Standard Chartered Cuts Bitcoin Forecast to $50,000 Near-Term Low Before Year-End Rebound

In a stark update amid lingering market weakness, Standard Chartered has slashed its short-term outlook for Bitcoin and Ether. The global bank now sees BTC dipping to $50,000 or just below, and ETH to $1,400, in the coming months. But there's a silver lining: these levels could mark prime buying opportunities ahead of a recovery to $100,000 for Bitcoin and $4,000 for Ether by the end of 2026.

This bearish revision comes from Geoffrey Kendrick, head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered. He anticipates more downside pain and a final capitulation phase before prices stabilize. Key drivers include heavy outflows from Bitcoin ETFs, which have shed nearly 100,000 BTC since their peak in October 2025. Investors who piled in near $90,000 are now nursing losses and more inclined to sell dips than chase them. Macro pressures add fuel to the fire. U.S. economic signals point to no Federal Reserve rate cuts until after a potential leadership shift in June, when Kevin Warsh might take the helm. Without that relief, fresh capital inflows remain elusive. It's not just Bitcoin and Ether facing cuts. Standard Chartered trimmed its end-2026 targets across the board: Solana to $135 from $250, XRP to $2.80 from $8, BNB to $1,050 from $1,755, and Avalanche to $18 from $100. These mark-to-market tweaks reflect BTC and ETH's recent slides. Kendrick notes this downturn feels milder than past cycles—no explosive failures like Terra/Luna or FTX in 2022. That signals maturing institutional involvement, even as retail wobbles. The bank has dialed back aggressively before: BTC's year-end target fell from $300,000 in December to $150,000 recently, now $100,000. Ether followed suit from $7,500 to $4,000. Yet the core bull case persists, banking on policy pivots and renewed demand.

The forecast landed as crypto prices grapple with fragility. Bitcoin has softened from recent highs, testing support amid ETF redemption pressures and broader risk-off sentiment. Ether mirrors the pain, dragged by similar dynamics. On X, chatter exploded with users debating the $50,000 floor's viability. Some eye it as a structural support where liquidity might emerge; others fear overshoot if momentum fades. Altcoin targets amplify the gloom, potentially pressuring correlated assets. Traders now weigh risk-reward: sell into weakness or position for the projected lows? ETF flows remain a pivotal watchpoint, with any acceleration in outflows risking faster declines.

Standard Chartered's call underscores crypto's volatility but also its resilience. Short-term capitulation could shake out weak hands, paving the way for a second-half surge. As Kendrick puts it, once lows hit, expect recovery through 2026. For long-term holders, $50,000 BTC might just be the bargain basement before the next leg up. Keep eyes on Fed shifts and ETF trends—they'll dictate the bounce. Sources: The Block, @CoinGapeMedia, @deviumcoin, various X discussions.