Standard Chartered is sticking to its prediction that Bitcoin will top $500,000, citing the predicted impact of President Trump’s proposed Crypto Reserve.
The bank has shifted its strategy from “sell into rallies” to “buy into dips.” This approach aligns with their estimate of a gradual price increase reaching $200,000 by the end of 2025, $300,000 by the end of 2026, and $500,000 by the end of 2028.
Crypto Reserve’s Domino Effect
The crypto market has surged 11% since Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a reserve. The action comes after a difficult February for Bitcoin, which recorded its lowest month since June 2022.
The suggested reserve plans include adding Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano in addition to Bitcoin. These five cryptocurrencies comprise a sizable portion of the $3.2 trillion cryptocurrency market.
The official acceptance of cryptocurrencies indicates a significant change in the government’s attitude toward digital assets.
Moreover, the new attitude toward Bitcoin (BTC) could inspire similar projects throughout the United States and potentially in other countries.
Geoffrey Kendrick, global head of digital asset research at Standard Chartered, suggests that the federal government’s move could “fuel individual states also to adopt bitcoin reserves of their own and eventually hold as much bitcoin as the federal government altogether.”
Additionally, a report by VanEck’s Matthew Sigel suggests that if the more than 20 strategic Bitcoin reserve bills currently under consideration in various states are signed into law, state governments could collectively purchase over 242,787 BTC.
This initiative could strengthen support for Senator Cynthia Lummis’ Strategic Reserve Bill, which proposes that the U.S. purchase 200,000 Bitcoin annually until it accumulates 1,000,000 BTC.
Road to Crypto Reserve Ambitions
Fiscal responsibility is one of the primary concerns when establishing the crypto reserve. The bank suggests several budget-neutral strategies for the government to acquire Bitcoin without imposing additional costs on taxpayers.
For example, the options would include potentially selling some of the nation’s gold reserves—currently valued at approximately $758 billion; using the U.S. Treasury’s Exchange Stabilization Fund or incorporating budget-neutral plans into Senator Lummis’ 2024 Bitcoin Act.
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