Standard Chartered has lowered its long-term Bitcoin outlook for the second time in under three months, as the cryptocurrency market shows signs of a new bearish phase. With Bitcoin currently trading below the key $70,000 level, the bank warns the price could drop to $50,000 before recovering.
In a note published Thursday, Geoff Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s head of digital assets research, stated the bank now expects Bitcoin to reach $100,000 by the end of 2026. This marks a significant reduction from its previous target of $150,000, following an earlier downgrade in December from an initial $300,000 forecast.
According to Bloomberg, the bank’s more cautious stance reflects weakening macroeconomic conditions and shifting investor behavior, particularly during the past month’s downtrend. Bitcoin has fallen over 40% from its October peak to around $67,160, while U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen nearly $8 billion in net outflows.
Kendrick noted that slowing U.S. economic momentum and reduced expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts have heavily impacted digital assets. Declining ETF holdings have removed a critical source of demand that previously fueled rallies. The interest-rate environment remains a central concern, with markets now anticipating the first Fed cut later than previously expected. Uncertainty around future Fed leadership was also cited as a factor contributing to caution.
The bank warned that deteriorating macro conditions and the risk of further investor capitulation could continue to pressure prices in the near term.
Ethereum Could Drop to $1,400
Despite the conservative Bitcoin forecast, Standard Chartered emphasized that the current downturn appears more orderly than previous crypto market collapses. Kendrick highlighted that on-chain activity data continues to show improvement, suggesting underlying network usage remains healthy. He also noted the absence of high-profile platform failures like those seen in 2022 with Terra/Luna and FTX, which triggered widespread contagion.
The bank also revised its outlook for Ethereum, lowering its 2026 price target to $4,000 from $7,500. Analysts expect Ether could first fall to around $1,400 before reaching that level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Standard Chartereds revised Bitcoin price outlook designed to be helpful for both beginners and more experienced individuals
General Beginner Questions
1 What did Standard Chartered say about Bitcoin
Standard Chartered a major global bank has revised its Bitcoin price prediction downward They now forecast that Bitcoins price could drop to around 50000 before potentially recovering and moving higher later in the year
2 Why would a banks prediction matter for Bitcoin
While no prediction is guaranteed analysis from a large established financial institution like Standard Chartered is closely watched It influences market sentiment can affect investor confidence and provides a perspective based on traditional financial models
3 What does revised downward mean
It means they have changed their previous more optimistic forecast to a lower more cautious one They now expect a steeper price drop before any sustained recovery
4 Should I sell my Bitcoin because of this report
This is not financial advice A single analyst report should not be the sole reason for an investment decision Its important to consider your own financial goals risk tolerance and do your own research Predictions are often wrong
5 Is Bitcoin going to crash to zero
Standard Chartereds prediction is for a correction to 50000 not to zero They are still forecasting a recovery afterward A drop to 50000 from a higher price would be a significant decline but not a total collapse
Advanced MarketFocused Questions
6 What reasons did Standard Chartered give for this downward revision
They cited several factors including slowerthanexpected inflows into US Bitcoin spot ETFs persistent outflows from the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust and a general reduction in crypto market momentum
7 What is the ETF flow problem they mentioned
After the launch of US Bitcoin ETFs analysts expected huge continuous new money to flow in While there have been inflows they havent met the most bullish expectations Simultaneously GBTC has seen large outflows as investors shift to cheaper ETFs creating net selling pressure
8 What price level are they watching for a recovery
Their analysis suggests that a drop to the