Standard Chartered Predicts Bitcoin to Reach $135,000 by Q3 2025

Standard Chartered, a prominent financial institution, has issued a bullish forecast for Bitcoin, predicting that the leading cryptocurrency will reach $135,000 by the end of the third quarter of 2025. This optimistic outlook is driven by several key factors, including strong demand from exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and corporate treasuries. The bank's analysis suggests that these new market drivers are poised to propel Bitcoin to unprecedented heights, despite potential pressure from previous halving cycles.

According to Geoff Kendrick, the head of digital asset research at Standard Chartered, Bitcoin has moved past the typical 18-month downward cycle that usually follows a halving event. This shift is attributed to increased investor inflows, which have mitigated the historical price corrections associated with halvings. Kendrick's report highlights that the last halving, which occurred in April 2024, has had a different impact this time around due to the emergence of new dynamics such as ETFs and institutional purchases.

The bank anticipates that Bitcoin prices will continue their upward trajectory, although it acknowledges the possibility of a correction in September-October 2025. Despite this potential short-term volatility, Standard Chartered remains confident in the long-term prospects of Bitcoin. The bank has set an ambitious long-term price target for Bitcoin, predicting that if current dynamics continue, BTC could reach $500,000 by 2028.

In the second quarter of 2025 alone, spot Bitcoin ETFs and corporate treasuries snapped up around 245,000 BTC. Since January 2024, ETFs have attracted more than $48 billion in net buying. More corporate firms and giant institutions are adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets, and even government-linked funds are increasing their exposure through indirect investments. Therefore, Standard Chartered believes this trend will only get stronger in the months ahead.

Kendrick's analysis comes at a time when spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced their first outflow of $342.3 million after 15 consecutive days of net inflows. However, Kendrick maintains that this outflow is likely temporary and that ETF and institutional purchases will continue to drive Bitcoin's price higher. In the second quarter of 2025, ETF and institutional purchases reached a total of 245,000 BTC, and Kendrick expects this level to be exceeded in both the third and fourth quarters of the year.

Earlier this year, Standard Chartered predicted Bitcoin would reach $120,000 by mid-2025. Bitcoin has already surpassed $112,000 in Q2, just shy of that target but well above the $85,000 seen at the start of the year. The bank’s new targets are even more ambitious, with a long-term vision of $500,000 by 2028 if current trends continue.

As of today, Bitcoin is trading around $109,000 reflecting a 3% rise seen in the last 24hours. Of course, it won’t be a smooth ride. Standard Chartered does warn that there could be some bumps ahead, especially between late Q3 and early Q4. Sudden pullbacks or profit-taking could shake up the market for a while. But overall, if the ETF momentum and corporate interest keep growing, this could be the year Bitcoin breaks all its old records, and $200,000 might not sound so crazy after all.