Legendary trader Arthur Hayes warns that the global fiat currency system is fundamentally imbalanced in the long term, with governments relying on money printing to sustain the economy while wages fail to keep up with prices. He believes that Bitcoin, with its transparent rules and fixed supply, has become a key asset to counter fiat currency depreciation. Hayes predicts the market will peak between 2027 and 2028, with Bitcoin prices expected to break through $1 million and Ethereum potentially reaching $10,000 to $20,000.
Why the Money Printing Mechanism Can’t Be Stopped
(Source: Youtube)
Hayes bluntly states that to fix the current financial system, governments would have to stop printing money, sell off central bank assets, let leveraged companies go bankrupt, and endure soaring unemployment and shocks similar to the Great Depression of the 1930s. No politician would accept such a price, as no one seeking re-election would do so. Given that the system will not be reset, the money supply will only continue to expand.
He points out that although government-released inflation data appears mild, ordinary people can feel that wages are far behind the cost of living, including education, healthcare, housing, and daily expenses. Governments will not allow the financial system to fail; when problems arise, they prop up the market by printing money. In this environment, people can only seek ways to preserve their assets among stocks, bonds, real estate, gold, or cryptocurrencies.
Politically, Hayes believes that there is little real difference between the Democratic and Republican parties; both seek support by “handing out money.” This political ecosystem ensures that money printing policies will not stop, because stopping would mean economic recession and loss of votes. The expansion of central bank balance sheets has become the norm in modern economies, not the exception.
How Bitcoin Benefits from Money Printing
Hayes believes Bitcoin’s value comes from not needing to trust governments or central institutions, along with its fixed supply, transparent rules, and immutability. This avoids asset freezes or restrictions from governments or banks, making Bitcoin a tool to counter the long-term depreciation of fiat currencies. He personally prefers Bitcoin over stocks because Bitcoin doesn’t require guessing which industry capital will flow into; as long as central banks print money, Bitcoin has the opportunity to rise.
Three Reasons Bitcoin Is Superior to Traditional Assets
Fixed and non-inflatable supply: The total supply of 21 million will never change, and value won’t be diluted by government needs.
Transparent and immutable rules: All monetary policy is coded, and no one can unilaterally change it.
Global circulation without permission: Not subject to any single country’s jurisdiction, can be transferred across borders at any time.
However, he also cautions that Bitcoin’s price movements are closely tied to the balance sheets of central banks. If the world suddenly stops easing and turns to monetary tightening, Bitcoin will inevitably face a major correction. But he believes this scenario is almost impossible in the short term due to political realities.
Hayes also holds Zcash and various stablecoins, showing he is equally optimistic about privacy coins and dollar-pegged assets. This diversified allocation reflects his confidence in the overall crypto sector rather than a single bet on Bitcoin.
The Price Path to $1 Million in 2028
Looking to the future, Hayes believes the bull market peak will fall between 2027 and 2028, with Bitcoin expected to break $1 million. Calculated from the current price of around $100,000, this means a 900% increase over the next three years. This forecast is based on his judgment that global central banks will continue to expand their balance sheets and on Bitcoin’s characteristics as a scarce asset.
Ethereum could reach $10,000 to $20,000, indicating he believes the performance of smart contract platforms will lag behind Bitcoin. This is different from the 2021 bull market, where Ethereum outperformed Bitcoin. Hayes’s prediction suggests that the next bull market will focus more on Bitcoin’s store-of-value properties rather than innovations in application layers such as DeFi or NFTs.
As for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, quantitative easing will keep them strong until investors begin to worry about excessive valuations, which could trigger a reversal. Hayes believes both the stock market and Bitcoin will benefit from money printing, but Bitcoin’s scarcity will make its performance stand out even more.
Special Risks Facing European Investors
Hayes specifically warns European investors that structural problems in the Eurozone may lead countries to adopt stricter restrictions. He reminds European investors that, in the future, capital freedom in Europe will shrink, and governments will increasingly intervene in what investors are allowed to invest in. Possible measures include requiring pensions to be allocated only to government-designated assets, banning the purchase of gold and cryptocurrencies, restricting cross-border transfers, and even using bank deposits to support government finances.
This risk of capital controls is rising in Europe, stemming from internal fiscal imbalances and debt problems within the Eurozone. High debt levels in Southern European countries conflict with the fiscal discipline of Northern European countries, which may force the EU to take further control measures to prevent capital flight. Hayes advises European investors to move their assets to freer jurisdictions as early as possible or allocate to borderless assets like Bitcoin.
