Standard Chartered Predicts Bitcoin to Hit $120,000 by Q2 2025

Standard Chartered has predicted that Bitcoin (BTC) could reach a new all-time high of $120,000 in the second quarter of 2025. This forecast is based on several factors that are creating a bullish environment for the cryptocurrency. According to Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s head of digital assets research, these factors include strategic asset reallocations, US investors divesting from domestic assets, Bitcoin whale accumulation, and flows shifting out of gold ETFs into Bitcoin ETFs.

Kendrick noted that historical price action, characterized by short topside bursts followed by months of sideways price action, suggests that it is crucial to anticipate such moves. He highlighted that a strategic move away from US assets is a major catalyst for Bitcoin’s expected upswing. The rising US Treasury term premium, a metric closely correlated with Bitcoin price movements, is signaling a reallocation trend that could favor Bitcoin. Time-of-day trading patterns also suggest that US investors are divesting from US assets, while on-chain data indicates that Bitcoin whales have been steadily accumulating during recent months.

Kendrick also mentioned that flows out of traditional gold ETFs and into Bitcoin ETFs have started, adding further momentum to the outlook. Bitcoin is currently trading around $94,000, roughly seven times higher than its cycle low from November 2022. Standard Chartered expects these supportive factors to push Bitcoin to a fresh all-time high in the second quarter.

Ask Aime: Can Bitcoin reach $120,000 by Q2 2025?

Looking further ahead, Kendrick reaffirmed the lender’s end-2025 price target of $200,000, stating that while timing the upswing is tricky, the indicators now lining up suggest an imminent move higher. A chart included in the research note illustrated the strong historical correlation between Bitcoin’s price and the US Treasury term premium, reinforcing the argument that macroeconomic shifts could accelerate Bitcoin’s growth. Kendrick concluded the note with a recommendation to position for an imminent upside move in Bitcoin.

Standard Chartered’s bullish stance comes as Bitcoin continues to attract institutional inflows and broader acceptance as a strategic asset amid global financial market uncertainty. The bank’s forecast is based on a combination of strategic asset reallocations, shifting investment flows, and macroeconomic indicators that suggest a favorable environment for Bitcoin’s growth. According to the analyst's forecast, Bitcoin could reach $120,000 in the second quarter of 2025 and potentially $200,000 by the end of 2025, driven by these supportive factors.