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Standard Chartered Analyst Revises Bitcoin Price Target Upwards
Geoffrey Kendrick, head of digital assets at Standard Chartered, has issued an apology for his previous $120,000 bitcoin price target for Q2 2025, suggesting that this figure "may be too low." Last month, Kendrick had forecasted bitcoin to reach an all-time high of around $120,000 in the second quarter of 2025, driven by a "strategic asset reallocation away from US assets" and accumulation by major holders, or "whales." On Thursday, he stated that the $120,000 target now "looks very achievable" and may even be conservative.
Kendrick highlighted that the dominant narrative for bitcoin has shifted from its correlation with risk assets to being driven by inflows from various sources. He noted that U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds have seen $5.3 billion of inflows in the past three weeks, indicating increased institutional participation. Examples include MicroStrategy ramping up bitcoin purchases, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund holding BlackRock's IBIT bitcoin ETF, and the Swiss National Bank buying shares of MicroStrategy. At the time of reporting, bitcoin was trading at $100,511.22, up 4.5% according to Coin Metrics.
| Forecast | Value |
|---|---|
| Q2 2025 Target | $120,000 |
| Year-End Forecast | $200,000 |
| Recent ETF Inflows (3 weeks) | $5.3 billion |
| Current Price | $100,511.22 |
- Bitcoin's narrative is now driven by inflows, not just risk asset correlation.
- Institutional adoption is accelerating, with significant ETF inflows and high-profile investors.
Source: CNBC
"I apologise that my USD120k Q2 target may be too low," Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered.
Key Takeaway: Standard Chartered sees continued bullish momentum for bitcoin, with institutional inflows and strategic reallocations supporting higher price targets.
MicroStrategy Stock Surges as Bitcoin Regains $100,000
Shares of MicroStrategy Inc. soared to their highest price in 2025 as bitcoin rallied above the $100,000 mark for the first time since early February. The value of the cryptocurrency acquired by MicroStrategy this year is now 8%, or $800.1 million, higher than the company paid. This surge reflects the close relationship between MicroStrategy's stock performance and bitcoin's price movements.
Investors have responded positively to bitcoin's rally, which has significantly boosted the value of MicroStrategy's holdings. The company's strategy of accumulating bitcoin continues to pay off, especially as the cryptocurrency market experiences renewed optimism.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin Price | $100,000+ |
| Increase in Value of 2025 Acquisitions | $800.1 million (8%) |
- MicroStrategy's stock is highly sensitive to bitcoin price movements.
- The company's bitcoin acquisition strategy has resulted in substantial gains in 2025.
Source: MarketWatch
Key Takeaway: MicroStrategy's aggressive bitcoin accumulation strategy has yielded significant returns as the cryptocurrency surpasses $100,000.
Litecoin Gains Wall Street Attention Amid Crypto Market Expansion
Litecoin, often referred to as the "digital silver" to bitcoin's gold, is catching the eye of institutional investors as the search for the next major crypto asset intensifies. Developed in 2011 by former Google engineer Charlie Lee, Litecoin offers faster transaction confirmation times (2.5 minutes versus bitcoin's 10 minutes) and uses a different, more energy-efficient hashing algorithm (Scrypt).
Recent enhancements, such as the MimbleWimble Extension Blocks (MWEB) for optional privacy, have increased Litecoin's appeal. A CoinDesk report in 2024 highlighted that established cryptocurrencies like Litecoin outperform newer tokens during periods of market stress due to their security and ongoing development. Litecoin's capped supply of 84 million and over ten years of network uptime further bolster its reputation as a reliable store of value.
- Proven track record: Over ten years with no major security issues.
- Liquidity: Traded on nearly all major exchanges.
- Adoption: Growing use in micropayments, tipping, and international payments.
- Community: Strong developer and user base.
Analysts suggest that Litecoin's focus on utility and stability may allow it to outperform more volatile, hype-driven coins in the future. Its resilience and incremental progress have led some to call it the most "underestimated asset" in crypto.
Source: World Business Outlook
Key Takeaway: Litecoin's fundamentals, longevity, and recent upgrades make it a strong contender for institutional and individual investors seeking stability in the crypto market.
Analyst Warns of Potential Bitcoin Correction Amid Stock Market Uncertainty
Crypto analyst Jason Pizzino has cautioned that bitcoin may face a correction if the stock market recovery stalls. In a recent video update, Pizzino pointed to the S&P 500's historical performance, noting that the index typically experiences a dip in the second quarter, which could drag bitcoin down due to their historic correlation.
