JP Morgan’s Bold $170K Bitcoin Prediction Defies Market Skepticism

Wall Street giant JP Morgan just dropped a bombshell Bitcoin price target that’ll make crypto bulls salivate—and skeptics scoff.

The $170K forecast comes as institutional interest surges, but remember: these are the same folks who called BTC a 'fraud' at $3K.

Key drivers? Scarcity narrative intensifies post-halving, spot ETF inflows hit record highs, and—shocker—JP Morgan’s own blockchain division is quietly building infrastructure.

Market reaction? Deribit traders are loading up on 2026 $200K calls while gold bugs scream 'bubble.'

Closing thought: When banks flip bullish, check your exit strategy—they didn’t get rich holding bags.

In brief

• JP Morgan estimates that Bitcoin is currently undervalued compared to gold, based on an analysis of the volatility ratio.
• The bank sets a theoretical target of $170,000 for BTC, considering a mechanical revaluation of its capitalization.
• This projection relies on a quantitative methodology comparing the ‘relative risk’ between Bitcoin and gold.
• The analysis comes as Bitcoin has fallen back below $100,000, amidst high uncertainty in the crypto market.

JP Morgan sees an undervalued bitcoin compared to gold : towards a potential of 170,000 dollars ?

In a note addressed to its clients on Wednesday, November 6, JP Morgan surprised the market with a bold projection. bitcoin would be largely undervalued compared to gold, according to a comparative approach based on volatility, despite a correlation that reached 0.85.

More specifically, the bank explains that the BTC/gold volatility ratio has fallen to 1.8, meaning that bitcoin is considered 1.8 times riskier than gold. Applying this ratio to the relative valuation of the two assets, analysts estimate there is a significant mechanical upside margin for BTC.

“Taking this ratio into account, which implies that bitcoin currently consumes 1.8 times more risk capital than gold, then mechanically, the market capitalization of bitcoin at 2.1 trillion dollars should increase by nearly 67 %, implying a theoretical price close to 170,000 dollars”, can be read in the report.

This analysis is based on a quantitative methodology specific to the bank and founded on market dynamics between so-called SAFE haven assets. In support of its reasoning, JP Morgan highlights several findings :

• The historic gold rally in October led to an increase in its own volatility, temporarily making it riskier than usual ;

• The BTC/gold volatility ratio, which dropped to 1.8, makes bitcoin appear relatively more stable than expected compared to gold’s evolution ;

• The risk-adjusted valuation of BTC should theoretically reflect this dynamic, hence the projected target of 170,000 dollars over a 6 to 12 month horizon ;

• The model used relies on a mechanical approach, without integrating speculative or narrative elements around bitcoin, which according to JP Morgan strengthens the robustness of this estimate.

For the American bank, this configuration creates a strategic opportunity window for investors seeking uncorrelated and rationally valued assets.

Divergent perspectives : when other players lower their ambitions

In the face of this optimistic reading, several market players present a completely different diagnosis. On the very day the JP Morgan report was published, bitcoin dropped below the $100,000 threshold, breaking a major psychological support for the first time in four months.

This decline is interpreted by some as a sign of persistent vulnerability. Following this, Galaxy Digital announced a downward revision of its BTC price projections for the end of the year, lowering its target from 185,000 to 120,000 dollars.

To justify this adjustment, the firm cites several factors: persistent macroeconomic pressure, notably trade tensions and tariff policies, as well as the October 10 crash, considered the largest 24-hour liquidation episode in crypto history.

Adding to this is a worrying figure: according to Galaxy, nearly 400,000 BTC were dumped on the market by whales in October, contributing to increasing selling pressure. This capital movement fits into a general trend of repositioning by institutional investors, who now seem to diversify their exposures towards other competing assets or themes.

“Bitcoin has entered a new phase, what we call the era of maturity”, explains Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy. He believes that ETFs, by absorbing a growing share of liquidity, now slow down the pace of increases.

i’m lowering my BTC bullish EOY target to $120k (prev $185k) 👀

just sent this note to clients

whale distribution, non-BTC investments, treasury company malaise, and other factors contributed to BTC headwinds in 25

(long-term future still bullish, of course) pic.twitter.com/2aj1eoJlno

This interpretative divergence between JP Morgan and other institutions like Galaxy illustrates the current complexity of the crypto market. While some see a structural medium-term opportunity, others favour a more cautious reading based on immediate market data. For investors, the challenge is now to arbitrate between these two narratives: that of an undervalued asset ready to rebound, and that of a market transitioning to more moderate growth. In any case, these divergences highlight that the BTC price is no longer reduced to a bubble or speculative exuberance logic: it is becoming an asset analyzed, compared, and scrutinized through classic financial methodologies.

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