Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan has predicted an ‘ETF Festival’ in 2026, pushing back against bear market fears.

Speaking to CNBC on 19 November 2025, Hougan said that with the US government reopening and related legislation advancing, the crypto market could see an “ETF Palooza.” He expects over 100 new crypto ETFs/ETPs to launch, with index-based crypto ETPs set to become the most significant growth segment next year. 

Furthermore, Hougan said that the new wave of investors prefers to “buy a basket of crypto assets for long-term holding” rather than betting on a single blockchain.

Hougan’s prediction of an explosion of crypto ETFs comes at a time when the market is visibly struggling and Bitcoin is experiencing a sharp correction from its recent highs. 

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Bitcoin briefly dropped below $90,000 this week, declining nearly 27.5%. Despite this significant pullback, Hougan remains unfazed. And so does Simon Gerovich.

DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025

“Our Strategy Remains Unchanged,” Says Metaplanet’s Simon Gerovich

Following Bitcoin’s struggle, the Tokyo-listed company’s CEO took to X to say that “Even on days like today, our strategy remains unchanged. While short-term movements can be unsettling, our focus continues to be on long-term value creation.”

After reporting a strong Q3, Metaplanet revealed that Fidelity International purchased 3 million shares of the company worth $7.42 million. “Asia’s Microstrategy” continues to be one of the most aggressive Bitcoin buyers.

Meanwhile, Hougan said that “Bitcoin’s service lies in its capacity to securely store wealth in a digital format without the need for a government, banking institution, or other intermediaries.”

DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025

The UAE And Abu Dhabi Investment Council Triple Bitcoin Bet

Bitwise and Metaplanet are not alone. On 20 November 2025, an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund raised its holdings in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) from 2.4 million to 8 million shares. 

Speaking to Bloomberg, an ADIC spokesperson said, “We see Bitcoin playing an increasingly important role alongside gold; both assets contribute to diversifying our portfolio, and we expect to hold them as part of our near and long-term strategy.”

Moreover, Harvard University’s endowment increased its Bitcoin exposure by 257% during Q3 2025. It accumulated 6.8 million shares of IBIT.

Explore: Bitcoin Prediction for November 2025: Saylor Keeps Buying the Dip

Key Takeaways

  • Despite short-term volatility, Hougan maintains an extraordinarily bullish long-term outlook. In an early November memo, he cited macro strategist Jordi Visser’s view that Bitcoin is in a “silent IPO” phase.

  • Drawing a parallel to Microsoft, Hougan noted that society readily understands how to value services. “The value of Microsoft’s shares correlates with the demand for its service,” he stated, arguing that Bitcoin follows a similar demand curve.

 

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Akriti Seth
Akriti Seth
Senior Editor

Akriti Seth is a Zurich-based Business Journalist and Crypto Editor. Her passion for journalism has taken her across the globe – from thriving as an on-television correspondent to writing engaging articles, she has worked for companies like Informa UK, Bloomberg... Read More

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