Bitcoin’s (BTC) ongoing price volatility may extend into the weekend and could culminate in the asset dropping below the crucial $100,000 mark, according to an outlook by Standard Chartered.
The bank’s global head of digital assets research, Geoffrey Kendrick, said this drop seems inevitable but may prove temporary and could set the stage for Bitcoin’s next major rally.
“The question now is how far does Bitcoin need to fall before finding a base. A dip below $100,000 seems inevitable, although the dump may be short-lived,” he said.
Standard Chartered’s warning follows Bitcoin’s sharp reversal from an all-time high above $126,000 earlier this month. The cryptocurrency’s rally stalled on October 10 after renewed U.S.-China trade tensions sparked a $19 billion market liquidation, its largest in 2025.
The correction pushed prices to a four-month low near $104,000 before stabilizing.
Despite the near-term weakness, Kendrick remains optimistic that Bitcoin’s decline will form a base for another leg higher.
He noted that tightening liquidity conditions and shifts between gold and Bitcoin remain key indicators for market stabilization.
A brief rebound earlier this week coincided with a selloff in gold, suggesting a growing “sell gold, buy Bitcoin” flow that could signal a bottom forming.
Currently, Standard Chartered expects Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows and favorable macroeconomic conditions, including potential Federal Reserve rate cuts, to support a recovery.
Kendrick’s base case remains bullish for the months ahead, projecting that Bitcoin could climb to $200,000 by year-end and extend its longer-term target to $500,000 by 2028.
“As the dust settles after the massive liquidation event, investors may see it as a buying opportunity. My official forecast is $200,000 by the end of the year,” he added.
Notably, Standard Chartered’s outlook holds weight, given its accurate call for Bitcoin to hit $100,000 by the end of 2024. Kendrick had consistently backed this view, pointing to catalysts like the U.S. presidential election, rising institutional ETF inflows, and the Bitcoin halving.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading near $108,474, down roughly 5% over the past 24 hours.
