ECOS Mining estimates Bitcoin’s price in 2026 to be between $120,000 and $180,000. This forecast is based on mining economics and growing institutional demand. The BeInCrypto editorial team discussed these insights with ECOS Mining founder Ilya Goldberg to understand how miners shape their expectations. This article briefly explains key factors and offers practical recommendations for miners of any scale—from a single device to a thousand.
Mining Economics and Bitcoin’s Cost Basis
According to ECOS Mining, the average cost to mine one Bitcoin currently ranges roughly between $70,000 and $85,000. The company considers around $80,000 as the threshold below which mining ceases to be economically viable. If the price falls below this mark, some miners temporarily shut down equipment. Reduced activity leads to a lower hashrate and fewer coins produced, which can help push the price back toward the breakeven level, acting as a natural limiter on deep and prolonged price drops.
For a detailed analysis of profitability characteristics and mining hardware, see trends and profitability, which discusses payback periods and key efficiency factors. It’s important to understand that the cost basis includes not only electricity but also equipment depreciation, operational expenses, and other ongoing costs that determine the profitability threshold.
The Role of Institutional Investors
ECOS Mining notes that major financial institutions such as BlackRock and Morgan Stanley are actively integrating Bitcoin into their investment strategies. The rise in institutional participation is driven by a desire to diversify portfolios and use Bitcoin as a store of value amid instability in traditional currencies. Increased institutional demand is one factor that can support the price and help establish more stable medium-term trends.
Bitcoin Price Forecast for 2026
ECOS Mining’s 2026 forecast of $120,000–$180,000 is based on a combination of mining economic logic and growing institutional interest. The upper bound reflects a more optimistic scenario with increased demand from large investors, while more conservative estimates account for ongoing market uncertainty.
For alternative perspectives and additional risk factors, see also Strategy Inc.’s opinion, which offers a broader view of possible scenarios. ECOS Mining’s forecast emphasizes the role of internal mining economics and external demand.
Strategies for Investors
ECOS Mining highlights that combining Bitcoin holding with mining allows generating income from multiple sources: mining provides a flow of coins, while holding part of the balance in BTC offers potential capital appreciation. Such combined approaches have proven effective in previous cycles and are seen by the company as a way to reduce individual risks.
If you’re interested in regional insights and outcomes for Russia, it’s useful to review the material on local mining results in the country: Mining in Russia 2025. Combining holding and mining requires assessing your own cost basis and risks to properly allocate resources between accumulation and extraction.
Why This Matters
For miners operating 1–1000 devices, the key takeaway from news about forecasts and cost basis is understanding at what price level their operations remain economically justified. The threshold around $80,000 indicates the price below which mining generally stops being profitable, so tracking your own cost basis is critical for making timely operational decisions.
Additionally, growing interest from major institutional investors may soften volatility and support demand over medium-term horizons, which is important when deciding whether to hold mined coins or sell them to cover operating expenses. Finally, combining different income sources (mining + holding) helps diversify risks and improve the resilience of a miner’s business.
What to Do?
- Precisely calculate your mining cost basis including all expenses and compare it to the $80,000 benchmark to understand your business’s margin of safety.
- Optimize energy consumption and equipment maintenance: reducing operating costs directly lowers the profitability threshold.
- Consider a combined "mining + holding" strategy—reserve part of mined coins for potential price appreciation.
- Monitor institutional movements and market news—they influence demand and average price levels, which are important for planning sales and holdings.
- Prepare an action plan for prolonged downturns: temporarily shutting down some capacity or relocating equipment can help reduce losses if prices fall below breakeven.
Conclusions
ECOS Mining links its $120,000–$180,000 forecast to internal mining economics and growing institutional demand. For miners, the most important thing is understanding their cost basis ($70,000–$85,000) and the profitability threshold near $80,000 to make timely operational and investment decisions.
Combining Bitcoin mining and holding remains an effective approach to managing risk and returns, while careful monitoring of expenses and market conditions helps maintain business resilience under any scenario.