Wikipedia Co-Founder Predicts Bitcoin Below $10,000 by 2050

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales has pushed back against claims that Bitcoin could eventually collapse to zero.

However, despite acknowledging the network’s technical resilience, his broader outlook for the world’s largest cryptocurrency remains deeply skeptical.

In comments made in late February 2026, Wales argued that Bitcoin’s underlying design is strong enough to survive indefinitely, unless an unforeseen cryptographic flaw emerges or the network suffers a severe 51% attack. Even in such a scenario, he suggested the community would likely execute a software fork and continue operating.

Sub-$10,000 by 2050?

While dismissing the idea of total extinction, Wales outlined a sharply bearish long-term projection. He suggested that by 2050, Bitcoin could trade below $10,000 in today’s dollar terms, possibly much lower, as it fades into what he described as a niche asset used primarily by hobbyists.

He went further, calling Bitcoin a “complete failure” as both a currency and a store of value, arguing that it has not achieved its original ambition of becoming dominant global money. In his view, volatility and structural limitations have prevented it from fulfilling those roles.

Wales also rejected narratives suggesting that artificial intelligence systems are meaningfully adopting cryptocurrency, describing such claims as overstated.

Bitcoin vs. Gold

Drawing a comparison with gold, Wales noted that the precious metal has tangible use cases and does not depend on a constantly maintained digital network of miners to retain existence. Bitcoin, by contrast, relies on continuous network participation and energy expenditure.

Despite these criticisms, he maintained that Bitcoin’s architecture is durable enough to prevent a total wipeout.

Market Disagrees

Wales’ 2050 target stands in sharp contrast to prevailing market sentiment and institutional forecasts.

At the time of his remarks in February 2026, Bitcoin was trading around $68,716. Several institutional projections paint a dramatically different long-term picture. Asset manager VanEck, for example, has floated scenarios ranging from $2.9 million to more than $50 million per coin by 2050, depending on levels of global financial integration and institutional adoption.

Prediction market data also reflects optimism. Polymarket traders have assigned strong probabilities to continued upside, with a majority expecting Bitcoin to revisit or exceed $75,000, even as a sizeable minority acknowledges potential downside risks.

Corporate treasury adoption has also continued. Companies such as Metaplanet have added Bitcoin to balance sheets, reinforcing the view among some executives that the asset could play a long-term strategic role.

Other Wikipedia Voices and Blockchain

While Wales remains openly critical, his fellow Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger has previously engaged more directly with blockchain initiatives.

Sanger joined the blockchain-based encyclopedia project Everipedia in 2017 as Chief Information Officer before stepping down in 2019. His recent public commentary has focused more on concerns about Wikipedia’s governance and bias than on cryptocurrency price trajectories.

A Debate Far From Settled

Wales’ comments add to the long-running debate over Bitcoin’s ultimate destiny. While he rejects the idea of a collapse to zero, his projection implies a gradual erosion of relevance rather than explosive global adoption.

With Bitcoin still trading near multi-year highs and institutional participation expanding, the divergence between skeptics and believers remains as wide as ever.

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Coindoo.com does not endorse or recommend any specific investment strategy or cryptocurrency. Always conduct your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

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