VanEck: Bitcoin to Become One of the Top Performing Assets by 2026

**Bitcoin Lags Gold, Nasdaq 100 in 2024—VanEck Sees 2026 Comeback** Dec. 24 (CoinDesk) — Bitcoin has disappointed investors this year, underperforming gold and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index despite expectations it would benefit from fiat currency debasement. Yet the world’s biggest cryptocurrency may be gearing up for a major rebound next year, according to a VanEck executive. David Schassler, head of Multi-Asset Solutions at VanEck, said in the firm’s newly released 2026 Outlook: “Bitcoin’s year-to-date performance trails the Nasdaq 100 by roughly 50%—a dislocation that positions it to be one of 2026’s top-performing assets.” Schassler noted that while this year’s weakness reflects reduced risk appetite and tighter liquidity, Bitcoin’s fundamentals remain solid. “Historically, Bitcoin has reacted strongly when fiat debasement accelerates and liquidity returns,” he added. “We’ve been buying.” Schassler’s broader thesis centers on the powerful mix of fiat debasement, technological transformation, and the rise of hard assets. The asset manager argues that meeting future liabilities and political goals will increasingly depend on money printing, driving investors toward scarce stores of value like gold and Bitcoin.