Arthur Hayes Predicts Bitcoin Bottom as Pepeto Shows 100X Potential

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes has predicted that Bitcoin will return to its October 2025 high of $126,000. In an essay published May 12, 2026, titled The Butterfly Touch, Hayes argued that the cryptocurrency’s recent correction bottomed near $60,000.

The prediction is driven by macro convictions regarding global liquidity and government spending. Hayes pointed to trillions of dollars in artificial intelligence infrastructure spending and war-related government expenditure as the primary catalysts for the expected price movement.

A key component of Hayes’ analysis is the shift in how AI infrastructure is being funded. He noted that spending is moving away from corporate cash flow and toward credit creation by commercial banks and central banks.

Hayes identified $90,000 as a critical trigger point for the market. According to the analysis, this level is where sellers of call options may be forced to buy, a mechanism that could accelerate the rally toward the $126,000 target.

In addition to his outlook on Bitcoin, Hayes disclosed current holdings through Maelstrom. The firm maintains positions in HYPE and ZEC, with plans to acquire NEAR.

This environment of increasing risk appetite is coinciding with the launch of new assets, such as the cryptocurrency Pepeto. While established assets like SOL and BNB are noted for their institutional backing, Pepeto is currently offering a presale entry for investors.

The Pepeto project is focusing on the deployment of functional trading tools available during its presale phase. One such tool is the PepetoAI risk scorer, which analyzes trading positions from entry to exit and assigns a clear risk grade to prevent traders from entering positions without a risk assessment.

the project has implemented a cross-chain bridge. This technical feature is designed to connect different blockchains, allowing capital to flow more freely during fast-moving market sessions.