Key Takeaways
- Standard Chartered has cut its near-term crypto forecasts, slashing XRP price the hardest.
- Bitcoin’s end-2026 forecast was cut again to $100,000 from $150,000.
- Despite near-term cuts, long-term bullish targets remain intact.
Standard Chartered has lowered its price forecasts for major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP.
The firm says the market could face another leg down in the months ahead before stabilizing later in 2026.
Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, said in a Thursday note that weaker risk appetite and selling pressure from exchange-traded funds could deepen losses across the industry.
XRP Price Forecast Cut To $2.80, Bitcoin Slashed
Standard Chartered reduced its year-end 2026 target for XRP to $2.80, down from $8.00 previously, the note said.
The bank also lowered its XRP estimate for 2027, while keeping longer-range projections unchanged.
Standard Chartered also lowered its end-2026 Bitcoin target to $100,000, from $150,000 in its prior forecast. This marks the second time it has reduced its forecast in under three months.
Kendrick said Bitcoin could slide to around $50,000 or slightly below before a recovery, describing that level as a possible “buy zone” for longer-term investors.
XRP Price’s Struggled Momentum
Standard Chartered’s sharp reduction in its end-2026 XRP forecast comes as the token has struggled to sustain rebounds following a steep pullback in recent weeks, even as fund flow data shows relative resilience compared with the broader market.
According to a recent CoinShares report, digital asset investment products recorded net outflows of $173 million last week.
Bitcoin accounted for the bulk of the withdrawals with $133 million in outflows.
In contrast, XRP saw $33.4 million in inflows, making it one of the few major tokens to attract fresh capital during the period.
However, sentiment remains fragile.
Victor Olanrewaju, an analyst at CCN, said market sentiment around XRP price has weakened since its late-2025 rally, with investor confidence fading on successive price rebounds.
He said the recent XRP price bounce appears more consistent with a relief rally than the beginning of a sustained recovery, warning that XRP “might struggle” to post a stronger breakout in the near term.
Ethereum and Solana Cut
As well as XRP’s price, Standard Chartered also cut its end-2026 forecast for Ethereum to $4,000 from $7,500.
The bank added that ETH could fall toward $1,400 before rebounding. It also lowered its end-2026 target for Solana to $135 from $250.
“Near-term, we see potential for further price downside in the coming months,” he wrote in the note.
Despite near-term downgrades, Standard Chartered kept some longer-term projections unchanged, including its 2030 forecast for Bitcoin at $500,000.
Standard Chartered long-term forecasts include:
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Bitcoin (2030): $500,000
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Ethereum (2030): $40,000
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XRP (2030): $28
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Solana (2030): $2,000
In separate forecasts, investment firm VanEck has projected that Bitcoin could reach $2.9 million in its base case by 2050.
Meanwhile, research firm Bernstein recently reiterated its long-term outlook of $150,000 Bitcoin by the end of 2026.
Sentiment Drops, But Stabilization Near?
The change in forecasts comes as crypto market sentiment has reached “depressed levels,” according to Matrixport analysts, who claim “stabilization” could be approaching.
Matrixport highlighted that “durable bottoms tend to form” when the 21-day moving average drops below zero and reverses higher — something it says is currently happening.
“This transition signals that selling pressure is becoming exhausted and that market conditions are beginning to stabilize,” the firm wrote.
The firm added that while prices could still drop in the near-term, this set up usually highlights approaching “another inflection point.”
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