Pizzino also observed that bitcoin could regain bullish momentum if the US dollar index (DXY) continues its downtrend, as investors increasingly view bitcoin as a safe-haven asset similar to gold. At the time of his analysis, bitcoin was trading at $97,346, remaining flat on the day.
- Bitcoin's price movement is closely tied to the S&P 500's performance.
- A declining US dollar index could support further bitcoin gains after any correction.
Source: The Daily Hodl
“There’s a strong downtrend for the US dollar. It has paused here. So that’s not a bad sign at the moment, especially with Bitcoin still going up. US dollar pausing, could see some further strength for BTC in the coming weeks, after any sort of correction.” – Jason Pizzino
Key Takeaway: Bitcoin may experience a short-term correction if equities falter, but a weaker US dollar could provide renewed support for the cryptocurrency.
Crypto Stocks Rally as Bitcoin Surges Past $100,000
The price of bitcoin jumped above $100,000 for the first time since early February, providing a significant boost to crypto-related stocks. Coinbase shares rose by 6%, while Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) added 7%. Bitcoin miners Riot Platforms and Mara Holdings climbed 7% and 8%, respectively. The rally was fueled by news of a trade agreement between the U.S. and U.K., as well as optimism about further deals and progress in U.S.-China trade talks.
Bitcoin reached $101,000, up from an overnight low of $96,000, and has risen about 33% from its early-April low of $76,000. The surge in bitcoin's price also lifted U.S. stocks, as investors welcomed signs of progress on trade negotiations.
| Company | Stock Change |
|---|---|
| Coinbase (COIN) | +6% |
| Strategy (MSTR) | +7% |
| Riot Platforms (RIOT) | +7% |
| Mara Holdings (MARA) | +8% |
- Bitcoin's rally is closely linked to positive developments in global trade policy.
- Crypto stocks have outperformed alongside the cryptocurrency's price surge.
Source: Investopedia
Key Takeaway: Bitcoin's move above $100,000 has triggered a broad rally in crypto-related equities, reflecting renewed investor optimism.
Bitcoin Reclaims $100,000, Outperforming Traditional Assets
Bitcoin climbed to $101,679.85, its highest level since February, marking a nearly 6% increase according to Coin Metrics. The rally began after President Donald Trump announced a trade agreement between the U.S. and the United Kingdom, with further deals reportedly in the pipeline. Antoni Trenchev, co-founder of crypto exchange Nexo, described bitcoin as the "ultimate bouncebackability asset" amid improving prospects for U.S. trade deals.
Since the introduction of new tariff policies in early April, bitcoin has risen more than 17%, while spot gold has gained over 5% and the S&P 500 has remained marginally lower. Other cryptocurrencies also rallied, with ether up about 18%, Solana's token gaining 10%, and dogecoin rising 12%. Trenchev cautioned that bitcoin is not out of the woods until it surpasses its January high of about $109,350, and it may remain in a trading range between $70,000 and $109,000 for another two months.
| Asset | Performance Since April |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin | +17% |
| Spot Gold | +5% |
| S&P 500 | Marginally lower |
| Ether | +18% |
| Solana Token | +10% |
| Dogecoin | +12% |
- Bitcoin's resilience is highlighted by its outperformance versus traditional assets in 2025.
- Market uncertainty and pro-crypto policies have supported the cryptocurrency's rally.
Source: CNBC
"The retaking of $100,000 must go down as one of bitcoin's more formidable feats and is a reminder that buying peak fear — just last month bitcoin was languishing around $74,000 — can be exceptionally lucrative." – Antoni Trenchev, Nexo
Key Takeaway: Bitcoin's surge above $100,000 underscores its status as a resilient asset, outperforming gold and equities amid global economic uncertainty.
Sources:
- Standard Chartered analyst apologizes for $120,000 bitcoin price call, says target 'may be too low'
- MicroStrategy’s stock surges to highest price this year as bitcoin regains $100K
- Beyond Bitcoin: Why Litecoin Caught Wall Street’s Eye
- Bitcoin Correction Incoming As Stock Market Recovery Stalls, According to Jason Pizzino – Here’s His Outlook
- Crypto Stocks Jump as Bitcoin Surges Above $100,000 for First Time in Three Months
- Bitcoin jumps above $100,000 for first time since February