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Money printing frenzy pushes Bitcoin past 1 million! Arthur Hayes predicts ultimate boom in 2028
Legendary trader Arthur Hayes warns that the global fiat currency system is fundamentally imbalanced in the long term, with governments relying on money printing to sustain the economy while wages fail to keep up with prices. He believes that Bitcoin, with its transparent rules and fixed supply, has become a key asset to counter fiat currency depreciation. Hayes predicts the market will peak between 2027 and 2028, with Bitcoin prices expected to break through $1 million and Ethereum potentially reaching $10,000 to $20,000.
Why the Money Printing Mechanism Can’t Be Stopped
(Source: Youtube)
Hayes bluntly states that to fix the current financial system, governments would have to stop printing money, sell off central bank assets, let leveraged companies go bankrupt, and endure soaring unemployment and shocks similar to the Great Depression of the 1930s. No politician would accept such a price, as no one seeking re-election would do so. Given that the system will not be reset, the money supply will only continue to expand.
He points out that although government-released inflation data appears mild, ordinary people can feel that wages are far behind the cost of living, including education, healthcare, housing, and daily expenses. Governments will not allow the financial system to fail; when problems arise, they prop up the market by printing money. In this environment, people can only seek ways to preserve their assets among stocks, bonds, real estate, gold, or cryptocurrencies.
Politically, Hayes believes that there is little real difference between the Democratic and Republican parties; both seek support by “handing out money.” This political ecosystem ensures that money printing policies will not stop, because stopping would mean economic recession and loss of votes. The expansion of central bank balance sheets has become the norm in modern economies, not the exception.
How Bitcoin Benefits from Money Printing
Hayes believes Bitcoin’s value comes from not needing to trust governments or central institutions, along with its fixed supply, transparent rules, and immutability. This avoids asset freezes or restrictions from governments or banks, making Bitcoin a tool to counter the long-term depreciation of fiat currencies. He personally prefers Bitcoin over stocks because Bitcoin doesn’t require guessing which industry capital will flow into; as long as central banks print money, Bitcoin has the opportunity to rise.
Three Reasons Bitcoin Is Superior to Traditional Assets
Fixed and non-inflatable supply: The total supply of 21 million will never change, and value won’t be diluted by government needs.
Transparent and immutable rules: All monetary policy is coded, and no one can unilaterally change it.
Global circulation without permission: Not subject to any single country’s jurisdiction, can be transferred across borders at any time.
However, he also cautions that Bitcoin’s price movements are closely tied to the balance sheets of central banks. If the world suddenly stops easing and turns to monetary tightening, Bitcoin will inevitably face a major correction. But he believes this scenario is almost impossible in the short term due to political realities.
Hayes also holds Zcash and various stablecoins, showing he is equally optimistic about privacy coins and dollar-pegged assets. This diversified allocation reflects his confidence in the overall crypto sector rather than a single bet on Bitcoin.
The Price Path to $1 Million in 2028
Looking to the future, Hayes believes the bull market peak will fall between 2027 and 2028, with Bitcoin expected to break $1 million. Calculated from the current price of around $100,000, this means a 900% increase over the next three years. This forecast is based on his judgment that global central banks will continue to expand their balance sheets and on Bitcoin’s characteristics as a scarce asset.
Ethereum could reach $10,000 to $20,000, indicating he believes the performance of smart contract platforms will lag behind Bitcoin. This is different from the 2021 bull market, where Ethereum outperformed Bitcoin. Hayes’s prediction suggests that the next bull market will focus more on Bitcoin’s store-of-value properties rather than innovations in application layers such as DeFi or NFTs.
As for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, quantitative easing will keep them strong until investors begin to worry about excessive valuations, which could trigger a reversal. Hayes believes both the stock market and Bitcoin will benefit from money printing, but Bitcoin’s scarcity will make its performance stand out even more.
Special Risks Facing European Investors
Hayes specifically warns European investors that structural problems in the Eurozone may lead countries to adopt stricter restrictions. He reminds European investors that, in the future, capital freedom in Europe will shrink, and governments will increasingly intervene in what investors are allowed to invest in. Possible measures include requiring pensions to be allocated only to government-designated assets, banning the purchase of gold and cryptocurrencies, restricting cross-border transfers, and even using bank deposits to support government finances.
This risk of capital controls is rising in Europe, stemming from internal fiscal imbalances and debt problems within the Eurozone. High debt levels in Southern European countries conflict with the fiscal discipline of Northern European countries, which may force the EU to take further control measures to prevent capital flight. Hayes advises European investors to move their assets to freer jurisdictions as early as possible or allocate to borderless assets like Bitcoin.