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Get your coffee as Ethereum's (ETH) future receives a major upgrade from one of the world's leading banks. The chief digital asset strategist at Standard Chartered points to powerful forces reshaping ETH's trajectory, from regulatory shifts to unprecedented institutional demand, indicating that the network may be on the verge of a historic breakthrough.
Today's cryptocurrency news: Standard Chartered expects Ethereum's price to rise by 60% in 2025
Ethereum may be on track to achieve record highs, according to Standard Chartered's head of digital asset research, Jeff Kendrick.
In an email shared with BeInCrypto, the Standard Chartered executive reviewed his price forecasts amid accelerating adoption, increased treasury buying, and a pivotal legislative shift in the United States.
Kendrick said in an email that "the facts are changing for the better for ETH."
He pointed to three main drivers behind his optimistic stance, including the purchase of ETH treasury as highlighted in a recent post by American cryptocurrency news, and institutional interest in Ethereum ETFs.
Indeed, the pace of institutional accumulation of Ethereum is unprecedented. Ethereum treasury companies and ETFs have purchased 3.8% of all ETH traded in just 2.5 months.
This is the fastest pace of Bitcoin purchasing by both ETFs and corporate treasuries.
Kendrick clarified that "ETH treasury buying + ETF buying was 3.8% of all ETH since the beginning of June (the fastest pace ever for BTC from these sources)."
This comment aligns with statements from Jimmy Calley, head of marketing at Bitget Wallet, who told BeInCrypto that more companies are adopting Ethereum in their treasuries as a strategic financial tool that offers yield and utility.
The college stated that "its appeal goes beyond mere appreciation; by holding ETH, these companies earn negative yields while enhancing the security of the Ethereum network, positioning ETH as 'digital oil' for the emerging infrastructure of decentralized finance".
Moreover, Kendrick noted the adoption of stablecoins, with regulatory clarity enhancing its potential following the recent passage of the GENIUS Act.
He is monitoring the shift in the stablecoin market following the GENIUS Act. With most of these stablecoins operating on Ethereum, ETH will capture the value.
Kendrick explained that "stablecoins account for 40% of all blockchain fees today, and over 50% of stablecoins are on Ethereum. The GENIUS Act should indirectly boost Ethereum's Layer-1 activity as increased stablecoin liquidity leads to more activity in decentralized finance (DeFi), where ETH dominates."
As a result, Kendrick now expects Ethereum to reach "very soon" a new all-time high, hitting $7,500 by the end of 2025 and $25,000 by the end of 2028.
Jeff Kendrick expects Ethereum to capture the majority of future blockchain value.
The bank executive argues that Ethereum's position as the leading smart contract platform, combined with recent favorable winds in the market and regulation, makes it the most likely blockchain to capture the largest share of future value creation.
He said, "The long-term potential of the Ethereum network (ETH) is clear, as blockchain technology is expected to bring enormous efficiencies to industries from finance to consumer technology. The question is, which blockchain is likely to capture the largest share of that value? We see an increasing likelihood that Ethereum is the answer."
Kendrick pointed to the global nature of Ethereum, its first-mover advantage in smart contracts, and its uninterrupted track record.
Alongside market activity, Kendrick highlighted the strong engagement from organizations behind Ethereum, pointing to the Ethereum Foundation (EF).
According to Kendrick, the network's plans to significantly increase productivity on Ethereum's Layer-1 (L1) blockchain will bolster its competitive moat.
If Kendrick's predictions come true, the next chapter of Ethereum could rewrite its price history, potentially cementing its role as the backbone of the next wave of blockchain-driven innovation.
Chart of the Day
These charts indicate that Ethereum needs to rise by about 60% for the remainder of the year to meet the price target of $7,500 per ETH set by Standard Chartered.
