Standard Chartered Reaffirms $500K Bitcoin Target Amid Institutional Momentum
Bitcoin has surpassed $111,000, marking a significant milestone in its 2025 bull run. Standard Chartered has reiterated its forecast that the cryptocurrency could reach $500,000 before the end of President Donald Trump's second term in January 2029. This projection is underpinned by increasing institutional interest and a shift in investment strategies towards digital assets.
Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered's Global Head of Digital Assets Research, points to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Form 13F filings as evidence of growing institutional engagement with Bitcoin. These filings reveal that sovereign wealth funds and state-affiliated institutions are acquiring shares in companies like Strategy , which hold substantial Bitcoin reserves. This indirect exposure is seen as a strategic move to gain access to Bitcoin's potential upside while navigating regulatory constraints.
The bank's confidence in Bitcoin's trajectory is further bolstered by macroeconomic factors. Diminishing returns on traditional government bonds have prompted investors to seek alternative stores of value. Bitcoin's capped supply of 21 million coins and its growing acceptance as a digital asset make it an attractive option for those looking to hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty.
ADVERTISEMENT
Standard Chartered's analysis suggests a phased growth pattern for Bitcoin: reaching $200,000 by the end of 2025, $300,000 by the end of 2026, and ultimately $500,000 by the end of 2028. This outlook is supported by the increasing integration of Bitcoin into institutional portfolios and the maturation of the cryptocurrency market.
While the bank's projections are optimistic, they are not without caveats. The forecast assumes continued regulatory support, technological advancements, and sustained investor interest. Any significant disruptions in these areas could impact Bitcoin's price trajectory.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Israel-Iran conflict: B-2 bombers, bunker-busters; what to know about US' most advanced weapons
The US Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bomber represents one of America's most advanced strategic weapons platforms, capable of entering sophisticated air defences and delivering precision strikes against hardened targets such as Iran's buried network of nuclear research facilities. The US military is ready to carry out any decision that President Donald Trump may make on Iran, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday, adding that Tehran should have heeded the President's calls for it to make a deal on its nuclear programme prior to the start of Israel's strikes on Friday. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected Trump's demand for unconditional surrender on Wednesday, and the US President said his patience had run out, though he gave no clue as to what his next step would be. B-2 Spirit specifications The US B-2 costs about $2.1 billion each, making it the most expensive military aircraft ever built. Made by Northrop Grumman the bomber with its cutting-edge stealth technology, began its production run in the late 1980s but was curbed by the fall of the Soviet Union. Only 21 were made after the Pentagon's planned acquisition programme was truncated. The bomber's range of over 6,000 nautical miles without refueling enables global strike capabilities from continental US bases. With aerial refueling, the B-2 can reach virtually any target worldwide, as demonstrated in missions from Missouri to Afghanistan and Libya. Its payload capacity of more than 40,000 pounds allows the aircraft to carry a diverse array of conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber's internal weapons bays are specifically designed to maintain stealth characteristics while accommodating large ordnance loads which could include two GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), a 30,000-pound precision-guided "bunker buster" bomb. The two-pilot crew configuration reduces personnel requirements while maintaining operational effectiveness through advanced automation systems. The B-2's stealth technology incorporates radar-absorbing materials and angular design features that minimise detection by enemy air defence systems. Its radar cross-section is reportedly comparable to that of a small bird, making it nearly invisible to conventional radar. Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) The 30,000-pound MOP represents the largest conventional bomb in the U.S. arsenal, specifically engineered to defeat hardened underground bunkers. Its massive size requires the B-2 to carry only one or two MOPs per mission, but provides unmatched bunker-penetration capability. The weapon's 20.5-foot length and GPS-guided precision targeting system enable accurate strikes against specific underground facilities. Its penetration capability of over 200 feet through hardened concrete makes it effective against the world's most protected underground installations. Conventional payloads Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) provide the B-2 with precision conventional strike capability against fixed targets. These GPS-guided weapons can be deployed in large numbers, with the bomber capable of simultaneously engaging multiple targets with high accuracy. Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) extend the aircraft's engagement range while maintaining stealth characteristics during approach. These glide bombs allow the B-2 to strike targets from outside heavily defended airspace perimeters. Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) offer long-range precision strike capability with their own stealth features. The extended-range JASSM-ER variant provides strike options against targets over 500 miles (805 km) away. Nuclear payload capabilities The B-2 Spirit serves as a key component of America's nuclear triad, capable of delivering strategic nuclear weapons with stealth and precision. The aircraft can carry up to 16 B83 nuclear bombs.
