Short Description: Standard Chartered warns Bitcoin could plunge to $50,000 and Ethereum to $1,400 before a potential market recovery in late 2026. Dive into the analysis.
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Main Article
A leading analyst at Standard Chartered has issued a stark warning to the crypto markets, forecasting that the current selloff is far from over. Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, predicts Bitcoin could drop another 26% to $50,000, while Ethereum may shed nearly 30% to $1,400 in the coming months. This outlook suggests investors should brace for “more pain” and a “final capitulation” before a potential recovery pathway emerges in the second half of 2026.
The deepening crypto selloff, which has wiped roughly $2 trillion from the market since October 2025, is expected to continue due to several key pressures. Kendrick points to a lack of dip-buying from ETF investors, who are instead contributing to the sell pressure. Furthermore, the macro risk backdrop is becoming more challenging, particularly with uncertainty surrounding future Federal Reserve policy under incoming Chair Kevin Warsh. While historically supportive, the future of interest rate cuts remains a pivotal unknown for market sentiment.
Despite the grim near-term price prediction, Kendrick offers a silver lining: the asset class has shown increased resilience. Compared to the near-80% collapse following the Terra and FTX debacles, the current downturn is proportionally less extreme. This maturation suggests that while the Bitcoin and Ethereum correction is painful, the foundational market structure is strengthening. Standard Chartered has adjusted its year-end targets to $100,000 for Bitcoin and $4,000 for Ethereum, down from previous, more bullish forecasts.
Short Summary
Standard Chartered analysts predict a continued downturn for Bitcoin and Ethereum, with targets of $50,000 and $1,400, respectively, before a potential late-2026 recovery. The selloff is fueled by ETF outflows and macroeconomic uncertainty, particularly around Federal Reserve policy. However, the crypto market demonstrates increased resilience compared to past cycles, indicating a maturing asset class amidst the current volatility.
