Standard Chartered has forecast that ether could significantly outperform bitcoin over the long term, projecting a price of up to 40,000 dollars by the end of the decade as structural advantages within the Ethereum ecosystem continue to develop. The bank said that while broader crypto momentum has been uneven in the current cycle, ether is positioned to benefit from sector specific tailwinds tied to decentralized finance, stablecoins, and tokenized assets. Although bitcoin remains the dominant asset by market value, its more muted performance this cycle has weighed on the wider market, prompting analysts to reassess relative value across major cryptocurrencies. Ether has traded near the 3,100 dollar level in recent sessions, tracking bitcoin modestly, but Standard Chartered believes the longer term trajectory favors Ethereum as network usage and institutional engagement deepen. The bank expects the ratio between ether and bitcoin to gradually recover toward earlier highs as Ethereum’s economic activity expands.
Despite its optimistic long term outlook, Standard Chartered adjusted its medium term expectations to reflect ongoing volatility and softer flows into crypto markets. The bank lowered its ether price forecasts for the 2026 to 2028 period, citing slower inflows into exchange traded products and digital asset corporate treasuries. However, it maintained that these headwinds are cyclical rather than structural. Analysts pointed to continued accumulation by Ethereum focused corporate treasuries as a source of support, alongside steady activity across decentralized applications. While bitcoin has traded within a relatively narrow range around the low 90,000s, ether’s performance is increasingly being evaluated on its own fundamentals rather than purely as a high beta proxy. The bank said that uneven macro conditions and cautious investor sentiment have limited near term upside across digital assets, but underlying demand for Ethereum based infrastructure remains intact.
Standard Chartered also highlighted regulatory and technical developments as key catalysts that could unlock the next phase of growth for ether. Progress toward clearer digital asset rules in the United States is seen as particularly supportive, as a defined framework could accelerate decentralized finance adoption and encourage institutional participation. The bank emphasized Ethereum’s dominance in stablecoins and real world asset tokenization, sectors that are gaining traction as financial institutions explore blockchain settlement. Improvements in network scalability were cited as another major tailwind, with plans to expand base layer capacity expected to translate into higher transaction throughput and economic value. While short term price movements remain sensitive to macro data and liquidity conditions, the bank’s analysis suggests that Ethereum’s role as the primary platform for programmable finance positions ether for sustained outperformance over the remainder of the decade.
