Haciyev Reşit 
Standard Chartered, closely followed for its analyses of the crypto markets, has released a notable new report on Ethereum. While emphasizing the structural strengthening of the Ethereum ecosystem, the global bank predicted that 2026 will be the “year of Ether.” The report notes that long-term optimism toward Ethereum remains intact, but short-term price targets have been revised downward due to current market conditions and macroeconomic uncertainty.
Strong Emphasis on Ethereum from Standard Chartered
In its latest report, published under the signature of Geoffrey Kendrick, Head of Digital Assets Research at London-based global bank Standard Chartered, the bank highlighted Ethereum’s potential to rise to a leading position in the crypto market in the coming period. The report states that 2026 will be a special year for Ether and that market dynamics could resemble the bull cycle seen in 2021. Analysts point out that Ethereum’s strong infrastructure and its growing role in DeFi and tokenized asset markets underpin this outlook.
The report also notes that Bitcoin’s relatively weak recent performance has weighed on the broader crypto market, while Ethereum has shown greater resilience in this environment. Kendrick commented:
“While Bitcoin’s weak performance has generally pressured the crypto market, Ether’s fundamentals are strengthening noticeably. Ethereum’s position in areas such as stablecoins, tokenized real-world assets, and decentralized finance continues to solidify.”
The report adds that these developments could be reflected in the ETH/BTC ratio, which is expected to rise to around 0.08.
Ethereum Price Forecasts Updated
Although Standard Chartered maintains its long-term bullish outlook, it has revised its price targets downward. The bank lowered its previous end-2026 Ether target from $12,000 to $7,500.
The updated Ethereum price forecasts are as follows:
- 2026: $7,500
- 2027: $15,000
- 2028: $22,000
- 2029: $30,000
The report emphasizes that these targets depend on macroeconomic conditions and the pace of adoption in the crypto market.
ETF Outflows Have a More Limited Impact on Ethereum
Another key point in the report concerns capital movements in crypto ETFs. According to the bank, ETF outflows have affected Bitcoin more significantly, while Ethereum has been relatively more resilient.
“Capital inflows into crypto ETFs and corporate treasuries have generally slowed. However, this slowdown is impacting Ethereum less than Bitcoin.”
The report also projects that the stablecoin and tokenized real-world asset (RWA) market could reach $2 trillion by 2028, with a large portion of this volume expected to be conducted on the Ethereum network. It highlights that daily transaction counts on Ethereum have reached all-time highs, with 35–40% of transactions driven by stablecoins.
Assessment
Standard Chartered’s latest report shows that Ethereum stands out not only for its price expectations, but also for its strengthening infrastructure and expanding use cases. ETF flows, stablecoin volumes, and growth in tokenized asset markets are seen as key factors that could place Ether at the center of the crypto ecosystem in the coming years.
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