Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin's Evolution: From Speculative Gamble to Strategic Investment Staple

Bitcoin's price trajectory has become a focal point for investors and analysts as Standard Chartered Bank, a global financial heavyweight, adjusts its outlook on the cryptocurrency. In a recent Cointelegraph report, Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank's head of digital asset research, posited that Bitcoin may never again dip below the $100,000 mark, a dramatic shift from earlier projections that had flagged short-term risks of a decline due to escalating U.S.-China trade tensions. This revised stance underscores the volatile yet maturing nature of the crypto market, with macroeconomic developments and geopolitical dynamics playing pivotal roles.

The initial bearish sentiment emerged in October 2025, as U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of steep tariffs on Chinese imports triggered a 4.5% drop in Bitcoin's price to $108,400. Standard Chartered had initially warned of a potential short-term dip below $100,000, citing trade-related uncertainties. However, recent diplomatic progress between the U.S. and China has spurred a reversal in this narrative. Reports of a "preliminary" trade framework agreement, announced ahead of a high-stakes meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, have eased investor fears. This development coincided with a 5% surge in Bitcoin's price to $115,500 over the weekend, with the broader crypto market gaining $150 billion in capitalization.

Kendrick's updated analysis highlights Bitcoin's resilience amid macroeconomic shifts. He noted that the cryptocurrency's recent performance reflects a broader rotation of capital from traditional safe-haven assets like gold into digital assets. Gold prices, for instance, plummeted 2.8% to $4,001.90 an ounce on Monday as trade optimism took hold, reinforcing the idea that Bitcoin is increasingly viewed as a hedge against geopolitical risks. The analyst also emphasized institutional adoption as a key driver, pointing to over $50 billion in Bitcoin ETF inflows this year and growing corporate treasuries accumulating crypto holdings.

The interplay between U.S.-China relations and Bitcoin's price is not new. Historical data shows October and November as historically strong months for the cryptocurrency, a trend dubbed "Uptober". This year, however, the asset's performance has been uniquely tied to trade developments. For example, when Trump announced "reciprocal" tariffs on global imports in April 2025, Bitcoin fell to $76,300. The current easing of tensions, including reports of China resuming U.S. soybean purchases and delaying rare earth export controls, has created a more favorable environment for risk assets.

Despite the bullish outlook, Standard Chartered maintains caution. While the bank now sees $100,000 as a potential long-term floor, it acknowledges that short-term volatility remains. Kendrick described the recent dip below $100,000 as possibly the "last time" Bitcoin trades at that level, the Cointelegraph report noted, but he also noted that geopolitical uncertainties-such as Fed policy shifts or renewed trade disputes-could trigger further fluctuations.

The market's response to these dynamics has been swift. Bitcoin's 50-week moving average, a critical technical support level, has held steady since early 2023. Institutional investors appear to agree with the bullish thesis: SpaceX's recent transfer of $133 million in Bitcoin to new wallets and JPMorgan's upgraded rating for Coinbase signal growing confidence in the asset's utility and long-term value.

As the crypto market navigates this inflection point, Standard Chartered's revised forecast highlights a broader trend: Bitcoin's evolution from speculative asset to a strategic component of diversified portfolios. With trade tensions easing and institutional adoption accelerating, the path to $200,000 by year-end-and even $500,000 by 2028-now appears increasingly plausible.