Standard Chartered Projects Ethereum to Hit $25,000 by 2028 Amid Surging Institutional Interest

London – A recent social media post from crypto analyst f1go.eth has ignited discussions within the cryptocurrency community by boldly asserting that "$25k is basecase. Likely bearcase. ETH will facemelt everyone." This highly bullish sentiment for Ethereum (ETH) aligns with a significantly revised forecast from Standard Chartered, a major banking institution, which now projects ETH could reach $25,000 by 2028.

Standard Chartered’s Global Head of Digital Assets Research, Geoff Kendrick, recently updated the bank's Ethereum outlook, marking a substantial increase from earlier, more conservative estimates. This revised projection, which also includes targets of $7,500 by the end of 2025 and $12,000 by 2026, reflects a dramatically improved backdrop for the second-largest cryptocurrency. The bank attributes this optimism to several key factors driving demand and market confidence.

A primary driver cited by Standard Chartered is the accelerating pace of institutional buying. Corporate treasuries and Ethereum Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have reportedly acquired a significant portion of circulating ETH since June, at a rate nearly double that seen during peak Bitcoin accumulation periods. This influx of institutional capital signals growing mainstream acceptance and integration of Ethereum into traditional finance.

Further bolstering the bullish outlook is the increasing regulatory clarity, particularly with the U.S. GENIUS Act. This legislation is seen as a pivotal development for stablecoins, which predominantly operate on the Ethereum blockchain and account for a substantial percentage of all blockchain fees. Regulatory certainty is expected to boost liquidity and fuel growth within the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, further driving demand for ETH.

Ongoing network upgrades also contribute to Ethereum's strong prospects. Continuous improvements aimed at enhancing scalability, security, and efficiency, such as the Dencun upgrade, are designed to support broader adoption of Ethereum-based applications across various industries. While some analysts maintain more modest short-term predictions for ETH, the long-term trajectory presented by institutions like Standard Chartered suggests a robust future for the cryptocurrency.