Ethereum’s vision for 2026 is increasingly controversial after the most recent decline the entire crypto market. Earlier this year, a study from Standard Chartered suggested that Ethereum could end 2026 close to $7,500, a target that means a significant increase from current levels. However, the recent price action, with ETH aging around $2,000 again lack of clear bullish momentumit sets such assumptions against a very different reality.
Long Term Outlook for Standard Chartered Ethereum
In a January research note, Standard Chartered’s digital assets team adjusted its medium-term outlook with Ethereum while maintaining a very optimistic outlook for the coming years. The bank now sees ether closing 2026 near $7,500, down from the previous forecast of $12,000, and expects the asset to rise to $15,000 in 2027, $22,000 in 2028, and finally $40,000 by the end of 2030.
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According to the note, this change is due to the weak performance from Bitcoin dragging down the broader dollar-denominated crypto rates, just as the bank pointed to Ethereum’s strength in stablecoins, decentralized finance, and tokenized assets as good things to hold on to.
In a research note, digital assets analyst Geoff Kendrick noted that 2026 is important not only for the price but also for the performance of Ethereum relative to bitcoin. Therefore, the most important thing is to achieve a rebound in the ETH/BTC ratio at levels last seen in 2021.
Odds – Current Price Action Against the Bullish Case
The path from around the $2,000s to the $7,000s looks a lot tougher compared to what it was at the beginning of the year. This, in turn, saw the price volatility of Ethereum reaching $7,500 drop significantly. Ethereum started 2026 on a good foot, with a rally to $3,370 in the first two weeks of the year. Notably, it failed to support this rally and has since dropped nearly 40% in the last 30 days.
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As it stands, Ethereum is now trading around $2,000, and the price has repeatedly failed to close convincingly above the $2,100-$2,150 area in recent sessions. Although the leading altcoin is now back to trading above $2,000 after a break below during last week’s selloff, the bulls but to establish any control of price pressure.
On-chain data also shows the transfer activity around Ethereum indicating high stress conditions. Fortunately for bullish traders, it is too early in the year to rule out the possibility of Ethereum trading at $7,500 in 2026. A number of things will need to change for an outcome close to Standard Chartered’s 2026 estimate to be meaningful. One of them is the return of demand and continuous penetration Exchange shares Spot Ethereum ETFs.
At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading at $2,025. Currently, it is cryptocurrency it needs to clear the $2,150 resistance and hold above it to continue a steady upward push.
Featured image from Pxfuel, chart from Tradingview.com
