Standard Chartered has reinforced its highly optimistic stance on Bitcoin, projecting significant price increases in the near and long term. The multinational banking group anticipates Bitcoin reaching $135,000 by the end of the third quarter and surpassing $200,000 by the conclusion of 2025. These forecasts, detailed in a recent research note, highlight a fundamental shift in the factors influencing Bitcoin's market movements.
Leading this analysis is Geoff Kendrick, Head of Digital Asset Research at Standard Chartered, who has consistently maintained a positive long-term view on Bitcoin's trajectory. Kendrick emphasizes that the traditional patterns historically governing Bitcoin's price cycles, particularly around halving events, no longer dominate the market's direction.
What's Driving Bitcoin's New Trajectory?
Kendrick points out that Bitcoin has moved beyond its previous cyclical behavior, where prices typically experienced an 18-month decline following a halving event. Halvings, which occur approximately every four years, reduce the reward for mining new blocks by half. This event has historically created supply shocks that triggered price rallies, followed by significant corrections within an 18-month window.
However, the most recent halving in April 2024 is expected to deviate from this pattern. Kendrick attributes this change to the emergence of powerful new demand drivers that were absent in previous cycles. The primary forces now propelling Bitcoin's value are substantial institutional investments, mainly flowing through spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and corporate treasury purchases.
According to the report, ETF inflows and corporate treasury activities accounted for approximately 245,000 BTC acquired in the second quarter of 2025 alone. Kendrick projects that this level of accumulation will be exceeded in both the third and fourth quarters, citing deepening institutional adoption as a structural foundation for sustainably higher prices.
Institutional Adoption: A Secular Trend
This optimistic outlook comes despite recent short-term volatility in ETF flows. Data indicates that U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced net outflows of $342.3 million on a recent Tuesday, ending a 15-day streak of positive inflows that had totaled $4.8 billion. Kendrick suggests that these temporary fluctuations don't diminish the broader secular trend of large-scale institutional allocation to Bitcoin.
The growing interest from corporate treasuries represents a potentially transformative development in how companies manage balance sheet assets. As more institutions recognize Bitcoin's value as a store of wealth, this demand could fundamentally alter the cryptocurrency's market dynamics. Bitcoin has already demonstrated impressive growth, rising more than 70% over the past year.
For those looking to understand how to participate in these market developments, comprehensive resources are available. 👉 Explore institutional investment strategies
Long-Term Vision: $500,000 and Beyond
Beyond its near-term predictions, Standard Chartered maintains its bold long-term projection of Bitcoin reaching $500,000 by 2028. This forecast is grounded in expectations of sustained institutional interest and broader macroeconomic conditions that could increasingly favor digital assets over traditional stores of value.
The bank's $200,000 forecast for year-end 2025, if realized, would represent a near-doubling from current price levels. As of recent trading sessions, Bitcoin was trading at approximately $107,500, suggesting substantial potential upside according to these projections.
This long-term vision assumes that Bitcoin will continue to gain acceptance as a legitimate asset class and that institutional adoption will deepen across various sectors and geographic regions. The transformation from a speculative asset to a recognized store of value represents the core thesis behind these ambitious price targets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Standard Chartered's Bitcoin price prediction for 2025?
Standard Chartered predicts Bitcoin will reach $135,000 by the end of the third quarter of 2025 and surpass $200,000 by the end of the year. These projections represent significant increases from current price levels and are based on institutional adoption trends.
How does this halving cycle differ from previous ones?
According to Standard Chartered's analysis, the current cycle differs due to substantial institutional demand from ETFs and corporate treasuries. This new demand dynamic may override the traditional post-halving price correction pattern observed in previous cycles.
What are the main drivers behind these price predictions?
The primary drivers identified are institutional investments through spot Bitcoin ETFs and corporate treasury purchases. The report indicates these sources accounted for approximately 245,000 BTC acquired in just the second quarter of 2025.
What is the long-term outlook for Bitcoin according to this analysis?
Beyond 2025, Standard Chartered maintains a bullish long-term outlook, projecting Bitcoin could reach $500,000 by 2028. This forecast assumes sustained institutional interest and macroeconomic conditions favoring digital assets.
How reliable are these price predictions?
While from a major financial institution, these projections should be considered informed analysis rather than guarantees. Cryptocurrency markets remain volatile, and multiple factors can influence price movements in unexpected ways.
Where can investors learn more about institutional cryptocurrency strategies?
Serious investors can 👉 access advanced market analysis tools to better understand institutional approaches to digital asset allocation and portfolio management.