Standard Chartered wavers on $100K Bitcoin year-end call, says it may be ‘too low’

cointelegraphPublished on 2026-08-21Last updated on 2026-08-21

Abstract

Standard Chartered's head of digital asset research, Geoff Kendrick, suggests Bitcoin could approach its all-time high of $126,000 by year-end, with the recovery potentially accelerating after October 6. He notes the recent rally has been fueled by short liquidations and recovering inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs, adding that low open interest leaves room for more investors to return. Kendrick now sees a risk that his year-end forecast of $100,000 may be "too low." This follows a February adjustment where Standard Chartered lowered its Bitcoin target from $150,000 to $100,000 and its Ether target from $7,500 to $4,000. Other analysts also signal the bear market may be ending, with some pointing to potential bottoming patterns. Bitcoin is currently trading around $76,844, up 24% over the past week.

Bitcoin may move toward its all-time high of $126,000 before the end of the year, with the recovery potentially accelerating after Oct. 6, according to Geoff Kendrick, global head of digital asset research at Standard Chartered.

Kendrick said in a Friday note shared with Cointelegraph that the latest rally has been driven largely by short liquidations, while inflows into spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have also started to recover. He said low open interest could leave room for more investors to return as prices rise.

“For the first time this year there is now a risk my end year forecast (of USD100k) is too low,” Kendrick wrote.

In a Feb. 12 report, Kendrick cut Standard Chartered’s year-end Bitcoin target to $100,000 from $150,000 and its Ether target to $4,000 from $7,500. At the time, he expected Bitcoin to fall to around $50,000 and Ether to $1,400 before recovering during the rest of the year.

Other industry watchers have also pointed to signs that the bear market may be nearing an end. Swan Bitcoin CEO Cory Klippsten said Bitcoin may bottom in October, while 10x Research founder Markus Thielen said an August close above $63,000 could confirm a bear-market bottom.

Bitcoin traded at $76,844 at the time of writing, up 24% over the past week, according to CoinGecko data.

Magazine: How Bitcoin and gold reacted differently to the Iran war shock

Related Questions

QWhat new Bitcoin price target for the end of the year does Geoff Kendrick suggest might be too low?

AGeoff Kendrick now suggests his year-end forecast of $100,000 might be too low, indicating the price could move towards its all-time high of $126,000.

QAccording to Geoff Kendrick, what has been the primary driver of the latest Bitcoin rally?

AGeoff Kendrick stated that the latest rally has been driven largely by short liquidations.

QWhat were Standard Chartered's previous Bitcoin and Ether price targets before the February 12 adjustment?

ABefore the February 12 adjustment, Standard Chartered's targets were $150,000 for Bitcoin and $7,500 for Ether.

QWhat specific condition did Markus Thielen say could confirm a bear-market bottom for Bitcoin?

AMarkus Thielen said that an August close above $63,000 could confirm a bear-market bottom.

QWhat was the price of Bitcoin at the time of writing, and what was its performance over the past week?

AAt the time of writing, Bitcoin traded at $76,844, which was up 24% over the past week.

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