Gulf Today
14 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Gold heads for weekly fall as Fed rate cut prospects weigh
Gold prices fell on Friday and were on track for a weekly decline, as an overall stronger dollar and the prospect of fewer US interest rate cuts offset support from rising geopolitical risks in the Middle East. Spot gold slipped 0.8% to $3,333.99 an ounce, as of 0604 GMT, and was down 2.5% for the week so far. US gold futures shed 1.4% to $3,361.80. Describing the situation in the Middle East as 'fluid', Kelvin Wong, senior market analyst, Asia Pacific, at OANDA, said it is causing traders to avoid taking aggressive positions both on the long and the short side of the trade spectrum. US President Donald Trump will decide in the next two weeks whether the US will get involved in the Israel-Iran air war, the White House said on Thursday, raising pressure on Tehran to come to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, Trump reiterated his calls for the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, saying it should be 2.5 percentage points lower. The Fed held rates steady on Wednesday, and policymakers retained projections for two quarter-point rate cuts this year. 'Macroeconomic developments, particularly steady yields and renewed USD strength, have not supported the (gold) price,' analysts at ANZ said in a note. 'Rising inflation expectations and the Fed's cautious stance have weighed on market expectations around the number of rate cuts this year.' The dollar was set to log its biggest weekly rise in over a month on Friday. A stronger greenback makes gold more expensive for other currency holders. Reuters
Gulf Today
14 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Oil drops, stocks climb as Trump delays Iran move
Oil prices retreated on Friday while US and European stock markets gained ground as concerns over a war escalation in Iran eased. International crude benchmark contract Brent dropped more than two per cent, weighing on the share prices of energy majors, after US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would decide whether to join Israel's strikes on Iran within the next two weeks. Traders said it suggested Trump preferred negotiations to end the fighting, as top European diplomats met Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Friday to discuss a "diplomatic solution" to end the war. US indices opened slightly higher on Friday, though analysts said volumes were likely to be lacklustre with many traders taking a four-day weekend after Thursday's Juneteenth holiday. European stock markets were up in afternoon deals while Asian equity indices closed out the week mixed. "News that president Trump would delay any decision on joining Israel's attacks against Iran has boosted the market mood," said Kathleen Brooks, an analyst at trading firm XTB. "Brent crude has dropped... as traders price out the worst-case scenario for geopolitics," she said. Crude futures had soared and global equities slumped in recent sessions as the Israel-Iran conflict showed no signs of easing, with investors pricing in the risk of tighter oil supplies that would likely weigh on economic growth. "While the immediate prospect of a US intervention in Iran may have diminished, the fact this is reportedly a two-week hiatus means it will remain a live issue for the markets going into next week," said Dan Coatsworth, an investment analyst at AJ Bell. "A meeting of European ministers with their Iranian counterparts to try and formulate a deal today could be crucial." While the Middle East crisis continues to absorb most of the news, Trump's trade war remains a major obstacle for investors as the end of a 90-day pause on his April 2 tariff blitz approaches. "While the worst of the tariffs have been paused, we suspect it won't be until those deadlines approach that new agreements may be finalised," said David Sekera, chief US market strategist at Morningstar. "Until then, as news emerges regarding the progress and substance of trade negotiations, these headlines could have an outsize positive or negative impact on markets," he said. In Europe, Eutelsat shares soared 27 per cent on the Paris stock exchange after the French government said it would lead a 1.35 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in the European satellite operator. French President Emmanuel Macron urged a "speedy reconquest" for Europe in the space sector in the face of growing American competition, in a speech at the Paris Air Show. Agence France-Presse
