Standard Chartered predicts that Bitcoin will reach a record high of 120,000 USD this quarter and hit 200,000 USD by the end of the year, as American investors reallocate their assets from traditional channels to crypto. Will Bitcoin really explode as predicted? Let's analyze in detail.
Stable Growth of Bitcoin: Heading Towards New Heights
According to #CoinGecko , Bitcoin is currently trading at 94,707 USD, up nearly 9% in the past 7 days, after a month of sideways movement. Last week, crypto funds recorded cash inflows of 3.4 billion USD, with 93% focused on Bitcoin – consistent with Bitcoin spot ETF data in the U.S. (net buying of 3.062 billion USD). The bullish momentum comes from optimistic sentiment as U.S. President Donald Trump eases tariff tensions with China, which threatened the global economy.
Price Increase Forecast from Standard Chartered
Geoffrey Kendrick, Global Head of Digital Asset Research at #StandardChartered , forecasts that Bitcoin will reach 120,000 USD in Q2 2025 and 200,000 USD by the end of the year. This prediction was made at the end of 2024 and has been reaffirmed by Kendrick, even though the BTC price had previously dropped from a record high of 109,000 USD at the beginning of the year. He emphasizes the supporting factors:
Asset reallocation: American investors are shifting capital from domestic assets to Bitcoin, seeking 'non-U.S. assets' to hedge against risks. 'Time-of-day' analysis shows this cash flow is increasing significantly.
Correlation with yields: Rising yields – previously linked to past Bitcoin price surges – are supporting the current upward trend.
Accumulation from 'whales': Bitcoin supply on exchanges has dropped to 2.492 million BTC (the lowest in 7 years), indicating strong accumulation phases.
Shifting from gold to Bitcoin: Cash flows into ETFs show that investors are moving from gold – a traditional safe-haven asset – to Bitcoin, viewing it as 'digital gold.'
Bitcoin: Safe Haven Asset or High-Risk Investment?
Kendrick states that Bitcoin is being viewed as a safe-haven asset, especially as the BTC dominance index rises to 63.4%. However, history shows that Bitcoin often fluctuates with high-risk assets like technology stocks, although there have been recent signs of decoupling and correlation with gold (currently 0.55). He predicts the upward momentum will continue into the summer, bringing Bitcoin to a target of 200,000 USD by the end of 2025.
Impact on the Crypto Market
Standard Chartered's forecast brings many positive signals:
Increasing institutional confidence: A cash inflow of 3.4 billion USD into Bitcoin funds indicates significant interest from institutional investors, similar to moves from Cardone Capital (purchasing 350 BTC) and GameStop (4.7 billion USD preparing to buy BTC).
Driving Bitcoin's Price: If it reaches 120,000 USD this quarter, Bitcoin could spur growth in altcoins such as XRP (2X leveraged ETF set to launch) and Ethereum (gas limit expected to increase).
Supporting the Ecosystem: The growth of Bitcoin will drive initiatives like real estate tokenization (projected at 4 trillion USD by 2035, according to Deloitte) and Stripe's stablecoin payments.
Future Outlook
Kendrick notes that strong price surges of Bitcoin are often accompanied by sideways phases, making the timing of market entry very important. With a weakening USD (USDX hitting a low of 97.9 on April 21, 2025, according to FXCE) and the ECB preparing to cut interest rates (expected 2.1% inflation in April), the current economic environment is supportive of Bitcoin as an alternative asset.
Conclusion: Will Bitcoin Reach 200,000 USD by Year-End?
Standard Chartered forecasts that Bitcoin will reach 120,000 USD this quarter and 200,000 USD by the end of 2025, thanks to the asset reallocation of American investors and factors such as 'whale' accumulation, ETF cash flows, and the shift from gold to BTC. With the current price at 94,707 USD and cash inflows of 3.4 billion USD, Bitcoin is on a strong growth trajectory. Investors should closely monitor to take advantage of opportunities from this potential price surge.
Risk Warning: Crypto investment carries high risks due to price volatility and legal uncertainties. Please consider carefully before participating.