Will It Make You Rich by 2035? 3 Possible Outcomes

Bitcoin has defied expectations time and time again. Once a niche idea among cryptography enthusiasts, it has evolved into a mainstream financial asset, embraced by Wall Street firms, tech companies, and governments alike. As of July 2025, Bitcoin (BTC) trades around $117,000 and continues to command headlines for its role in digital finance. But if you were to invest $10,000 today, where might that take you by 2035?

To find an answer to this question, we consider three possible scenarios: bearish, realistic and ultra bullish in terms of adoption trends, regulatory trends and technological progress. No prediction can ever be certain, but such projections can be used to give an idea of what the coming decade may bring to long-term holders of Bitcoin.

The Bear Case: Below $100,000

The pessimistic outcome imagines a world where Bitcoin fails to achieve broader adoption or loses its dominance due to external risks. This scenario assumes that developments such as quantum computing breakthroughs could compromise the cryptographic systems that secure Bitcoin transactions, making the network vulnerable to malicious attacks.

Other challenges could stem from stricter regulatory crackdowns, particularly in the United States, Europe, or Asia. Although the White House has shown increasing support for digital assets in recent years, a shift in policy under future administrations could impact Bitcoin’s legal status.

Additionally, Bitcoin faces competition from newer blockchains and protocols, some of which offer faster, cheaper, and more energy-efficient features. Projects like Ethereum’s Layer-2 networks, Solana, or even government-backed central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) could divert attention and investment away from BTC.

In this bear scenario, it is possible that Bitcoin will not be able to hold onto its present value and even drop below the 100,000 mark by 2035. The result would be that a $10,000 investment would give a small or even negative result, with the money being only $8,000 to $12,000 depending on how the market fared.

The Base Case: Between $600,000 and $1.2 Million

The most probable scenario implies the further incorporation of Bitcoin into the mainstream finance and retail portfolio. The interest on the institution front is likely to increase further, particularly following the success of the Bitcoin spot ETFs that were approved earlier in the decade. The constant demand has been driven by firms such as BlackRock and Fidelity bringing crypto exposure to millions of retirement and brokerage accounts.

The use of Bitcoin can also go beyond its use as a store of value. With technologies such as the Lightning Network, Bitcoin is increasingly viable as a payment method, and can be used to make instant transactions with lower fees. This would enhance its microtransactions, cross-border payment, and even Web3 ecosystems.

In this base case, Bitcoin could appreciate five to ten times its current price, reaching between $600,000 and $1.2 million per coin by 2035. That would turn a $10,000 investment today into $50,000 to $120,000. Such a gain would still fall short of the massive 40,000% return seen over the past decade, but it remains impressive when compared to traditional equities or bonds.

The Bull Case: $5 Million and Beyond

While it sounds ambitious, the ultra-bullish scenario is not entirely out of reach. Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million coins makes it attractive in an era where fiat currency inflation and sovereign debt levels continue to climb. If macroeconomic instability worsens, central banks might even look toward holding Bitcoin as a reserve asset alongside gold.

If Bitcoin begins to serve as a global settlement layer or reserve standard, the influx of demand could push its price well beyond $1 million. A complete shift toward using Bitcoin for daily transactions such as salary payments, international trade, or remittance flows would drastically increase its utility and market value.

In this scenario, Bitcoin could reach prices around $5 million or higher by 2035. A $10,000 investment today could then be worth $400,000 to $500,000, or possibly more if network development, public adoption, and global demand all align. Projects building on top of Bitcoin like decentralized identity tools, smart contracts via RSK, or tokenized assets could accelerate this growth, helping create an entire ecosystem of services tied to Bitcoin’s infrastructure.

Putting It All Together

These scenarios demonstrate the wide range of possible outcomes for Bitcoin’s future value. While the bear case remains the least likely, it is important to acknowledge the risks that exist from technological threats to legal restrictions.

The base case is the most realistic one and is based on the current trends where only moderate gain is expected in adoption and maintain investor confidence. In the interim, the bull case, though speculative, points to the potential outcome in case of Bitcoin attaining a comparable status of global financial application compared to gold or fiat currencies.

The history of performance demonstrates that Bitcoin can recover after significant corrections. Several storms claimed the lives of Bitcoin, including China mining ban, the FTX bankruptcy, and macroeconomic factors, but the cryptocurrency emerged and gained more strength. According to a recent Techi market wrap-up, the post-halving periods tend to spark new bull markets that can last years.

For investors, the key lies in understanding their risk tolerance. A $10,000 investment in Bitcoin should not be viewed as a guaranteed return vehicle. It is a long-term bet on digital scarcity, decentralization, and the evolution of global finance.