Perplexity AI's bold prediction that Bitcoin would hit $180,000 to $230,000 by the end of 2025 didn't pan out. The cryptocurrency topped out near $128,000 in October 2025, then crashed below $72,000 in January 2026. It's since recovered to around $63,000 — still well short of the AI firm's target. Meanwhile, a new project called LiquidChain is drawing attention with a presale that's already raised over $900,000.
What Perplexity got right and wrong
Perplexity's forecast was built on what it called a 'slow bull institutional phase.' It pointed to record ETF inflows projected to exceed $300 billion, sovereign adoption via a US Strategic Reserve, potential Federal Reserve rate cuts, and regulatory clarity from the GENIUS Act. Those factors were supposed to legitimize corporate treasury allocation to Bitcoin and push capital in. But the actual peak of $128,000 in October 2025 was followed by a sharp correction. The bear case Perplexity outlined — a retest of $60,000 to $80,000 if ETF flows stalled or a macro recession triggered deleveraging — proved more accurate. Bitcoin briefly dipped below $72,000 in January and has been range-bound since May, with resistance at $66,000, $70,000, and $82,000, and support at $60,000 and $52,000.
Bitcoin's 2025 rollercoaster
The ride was wild. After topping near $128,000 in October 2025, Bitcoin lost more than 40% of its value in three months. The crash to below $72,000 in January 2026 wiped out gains from earlier in the year. Since then, the recovery has been slow and choppy. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $63,835, up 0.22% on the day, with a session range of $62,684 to $64,035. The market is still digesting the aftermath of the 2025 peak and the subsequent correction.
LiquidChain's pitch
Enter LiquidChain. The project aims to unify Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana into one execution layer — a technical feat that could simplify cross-chain transactions and development. Its presale is currently priced at $0.01454 per token, and it has already raised over $900,000. The timing is notable: with Bitcoin stuck in a range and investors looking for the next catalyst, LiquidChain is offering a narrative around interoperability and scalability. Whether it can deliver on its promise remains to be seen, but the early fundraising suggests there's appetite for the idea.
The presale is ongoing, and the project will need to prove its technology can actually bridge three very different blockchains. For now, it's one of the more talked-about token sales in a market that's hungry for something new.
