BTC Bulls Target 2026 Highs as Tether CEO Flags AI Bubble as Key Market Risk
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has said that the largegest threat to in 2026 is a growing artificial intelligence bubble. Ardoino noted that BTC’s linkages to traditional markets are a fragileness, but he is generally confident in the long-term direction of the main digital asset.
The AI Bubble Is The largegest Worry For 2026
Ardoino that the “so-called AI bubble” is mainly made up of AI companies investing heavily in infrastructure such as data centres, power supply, and graphics processing units. He said that if people lose interest in AI next year, the U.S. stock market could become more volatile, which would also affect BTC.
“BTC is often marketed as an uncorrelated asset, but during times of stress, it still trades in line with the broader risk appetite,” Ardoino said. “If people lose interest in AI in 2026, BTC would probably be affected in other ways by the stock market’s ups and downs.” This warning comes as matures and more institutional entities become involved, changing how its supply is managed.
Severe Crashes Less Likely, Says Ardoino
Even though there were specific concerns, Ardoino viewmed hopeful about BTC’s ability to bounce back. He said that the fact that pension funds, governments, and long-term holders are getting more involved makes dramatic downturns less likely.
He said, “So I would think that sharp corrections of 80%, as we saw in 2022 or ahead 2018, might not happen anymore.” He said this was because the market’s fundamentals were changing.
Ardoino also said he was worried about excessive institutionalisation and asked, “BTC is for BTC, right?” He stressed the importance of avoiding situations in which institutions have too much control over the asset.
Real-World Asset Tokenisation: A Huge Benefit
Ardoino was very excited about tokenisation and said it would be a large part of the crypto sector in the future. He predicted that “tokenised securities and commodities are going to be huge.”
Doubt About Europe and Pure Treasury Firms
The head of Tether was highly negative about Europe’s rules, saying, “I’m very bearish on Europe.” He noted that the system could stifle innovation. He also said that Tether has chosen not to follow the rules, leading some European providers to remove it from their platforms.
Ardoino also said he was worried about crypto treasury organisations that hold funds but don’t run enterprises. He remarked, “I think you want a treasury company to have an amazing operational business,” and he pointed to Tether-backed projects as examples of a more balanced approach.
As 2026 gets closer, Ardoino’s findings show how BTC’s role in global finance is changing. It is increasingly tied to such as AI hype, but institutional secureguards also protect it from volatility from previous cycles.
No additional major threats were raised for the coming year, but the possibility of AI-driven spillover remains something market participants need to keep an eye on.
