Standard Chartered Predicts Bitcoin Could Hit $200K by Year-End

Analysts at Standard Chartered believe Bitcoin may be gearing up for its biggest dollar rally yet. According to the bank’s H2 2025 market outlook, Bitcoin could climb to $135,000 by September 30 and reach $200,000 by the end of December. 

Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, highlighted rising demand from crypto funds and corporate treasuries as major factors. He also cited favorable government policies as a key driver of Bitcoin’s expected growth.

Strong Inflows from ETFs and Treasuries Drive Optimism

Kendrick pointed out that strong inflows into Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and growing interest from companies are now driving Bitcoin’s price. In the second quarter of 2025, spot ETFs and corporate treasuries bought 245,000 BTC. 

Large companies, excluding those in the Strategy Sector, purchased around 56,000 BTC. Meanwhile, the Virginia-based firm added nearly 69,000 BTC during the same period. Kendrick noted that while Michael Saylor’s firm, Strategy, has slowed its pace, other firms are stepping in to fill the gap. 

He expects even more crypto assets to be bought in the third quarter than in the second. If his forecast is correct, Bitcoin would gain over $92,000 in just six months, rising from its current price of $107,644. 

This would mark a record-breaking second-half performance in the cryptocurrency’s 15-year history.

Investors Turning to Bitcoin as a Macro Asset

Standard Chartered analysts explained that in Q2, Bitcoin ETFs attracted $12.4 billion in assets. This is more than gold ETFs, despite global tensions, especially in the Middle East. Kendrick sees this as a sign that investors are seeing the top coin more seriously as a store of value.

He also noted that hedge funds have not significantly increased their short positions. This shows that investors are confident in Bitcoin’s long-term value. Traditionally, Bitcoin peaked around 500 days after its “halving” event and then declined. 

Kendrick believes that the cycle no longer applies, saying that ETFs and corporate buyers, which did not exist in earlier years, are now driving prices. He noted that long-term holders are likely to sell less in 2025, and continued buying will overpower any selling pressure.

Policy Changes That Could Boost Bitcoin

Kendrick pointed out possible policy changes that could give Bitcoin an extra push. He said that if President DonaldTrump announces a new Federal Reserve Chair early, it might lead to faster interest rate cuts. This move could raise Bitcoin’s price. 

Furthermore, if the GENIUS stablecoin bill, which now has bipartisan support, is passed into law soon. This would make dollar-backed tokens more popular and attract more retail investors, which would also help Bitcoin.

Kendrick said Bitcoin’s price has followed long-term U.S. bond yields since early 2024 and expects this to continue. Additionally, new 13F filings suggest that big investors, including sovereign wealth funds, are buying Bitcoin. Kendrick expects this buying to increase in the next filings in August, which could push the price higher.