As the cryptocurrency market shows an overall downtrend, investors are offering mixed views on whether buying Shiba Inu (SHIB) now can generate profits by the end of 2026.

On Jan. 22, blockchain outlet The Crypto Basic reported that Shiba Inu has recently slipped to 25th in market ranking. Some analysts see a meaningful rebound potential over the medium to long term, while skeptical views warn of further downside risk, citing last year’s weak performance. Amid conflicting outlooks, uncertainty remains high over Shiba Inu’s profit potential in December 2026.

Shiba Inu is currently under downward pressure as it is affected by geopolitical risks and macroeconomic uncertainty. External factors such as tariff disputes between the European Union and the United States are dampening market sentiment. Shiba Inu’s price recently fell from around $0.0000083 to below $0.000008. Its market-cap ranking also slipped to 25th from 24th.

Even so, some forecasting platforms point to a rebound by the end of 2026. Shiba Inu is trading at about $0.000007913. Crypto trading platform Changelly projected it would move in a $0.0000120 to $0.0000142 range by the end of 2026. That implies upside of about 51 percent to as much as 79 percent from the current price.

More optimistic forecasts also exist. Telegaon predicted Shiba Inu could rise to $0.0000331 to $0.0000541. In that case, investors could expect returns of about 318 percent to as much as 583 percent. By contrast, CoinCodex took a more cautious view and set a Shiba Inu target price of $0.00000990 for December 2026. That represents a rise of about 25 percent.

Bitcoin’s next moves are also cited as an important variable for Shiba Inu’s performance. Recently, Jack Mallers (잭 말러스), chief executive of Twenty One Capital, forecast Bitcoin could reach $150,000 to $200,000 by the end of 2026. He also said the Federal Reserve’s monetary expansion policy would highlight Bitcoin as a safe-haven asset. That view aligns with analysis from major financial institutions such as Standard Chartered.

Bitcoin tends to shape the direction of the broader crypto market. If Bitcoin rises to around $200,000, funds could later move into altcoins, giving Shiba Inu a chance to rebound as well. Some also point out that such effects could be limited in the short term.

Even under this optimistic scenario, a rise in Shiba Inu is not guaranteed. In 2025, many analysts expected Shiba Inu to set a new all-time high, but it ended the year down about 67 percent at $0.000006904. Given cases where past forecasts missed the mark, some assessments say profit potential through the end of 2026 should also be approached cautiously.