VanEck: Bitcoin is expected to be one of the best-performing assets by 2026

According to a report by Coindesk, Bitcoin has disappointed investors this year, underperforming compared to gold and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index, despite earlier expectations that it would benefit from fiat currency devaluation.

However, a manager at VanEck has indicated that the largest cryptocurrency may be preparing for a significant comeback next year.

David Schassler, head of multi-asset solutions at VanEck, stated in the company's recent 2026 outlook, "Bitcoin's performance so far this year has lagged the Nasdaq 100 index by about 50%, and this dislocation makes it likely to be one of the best-performing assets in 2026."

Schassler wrote that while this year's weakness reflects a decrease in risk appetite and tightening liquidity, Bitcoin's fundamentals remain solid. He added, "As (currency) devaluation accelerates and liquidity returns, Bitcoin has historically reacted violently," and "we have been buying," he stated.

Schassler's broader argument focuses on the powerful combination of currency devaluation, technological transformation, and the rise of hard assets. The asset management firm believes that funding future liabilities and political ambitions will increasingly rely on money printing, driving investors toward scarce stores of value such as gold and Bitcoin.