Bitcoin News

Story: Bitcoin drops towards $50,000 according to standard chartered

By Bruce Buterin

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Standard Chartered delivers a grim prediction. Bitcoin could plunge to $50,000, according to Geoff Kendrick, their head of crypto research.

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Kendrick sees a bleak outlook due to the U.S. economic slowdown and diminishing hopes for rate cuts. The Fed is less generous than expected, weighing heavily on cryptocurrencies.

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Ethereum isn't spared from the carnage. Kendrick predicts it will drop to $1,400 before stabilizing.

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Bitcoin is currently hovering around $67,869, far from its weekly low of $60,008. The bank has slashed its year-end forecasts by a third, lowering the 2026 target to $100,000…

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The current correction is already causing significant damage. Bitcoin has lost up to 50% since its peak in October 2025, with a dramatic low on February 5.

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Interest rates remain a major hurdle for cryptocurrencies.

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Markets have pushed back their expectations for Fed easing. Investors now see a first rate cut later in the year, not before.

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ETF flows are a serious concern for Standard Chartered. Bitcoin holdings in ETFs have shrunk by nearly 100,000 BTC since their peak in October 2025.

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Despite this downward revision, the bank maintains a positive long-term outlook. Kendrick notes that blockchain usage data continues to improve.

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Last December, Standard Chartered had already halved its forecasts. Bitcoin at $100,000 by the end of 2025 and $150,000 by the end of 2026, while keeping a wild target of…

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The bank then cited the decline in corporate treasury demand and the slowdown in ETF flows. Geoffrey Kendrick had stated that corporate accumulation had "run its course," leaving…

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Bitcoin is currently trading near $67,000 according to Bitcoin Magazine Pro. CoinMarketCap data shows that transaction volume fell by 20% in February compared to the previous…

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Kendrick also mentioned the impact of Chinese economic developments on market instability. Government restrictions on crypto transactions create notable disruptions, influencing…

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On February 10, 2026, Janet Yellen reaffirmed during a press conference that any decision on rates would be made cautiously.

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JPMorgan released a report on February 15 with forecasts similar to Standard Chartered. They anticipate critical support around $55,000 for Bitcoin, due to increased volatility…

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