Ether Poised To Outperform Bitcoin As Standard Chartered Sees ETH Reaching $40,000 By End-2030

Standard Chartered analysts see Ethereum gaining ground against Bitcoin, projecting ETH prices to reach $40,000 by 2030. This optimism comes despite a reduced short-term price target for 2026. The bank attributes Ethereum's edge to network effects and real-world asset adoption.

Ethereum's role in stablecoin infrastructure and decentralized finance is central to its long-term appeal. Analysts expect Ethereum's throughput to improve tenfold over the next two to three years, which could lift its market capitalization.

Regulatory developments also play a key role in the outlook. The U.S. CLARITY Act is seen as a pivotal piece of legislation that could provide a clearer framework for the crypto sector. Senate leaders plan to review the bill on January 15, with hopes of passage in early 2026.

Why Did This Happen?

Ethereum's relative performance has improved as Bitcoin's growth has lagged. Standard Chartered analyst Geoff Kendrick noted this shift, citing weaker-than-expected Bitcoin performance as a drag on digital assets priced in USD.

The bank reduced its 2026 Ethereum forecast from $12,000 to $7,500 but raised its 2030 target to $40,000.

What Drives Ethereum's Outlook?

Institutional buying has played a role in Ethereum's relative strength. Bitmine Immersion Technologies continues to accumulate ETH, even as other corporate buying has slowed.

Stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets are also seen as growth engines for Ethereum. These use cases are expected to expand as blockchain adoption grows in financial markets.

What Are Analysts Watching Next?

The CLARITY Act's passage remains a key focus for analysts and investors. If passed, it could bring regulatory clarity and unlock new institutional capital flows into crypto markets.

The bill includes provisions to reduce market manipulation and establish clearer rules for exchanges and custodians. Passage could stabilize price action and support broader adoption of digital assets.

Ethereum's long-term potential is tied to its throughput and layer-one upgrades. Analysts say higher capacity can lead to higher valuations.

Bitcoin forecasts also remain bullish, with Standard Chartered projecting prices of $150,000 in 2026 and $500,000 by 2030.

Investor sentiment remains cautious, with many waiting for macro triggers in the U.S. to dictate broader market direction. Ether has fallen 17% over the past three months, though it remains well below its all-time high.

The institutional landscape is shifting, with major banks like Morgan Stanley and Bank of America expanding crypto offerings. These moves reflect growing acceptance of digital assets in traditional finance.