to $113,000 and its Ether target from $2,240 to $3,028, according to Reuters.
The financial institution pointed to positive activity across the broader digital asset market and increasingly favorable macroeconomic conditions. Additionally, Citibank is banking on renewed inflows into crypto exchange-traded funds.
For context, Bitcoin ETFs have entirely erased July’s $5 billion in outflows and sit at a net positive of $1 billion for 2026. Citi anticipates roughly $5 billion in net crypto ETF inflows over the next 12 months.
Citibank also praised regulatory steps taken by the U.S. SEC, even though the CLARITY Act failed to pass. However, the firm noted that the U.S. Senate’s failure to advance the CLARITY Act last week has narrowed the pathway toward establishing a comprehensive framework for crypto market structure.
During the past three months, Bitcoin and Ether have surged by roughly 40% and 68%, respectively. According to Citibank, this rebound is partly attributable to recent U.S. Treasury buybacks of longer-dated bonds, which weakened the greenback and spurred fresh upward momentum throughout the digital asset space.
Ethereum (ETH) Shows Greater Relative Strength Than Bitcoin
As noted above, Ethereum has clearly outpaced Bitcoin over the past three months. Reports indicate that ETH is currently displaying superior relative strength compared to BTC overall.
Data highlighted by AskClash shows that Ethereum has delivered stronger returns than Bitcoin across every timeframe. ETH advanced 0.78% over 24 hours, 0.59% over seven days, 8.93% over 30 days, and 58.2% over 90 days. Meanwhile, Bitcoin posted gains of 0.55% over 24 hours, a 0.17% drop over seven days, a 6.38% increase over 30 days, and a 36.6% rise over 90 days.
While Bitcoin is undeniably larger in total market capitalization and operates from a much higher relative base, AskClash stated that this performance gap points to stronger relative momentum for ETH while BTC trades sideways in the $82,000–$83,000 range.
Cryptocurrency analyst CW remarked that Ethereum’s bullish trend remains secure, identifying $2,680 as a crucial Point of Control (POC) level that continues to offer solid support.
CW observed that buying pressure around ETH remains robust as prices climb toward the $2,740–$2,760 selling wall. The analyst emphasized that breaking past this resistance barrier will be essential for driving a larger rally.
Bitcoin Flashes Bull Signal As US Jobs Data Improves
Analyst CW stated that Bitcoin’s “Bull On” indicator is strengthening while its “Bull Off” metric continues to fade, signaling a gradual shift toward a bull market environment.
CW pointed out that the “Bull On” score currently sits at 39, while a reading of 60 serves as the benchmark for a full bull market, as illustrated in the graphic below.
Concurrently, U.S. initial jobless claims came in at 197,000, coming in lower than the anticipated 201,000. This resilient employment figure, paired with moderating inflation, bolsters the economic soft-landing narrative and establishes a favorable backdrop for risk assets overall.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Citi’s targets and analyst indicators are forecasts and may not materialize.