Close-up details of the Standard Chartered Bank logo and signage on the building exterior. Source: ltyuan - stock.adobe.com

Key Takeaways:

Standard Chartered projects Bitcoin could hit $135K by Q3 2025, driven by ETF inflows and corporate treasury demand.
The bank sees a break from the traditional post-halving decline, citing new institutional and regulatory factors.
Despite short-term volatility, Bitcoin is forecast to reach $200K by end of 2025 and $500K by 2028.

Standard Chartered forecasts a major Bitcoin rally in the second half of 2025, projecting the price to reach $135,000 by the end of Q3.

The bank cites strong institutional demand, particularly from ETF inflows and corporate treasury acquisitions, which are expected to exceed the 245,000 BTC added in Q2.

Standard Chartered expects Bitcoin to hit $135K by Q3 2025 and break $200K by year-end.

The bank cites growing corporate treasury demand and strong ETF inflows as key drivers.

Long-term target: $500K by 2028. pic.twitter.com/dmnReGCRtb
— Satoshi Club (@esatoshiclub) July 2, 2025

Geoff Kendrick, head of digital asset research, argues that Bitcoin has moved past the traditional post-halving decline pattern due to fresh investor momentum.

He highlights that sustained institutional interest and favorable regulatory developments are distinguishing this cycle from past ones in 2016 and 2020, which saw sharp corrections after halvings.

Although Kendrick warns of potential volatility in late Q3 and early Q4, the bank maintains a bullish long-term view, with targets of $200,000 by year-end and possibly $500,000 by 2028.

While there were $342.3 million in ETF outflows on July 1, Standard Chartered believes the broader upward trend remains intact.

Overall, the bank sees Bitcoin entering a new phase driven by institutional capital, diminishing the halving cycle’s historical drag on prices.