Standard Chartered Raises Long-Term Ethereum 2026 Price Prediction

Standard Chartered has reaffirmed its strongly institutional gold bullish stance on Ethereum, declaring “2026 will be the year of Ethereum” and forecasting meaningful outperformance versus Bitcoin despite trimming near- and medium-term targets.

(Sources: The Block)

In its latest digital assets report, the bank’s Global Head of Digital Assets Research, Geoffrey Kendrick, highlighted Ethereum’s strengthening relative fundamentals—particularly its dominance in stablecoins, tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), and DeFi—while acknowledging that weaker-than-expected Bitcoin performance has weighed on the broader crypto market.

This analyst insight reviews Standard Chartered’s updated Ethereum 2026 price prediction, the key drivers supporting ETH outperformance vs. Bitcoin, the revised ETH/BTC ratio outlook, and the implications for institutional positioning as of January 13, 2026.

Updated Ethereum Price Targets: Near-Term Trim, Long-Term Optimism

Standard Chartered has adjusted its Ethereum 2026 price prediction targets while maintaining a constructive long-term view:

• End-2026: $7,500 (previously $12,000)
• End-2027: $15,000 (previously higher)
• End-2028: $22,000 (previously higher)
• End-2029: $30,000 (up from prior view)
• End-2030: $40,000 (new target)

Despite the near-term reductions, Kendrick emphasized that Ethereum’s structural advantages are strengthening significantly, positioning ETH to outperform BTC over the coming years.

• ETH/BTC Ratio Outlook: Expected to gradually climb back toward 2021 highs (~0.08), as Ethereum captures a larger share of on-chain economic activity.
• Relative Valuation: Current ratio viewed as undervalued given Ethereum’s growing utility in stablecoins, RWAs, and DeFi infrastructure.

Core Drivers Supporting ETH Outperformance vs. Bitcoin

Standard Chartered identifies several factors that underpin the bullish Ethereum 2026 price prediction and relative strength:

1. Dominance in High-Value On-Chain Activity Ethereum continues to host the majority of stablecoin volume, tokenized RWAs, yield/staking protocols, trading, gaming, and NFT activity (especially on EVM-compatible chains). The bank reiterated its forecast that both stablecoins and tokenized RWAs will reach $2 trillion by 2028, with Ethereum capturing the largest share.
2. Network Throughput & Scalability Gains The 2025 upgrades—Pectra and Fusaka—have dramatically increased blob throughput, lowered fees, and improved rollup efficiency. Daily transaction counts have hit all-time highs, with stablecoin activity alone accounting for 35–40% of total usage. Upcoming upgrades—Glamsterdam (early/mid-2026) and Hegota (H2 2026)—are expected to further scale Layer 1 capacity.
3. Institutional & Treasury Flows While overall ETF and corporate treasury inflows have slowed, Ethereum-focused vehicles remain relatively more supportive. BitMine Immersion, the largest Ethereum treasury company, now holds ~3.4% of ETH supply and is on track to reach 5%.
4. Regulatory Tailwinds Passage of the proposed U.S. Clarity Act (expected Q1 2026) would further reduce uncertainty and encourage institutional participation. Combined with resilient U.S. equity markets, this could push Bitcoin to a new all-time high in H1 2026—creating a favorable backdrop for Ethereum’s longer-term upside.

Kendrick summarized: “Ethereum’s relative drivers have strengthened significantly. While Bitcoin has struggled to maintain momentum, Ethereum benefits from structural advantages that are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.”

ETH/BTC Ratio: The Key Relative Trade for 2026

Standard Chartered expects the ETH/BTC ratio to trend higher over the coming years as Ethereum captures a larger share of on-chain economic activity. The bank views the current ratio as undervalued relative to Ethereum’s growing utility in stablecoins, RWAs, and DeFi infrastructure—sectors that are expected to grow faster than Bitcoin’s primary use cases (store of value, treasury asset).

• Historical Context: Ratio peaked near 0.08 in 2021.
• Current Level: Undervalued given Ethereum’s expanding role.
• Target Path: Gradual climb toward historical highs.

This relative trade is seen as one of the strongest opportunities in crypto for 2026.

Risks & Counterpoints in the Ethereum 2026 Price Prediction

The report acknowledges near-term challenges:

• Bitcoin weakness has capped overall crypto sentiment.
• ETF flows have become uneven.
• Absolute price targets have been reduced to reflect slower-than-expected adoption.

However, Standard Chartered remains constructive on Ethereum’s medium- to long-term trajectory, especially as network scaling continues and regulatory clarity improves.

• Near-Term Risk: Continued Bitcoin underperformance.
• Upside Catalyst: ETF inflow recovery, RWA growth, Layer-2 scaling.
• Structural Strength: Ethereum’s ecosystem advantages appear durable.

Final Takeaway: Why 2026 Could Be Ethereum’s Year

Standard Chartered’s latest view positions Ethereum 2026 price prediction as one of the strongest relative stories in crypto. While near-term targets have been moderated to $7,500 by year-end, the bank’s conviction in ETH outperformance versus BTC—driven by structural adoption, throughput gains, institutional tailwinds, and regulatory progress—makes 2026 potentially transformative for Ethereum.

Investors seeking exposure to the next phase of blockchain infrastructure growth are increasingly focusing on ETH as the foundational layer for stablecoins, RWAs, and DeFi—themes Standard Chartered believes will dominate the 2026 narrative.

Key Levels to Watch:

• Support: $3,000–$3,200 (recent consolidation zone).
• Resistance: $3,600–$4,000 (prior highs).
• ETH/BTC Ratio: Upside toward 0.06–0.08 on sustained momentum.

Monitor ETF flows, stablecoin/RWA volumes, and upcoming upgrades (Glamsterdam, Hegota) for confirmation of the Ethereum 2026 price prediction. Always reference primary on-chain data, ETF flow reports, and regulated sources when evaluating cryptocurrency investments.