Standard Chartered raises Ethereum's long-term price target to $40.000 by 2030

Standard Chartered has updated its forecast for Ethereum, projecting a value of $40.000 by 2030. In its report, it highlights the crucial role of tokenized assets and regulatory clarity.

Banking giant Standard Chartered has updated its financial outlook on the cryptocurrency market with a report that combines immediate caution with structural optimism for the next decade. 

The financial institution has set a new and ambitious prediction of price for Ethereum, placing the asset's value at $40.000 by the end of 2030This forecast, led by the bank's digital asset research team, suggests that the second-largest cryptocurrency in the market has fundamentals that will allow it to significantly increase its current valuation in the coming years, supported by its real utility within the global financial system.

The bank moderates its ETH forecast, but reinforces its long-term confidence

Although the financial institution adjusted its short-term forecasts for the price of Ethereum, it maintains an optimistic outlook on its performance in the coming years. Geoffrey Kendrick, Global Director of Digital Asset Research, explained that the current scenario necessitates tempering immediate expectations, especially given the impact that Bitcoin's weakness has had on the valuation of the entire crypto market.

The report details that the new target for 2026 has been raised from the initially projected $12.000 to about 7.500 dollarsThis reflects a more cautious outlook given recent market conditions. Even so, projections for the following years remain solid, with estimates of $15.000 for 2027 and $22.000 for 2028.

Despite this adjustment, the strategic outlook for Ethereum remains positive. The bank believes that its technological foundation, along with the maturity of its infrastructure, will drive a cycle of sustained growth and less dependence on Bitcoin's fluctuations as the digital ecosystem continues to expand and diversify.

Ethereum is positioning itself as the financial infrastructure of the future.

The central thesis supporting the $40.000 valuation of ETH in 2030 lies in the network's ability to absorb and manage tokenized real-world assets and stablecoins. According to data from Standard Chartered, the combined market for these two categories is expected to reach a volume of $2 trillion by 2028.

Ethereum has already established itself as the dominant infrastructure in this area, liquidating more than half of all stablecoins and real-world assets (RWAs) that have migrated to the blockchain. This migration from traditional finance to secure digital environments is seen by analysts as the primary driver of demand for the network's native token.

Recent activity within the network reinforces this optimistic narrative. Transaction volumes on Ethereum have reached new highs in recent weeks, driven largely by the use of stablecoins, which now account for between 35% and 40% of all network transactions. 

The report highlights the implementation of the Fusaka upgrade in December, which marked the beginning of a new cycle for the blockchain network, focused on scaling its capacity and preparing to sustain a blockchain ecosystem valued at trillions of dollars.

With each upgrade, Ethereum moves closer to its goal of becoming the global settlement layer for the digital finance sector. This tangible utility, according to the bank's analysts, is the real foundation behind its growth projection. Standard Chartered forecasts that by the end of 2029, the price of ETH will exceed $30.000, solidifying a trend where market value will increasingly reflect the network's economic and institutional use rather than the fluctuations of retail trading.

Regulation, institutional adoption, and a transforming market

The report in question also underscores the importance of strategic moves by corporations and the legislative environment in the United States. One example cited of long-term confidence is the strategy of BitMine ImmersionThe publicly traded company with the largest direct exposure to Ethereum currently holds 3,4% of the circulating supply of ETH and has active plans to increase that figure to 5% of its corporate treasury. According to the bank, this type of accumulation reduces the liquid supply available on exchanges, creating a potential supply shock that could accelerate price appreciation when demand picks up.

Meanwhile, institutional capital flows show a notable divergence. Despite a slowdown in the cryptocurrency ETF sector overall, Ethereum-based financial products have demonstrated remarkable resilience. Furthermore, for the bank, the final catalyst for its bullish scenario to solidify is regulatory clarity. 

Standard Chartered analysts have placed significant weight on the passage of the CLARITY Act in the United States. As this publication has reported, this legislation is expected to be approved. The end of this month and that provides the necessary legal framework for financial institutions to integrate digital assets into their balance sheets and daily operations without legal uncertainty. 

Thus, the combination of a favorable regulatory environment, stable equity markets, and increasing corporate adoption sets the stage for Ethereum's end-of-decade prediction to materialize.