Standard Chartered has set a new long-term price target of $40,000 for Ethereum (ETH) by the end of 2030. While sharply lowering its forecast for the end of 2026, the bank argues that Ethereum’s position is improving, even though broader weakness led by Bitcoin has lowered overall crypto price targets.
In a research note, the bank’s digital assets analyst Geoff Kendrick described 2026 as a potential turning point for Ethereum relative to Bitcoin, despite reducing the medium-term ETH price path. “We think ETH’s prospects have improved. We therefore expect the cross to gradually return to its 2021 highs,” Kendrick wrote, pointing to a rebound in the ETH/BTC ratio as central to his outlook.
The bank now expects Ether to reach $7,500 by the end of 2026, down from a previous estimate of $12,000. It then forecasts a rise to $15,000 in 2027 (down from $18,000), $22,000 in 2028 (down from $25,000), $30,000 in 2029 (raised from $25,000), and finally $40,000 by the end of 2030.
“I think 2026 will be the year of Ethereum, much like 2021 was,” Kendrick stated. The bank attributes the near-term reductions to Bitcoin’s negative impact on dollar-denominated crypto performance, noting that weaker Bitcoin action has “weighed on the outlook for digital assets priced in dollars.” This has forced lower absolute price targets through 2028, even as Ethereum’s underlying fundamentals strengthen relative to Bitcoin.
Kendrick highlighted several Ethereum-specific supports that he believes will show up more in its relative performance than in immediate spot price gains. These include continued accumulation by Bitmine Immersion Technologies, described as the largest Ethereum-focused digital asset treasury company, at a time when ETF inflows have “temporarily stalled” and broader corporate buying has cooled.
He also cited Ethereum’s central role in stablecoins, tokenized real-world assets, and DeFi as structural demand drivers. He emphasized the importance of plans to increase Ethereum’s layer-1 throughput by roughly ten times over the next two to three years, noting that “analysis shows that higher throughput translates into higher market cap.”
Regulation was flagged as another potential positive. Kendrick pointed to the US CLARITY Act as a development that could support the sector and “particularly ETH” by potentially unlocking a new phase of DeFi activity. The US Senate is due to review the bill on January 15, with possible passage in the first quarter.
For traders, this framework suggests Standard Chartered’s strongest conviction is less about predicting an exact ETH price in the next year and more about whether Ethereum can regain ground against Bitcoin as factors like increased throughput, stablecoin activity, and regulatory clarity build toward 2026 and beyond.
At the time of writing, ETH is trading at $3,126.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Standard Chartereds revised Ethereum price forecast designed to be clear and helpful for a range of readers
Beginner General Questions
1 What did Standard Chartered say about Ethereums price
Standard Chartered a major global bank updated its forecast They lowered their price target for the end of 2026 but reaffirmed their longterm prediction that Ethereum could reach 40000 by 2030
2 What was their old forecast and what is the new one
While the exact previous 2026 target wasnt always specified their new revised forecast for the end of 2026 is 8000 Their 2030 target of 40000 remains unchanged
3 Why would a big bank like Standard Chartered make a price prediction for crypto
As cryptocurrencies become more integrated into traditional finance major banks analyze them as a new asset class They publish research to guide their institutional clients and stake a position in the evolving market discussion
4 Should I buy Ethereum based on this forecast
No A banks forecast is not financial advice It is one analysis among many You should never invest based solely on a single prediction Always do your own research and consider your financial situation and risk tolerance
Intermediate Market Analysis Questions
5 Why did they lower the 2026 price target
The bank cited several factors including slowerthanexpected adoption of Ethereum ETFs and a general delay in the institutional adoption timeline they had previously anticipated
6 What is an Ethereum ETF and why is it important for the price
An ETF would allow traditional investors to buy shares that track Ethereums price through their regular stock brokerage without directly holding the crypto This could potentially bring a massive wave of new institutional and retail investment into Ethereum
7 If the 2026 target is lower why is the 2030 target still so high
The bank is distinguishing between shortterm hurdles and longterm conviction They believe current delays are temporary Their 40000 target is based on longterm themes like Ethereums role in tokenizing realworld assets decentralized finance and the broader Web3 ecosystem