Standard Chartered has sharply raised its Ethereum forecasts based on surging institutional demand, regulatory tailwinds from the GENIUS Act, and evolving Layer 1 infrastructure. The bank now targets $7,500 by end‑2025 and $25,000 by end‑2028, projecting a transformative growth narrative for ETH.
Revised Price Targets Driven by Strong Fundamentals
Analyst Geoff Kendrick from Standard Chartered raised the year‑end 2025 price target from $4,000 to $7,500, explaining that institutional demand has surged and ether holdings have significantly accelerated—now at twice the pace of comparable Bitcoin buying Forward estimates see a long‑term target of $25,000 by 2028, originally pegged at $7,500
Institutional Demand & Treasury Accumulation
According to the analysis, treasury firms and spot ETFs have acquired 3.8 % of Ethereum’s circulating supply since June, a buying rate double that of Bitcoin’s fastest institutional accumulation cycle This substantial inflow underscores Ethereum’s growing status as institutional infrastructure rather than merely a speculative asset.
Regulatory Momentum: The GENIUS Act Catalyzes Growth
The U.S. GENIUS Act, passed in July 2025, establishes a clear regulatory framework for stablecoins. Since more than half of all stablecoins are issued and transacted on Ethereum, and stablecoins already account for 40 % of Ethereum’s blockchain fees, the new law is expected to significantly bolster network demand and usage
Infrastructure Upgrades Enable Higher Throughput
Ethereum developers aim to deliver a 10× Layer 1 throughput increase, enabling higher-value transactions and broader Layer 2 adoption. This upgrade is critical to scaling usage and sustaining growth across institutional and DeFi activity
Future Outlook: ETH to Outperform BTC
Standard Chartered expects Ethereum to continue its bullish momentum, projecting the ETH/BTC ratio to climb from 0.039 to 0.05, reflecting stronger relative performance
| Metric / Driver | Insight |
|---|---|
| 2025 Year-End Price Target | Raised to $7,500 from $4,000 |
| 2028 Long-Term Forecast | Now $25,000, up from $7,500 |
| Institutional Accumulation | 3.8 % of supply acquired since June |
| Stablecoin Fee Share | 40 % of Ethereum’s blockchain fees |
| Throughput Upgrade | 10× increase in Layer 1 capacity |
| ETH/BTC Ratio Projection | Expected rise from 0.039 to 0.05 |
