Bitcoin and Ethereum could drop further as investor risk appetite fades, StanChart warns

Standard Chartered has lowered its near-term forecasts for Bitcoin and Ethereum, projecting Bitcoin could drop to $50,000 and Ethereum to $1,400 as investor risk appetite wanes. Geoff Kendrick, head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered, cited weak price action, subdued ETF inflows, and unsupportive macroeconomic conditions as key pressures. Kendrick noted that Bitcoin ETF holdings have fallen about 25% from their peak, indicating institutional selling, and many investors holding large unrealized losses might continue selling. Mixed US economic data and expectations that the Federal Reserve will delay rate cuts until June are also expected to mute inflows. Despite these short-term challenges, Kendrick maintains a long-term optimistic outlook, keeping year-end targets of $100,000 for Bitcoin and $4,000 for Ethereum for 2026.

(Source：Crypto Briefing)