Viral 2018 Bitcoin Prediction Prompts Skepticism Over Data and Origin
A viral 4chan crypto prediction targeting $145,000 for Bitcoin in October 2026 faces heavy skepticism due to unverified origins, altered data, and mathematical flaws.
For years, bold price predictions have been an integral part of the crypto world. Now, a screenshot of an anonymous post published on 4chan on December 20, 2018, is making headlines again.
The post presents a series of Bitcoin price predictions between 2019 and 2024, alongside a target of $145,000 for October 2026. Our examination raises significant doubts about the reliability of the forecast: no verified link to the original discussion, internet archive record, or identifying mark exists to prove that the post was published prior to the events it claims to predict.
The Reality Gap and Market Data
The gap between the prediction and reality is particularly striking now. Bitcoin recently traded around $80,700–$80,900, following a daily decline of about 1.2%–3%. This leaves it still about 44% away from the $145,000 target. However, since the forecast refers to October as a whole rather than a specific day, it is premature to declare the target a complete failure.
"Lacking original documentation, there is no reliable way to prove that the author foresaw these prices in advance."
Discrepancies and Mathematical Flaws
One of the core issues with the story is that different versions of the same forecast exist. A post published on Binance Square in July 2024 featured similar claims, but the target price for September 2024 stood at $105,400. In the current viral version, that same target was replaced with about $74,000, and a new target for October 2026 was added.
Furthermore, the calculations in the post do not add up. According to the image, a price of $145,000 should give Bitcoin a market capitalization of $5.7 trillion. In reality, at that price and assuming around 20 million coins in circulation, the market cap would be only about $2.9 trillion. Even if all 21 million possible coins existed, the valuation would total roughly $3.05 trillion.
The story illustrates how an impressive screenshot can become a viral prophecy online without proof of origin. While time remains for the target to materialize, there is currently no verified basis to attribute the prediction to a 2018 user.
