ARK Investment founder Cathie Wood has forecasted a significant wave of startup mergers and acquisitions (M&A) following the election of Donald Trump. 

In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Wood cited anticipated changes at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as a key driver of the trend, which she believes will unlock long-delayed liquidity for venture capitalists.

Wood criticized the FTC for impeding M&A activity under previous leadership and expressed optimism about a policy shift under Trump’s administration. She believes this change will create opportunities for strategic buyers to acquire innovative private companies.

“M&A has been prevented by the FTC. That is going to change,” Wood told Bloomberg. “We are finally going to have price discovery as strategic buyers bid for these innovative companies. We’ll see how much they’re really worth.”‍

Bitcoin’s $1 Million Potential

During the interview, Wood reiterated her ultra-bullish prediction for Bitcoin, maintaining her view that the cryptocurrency could surpass $1 million by 2030. She highlighted Bitcoin’s capped supply of 21 million coins as a critical factor driving its value, contrasting it with gold, where rising prices often lead to increased production.

“It is becoming even more scarce than gold,” Wood explained. “The difference between gold and Bitcoin is, when the gold price goes up, as it has, production goes up, the rate of increase in the supply goes up — that cannot happen with Bitcoin.”

Bitcoin’s price has surged in 2024, crossing $108,000, as market dynamics and regulatory optimism fuel its rise. Wood anticipates that deregulation under Trump’s presidency will further accelerate Bitcoin’s growth.‍

Support for Elon Musk’s Government Reform Initiative

Wood also expressed support for Elon Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative aimed at reducing government size and regulatory burdens. She praised Musk’s ability to identify and address obstacles to innovation, calling him uniquely qualified to implement meaningful reforms.

“He just knows he can change the world faster than he already has if he got some of those obstacles out of the way,” Wood said.