Jurrien Timmer, the Director of Global Macro at Fidelity, has recently articulated a striking forecast for his future Bitcoin price prediction. He posits that by 2038, the value of a single Bitcoin could escalate to an astounding $1 billion. This bold prediction is supported by a comprehensive analysis involving a 4-hour BTC/USD chart, which merges the well-known stock-to-flow model with Timmer’s proprietary demand model.
The foundation of Timmer’s Bitcoin price prediction is Metcalfe’s Law, a principle suggesting that the value of a network increases exponentially in correlation with a linear growth in its user base.
Metcalfe’s Law, a key principle in understanding network effects, is particularly relevant in the context of communication technologies and networks such as the Internet, social networking, and the World Wide Web. Reed Hundt, the former Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, recognized the significance of this law in explaining the inner workings of the Internet. The law is based on the concept that the number of unique connections in a network of ( n ) nodes can be mathematically represented as ( n(n-1)/2 ), which is a triangular number. This value is asymptotically proportional to ( n^2 ).
The principle is often exemplified by the use of fax machines: a single fax machine is virtually useless, but its value increases with each additional fax machine in the network, as this expansion amplifies the number of potential communication connections. Similarly, in social networks, the value of the service escalates with the growing number of users, enhancing its utility for the entire community.
For many years, concrete evidence supporting Metcalfe’s Law was scarce. However, a breakthrough came in July 2013 when Dutch researchers analyzed European Internet usage patterns over an extended period. They discovered a ( n^2 ) proportionality for small values of ( n ) and a logarithmic (( \log n )) proportionality for larger values of ( n ). Adding to this, Metcalfe himself provided corroborative evidence by examining Facebook’s data over a decade, demonstrating a strong alignment with his law.
Further supporting evidence came in 2015 from Zhang, Liu, and Xu, who analyzed data from Tencent and Facebook. Their findings reinforced the applicability of Metcalfe’s Law across these platforms, despite their different audiences – Facebook with its global reach and Tencent primarily catering to Chinese users. The functions derived for Tencent and Facebook were ( V_{Tencent} = 7.39 \times 10^{-9} \times n^2 ) and ( V_{Facebook} = 5.70 \times 10^{-9} \times n^2 ), respectively.
Linking Metcalfe’s Law to economic concepts, a working paper by Peterson integrated the time-value-of-money concepts with Metcalfe’s value, using Bitcoin and Facebook as numerical examples. Subsequently, in 2018, an application of Metcalfe’s Law to Bitcoin demonstrated that over 70% of the variance in Bitcoin’s price could be explained by the increases in the size of the Bitcoin network.
These developments underscore the relevance of Metcalfe’s Law in understanding the value of network-based technologies and services. Its applicability across different platforms and contexts, from social media networks to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, highlights the fundamental principle that the value of a network grows with its size and interconnectedness. This understanding is pivotal in analyzing the current trends and future potential of digital technologies and their impact on various sectors, including finance, communication, and social interaction.
This exponential growth is anticipated to outpace the utility value of Bitcoin’s operational network, which is a complex ecosystem comprising buyers, sellers, cryptocurrency exchanges, ATMs, and includes retailers, major corporations like the Dallas Mavericks and AT&T, as well as insurers, banks, and a plethora of small businesses.
The Stock-to-Flow (S2F) model is a widely recognized forecasting tool for predicting Bitcoin’s price. It operates by plotting a line on a chart that represents an estimated price level. This estimation is based on the number of bitcoins available in the market compared to the amount being mined each year. The score on the stock-to-flow line indicates the projected price of Bitcoin at a given time. Users can view this forecasted price by hovering their cursor over the line on the chart. Historically, the S2F model has shown a strong correlation with Bitcoin’s price, as the actual price of $BTC has largely followed the trajectory suggested by the stock-to-flow line.
As the amount of Bitcoin available for mining decreases over time, the stock-to-flow ratio increases, reflecting a dwindling supply entering the market. This aspect of the model is a key factor in its prediction that Bitcoin’s price will rise in the future. The stock-to-flow model draws an analogy between Bitcoin and commodities or precious metals like gold, silver, or platinum, which are considered ‘store of value’ commodities. Their value is preserved over long periods due to their scarcity and the difficulty in significantly increasing their supply.
