Standard Chartered: Bitcoin may drop to $50,000, Ethereum to $1,400, BTC year-end target lowered to $100,000

Standard Chartered Turns Conservative, Predicts Bitcoin May Drop to $50,000 Short-Term, Ethereum Could Fall to $1,400. Main Factors Include ETF Outflows and Overall Economic Impact, but Still Optimistic About Bitcoin Reaching $100,000 by Year-End.

Standard Chartered: Bitcoin Will Drop to $50K, Ethereum to $1,400

Renowned investment bank Standard Chartered has adopted a cautious stance in its latest cryptocurrency market report. The bank’s Digital Asset Research Head, Geoffrey Kendrick, predicts that the current macroeconomic environment is difficult to support, and improvements are not expected until Kevin Warsh takes over the Federal Reserve.

Until then, Bitcoin’s price may dip to $50,000 or lower, and Ethereum could fall to $1,400. However, he also emphasizes these levels will be buying opportunities. The bank’s current year-end forecast for Bitcoin is $100,000, and for Ethereum, $4,000.

Mainstream Crypto Year-End Target Prices Cut Across the Board

Standard Chartered has significantly lowered its target prices for several cryptocurrencies, reducing Bitcoin’s year-end target from an initial $150,000 to $100,000. This marks the bank’s second consecutive downward revision; last December, it projected $300,000. Ethereum’s target has also been cut from $7,500 to $4,000.

As for other altcoins/competitors, Solana’s target price has been revised down from $250 to $135, Ripple (XRP) from $8 to $2.80, Binance Coin (BNB) from $1,755 to $1,050, and Avalanche (AVAX) from $100 to $18.

Image Source: The Block, Standard Chartered Revises 2026 End Cryptocurrency Price Targets

ETF Outflows and Overall Environment Are Main Downward Drivers

Although the cryptocurrency market is expected to remain under pressure in the short term, Kendrick emphasizes that the long-term outlook remains unchanged.

One of the reasons for the market’s weakness is the behavior of U.S. Bitcoin spot ETF investors. Kendrick’s analysis indicates that since the peak in October 2025, Bitcoin ETF holdings have decreased by nearly 100,000 BTC.

With an average purchase cost around $90,000, most current buyers are in a paper loss position, making them more likely to sell rather than buy the dip in the short term.

Image Source: SoSoValue, Recent Months Show Net Outflows in U.S. Bitcoin Spot ETFs

Additionally, recent U.S. economic data presents mixed signals, and the market expects the Federal Reserve to delay rate cuts until after leadership changes in June. This environment makes it difficult for the crypto market to attract new capital inflows in the coming months.

This Bear Market Is Different, No Major Platform Failures Yet

Despite turning more cautious, Kendrick stresses that this bear market is different from previous ones. Compared to the collapses of Terra/Luna and FTX in 2022, there have been no major exchange bankruptcies accompanying the current downturn.

He believes that increased institutional participation is making the crypto market more resilient. After prices bottom out, Standard Chartered expects the market to rebound during the remaining period of 2026.

Bernstein Calls It the Weakest Bear Market Ever, Maintains Bullish Target

Recently, investment firm Bernstein also mentioned in a report earlier this week that this Bitcoin bear market is the weakest in history, but they remain optimistic, maintaining a target of $150,000 for 2026.

Bernstein analysts believe that the current Bitcoin weakness is purely a confidence crisis. The market fundamentals are intact, and there are no hidden explosive risks.

Although Bitcoin has nearly halved from its all-time high, net outflows from Bitcoin spot ETFs account for only 7%, indicating no structural pressure. Analysts expect that as liquidity improves, Bitcoin could still return to its previous highs.

• Related report: Still bullish on Bitcoin! Bernstein: This is the weakest bear market in history, year-end target $150,000