Russian economist Oleg Vyugin sees Bitcoin rising against the U.S. dollar but not replacing gold by 2026

In an interview published in early January 2026, Russian economist Oleg Vyugin argued that Bitcoin is unlikely to supplant gold in the coming years because of a highly concentrated market dominated by large holders. He still expects the cryptocurrency to appreciate against major fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, citing its fixed, programmatically limited supply. Vyugin linked Bitcoin’s long-term appeal to its resistance to inflation, while Russia moves toward comprehensive crypto regulation planned by July 2026.