Mining gold, for instance, is a resource-intensive and time-consuming process, contributing to its scarcity. Similarly, Bitcoin’s supply is also capped, with only a finite number of coins (21 million) ever to be in existence. The mining of the remaining bitcoins requires substantial electricity and computing power, making the supply rate consistently low.
However, the predictive capability of the stock-to-flow model has faced challenges and criticism, particularly regarding its ability to account for unexpected variables. For example, the years 2020 and 2021, marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, witnessed unprecedented financial events. The massive creation of money during this period and the resultant sharp increase in financial asset values across all markets were significant. The pandemic and the subsequent fiscal stimulus measures were pivotal in driving the value of Bitcoin upwards. However, these events were also ‘black swan’ occurrences – unpredictable and beyond normal expectations.
This highlights a critical limitation of the stock-to-flow model: its potential inability to factor in extraordinary global events and market dynamics. The model, while effective in certain scenarios, primarily focuses on supply-side dynamics and may not fully account for demand-side fluctuations and macroeconomic variables. As a result, while the stock-to-flow model offers valuable insights, it should be considered alongside other market factors and analyses to gain a comprehensive understanding of Bitcoin’s price movements and future potential.
Timmer’s demand model, which he describes as conservative, projects Bitcoin reaching a value of $1 million by 2030. In contrast, the stock-to-flow combination model, which he considers more optimistic, estimates Bitcoin’s value to be between $1 million and $10 million by the same year. Notably, the discrepancy between these two models grows significantly post-2030, likely influenced by changes in the dollar’s value over time.
Timmer’s insight into the historical value of currency is particularly illuminating. He highlights that $1 invested in stocks in the 18th century would today be worth approximately $4 billion, suggesting that $1 million in the present day could be equivalent to $1 billion in two decades. This is underpinned by the potential devaluation of the dollar, impacting purchasing power significantly. This phenomenon is evidenced by historical real estate prices, where what $1 million could purchase a few decades ago vastly differs from its purchasing power today. For instance, high-end houses in the US, once priced between $20,000 and $50,000, are now far beyond the reach of that same amount.
The ever-increasing number of billionaires globally and the anticipation of the first trillionaire in the near future underscore this trend. Similarly, the corporate world is witnessing a surge in companies crossing the $1 trillion market cap, mirroring these macroeconomic shifts.
Previously, Fidelity had a Bitcoin price prediction to hit $100 million by 2035 using the same stock-to-flow model, a prediction also made by Timmer. His current forecasts, while undoubtedly ambitious and untested, are not unique in their optimism. Deutsche Bank, for instance, has also projected a dominant position for Bitcoin by 2030.
Timmer’s Bitcoin price predictions come amidst a backdrop of growing interest and investment in cryptocurrencies from both individual investors and institutional players. The increasing integration of blockchain technology in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and supply chain management, further bolsters the potential for Bitcoin’s growth. Additionally, the evolving regulatory landscape and increasing global acceptance of cryptocurrencies could play a significant role in Bitcoin’s valuation trajectory.
Furthermore, the increasing adoption of Bitcoin as a medium of exchange and a store of value by both individuals and businesses worldwide suggests a growing confidence in its long-term viability. This is bolstered by the limited supply of Bitcoin, capped at 21 million coins, which creates a scarcity that could drive up its value over time.
In conclusion, while Timmer’s Bitcoin price prediction of reaching $1 billion by 2038 is undoubtedly optimistic, it is grounded in a combination of historical financial trends, current market dynamics, and the evolving role of cryptocurrencies in the global economy. As with any prediction, especially in the volatile world of cryptocurrency, these projections should be considered alongside the inherent risks and uncertainties. However, Timmer’s analysis offers a compelling vision of Bitcoin’s potential in the coming decades, reflecting a broader trend of increasing digital asset valuation and adoption.