Standard Chartered Bank’s latest report sets an end-2026 target price for Ethereum (ETH) of $4,000 and a $40,000 target after ten years, citing ETH’s dominance in DeFi and the stablecoin sector. However, statistics show that from March to mid-May, around 60 whale addresses holding more than ten thousand ETH each cleared their positions.
Standard Chartered’s Prior ETH Forecast Records
Standard Chartered’s publicly available track record of ETH price targets:
2023 Forecast: end-2024 target of $4,000; end-2026 target of $8,000; 2040 target of $26,000-$35,000
2024 Q1 Update: May 2024 target of $4,000; end-2024 target of $8,000
2024 Q4 Update: raised its end-2025 ETH target to $10,000
Latest Forecast (2026): end-2026 target of $4,000; ten years later target of $40,000
In its latest report, Standard Chartered also forecasts that by 2028 the stablecoin market cap will grow 7 times to $2 trillion, while RWA will grow 50 times to $2 trillion.
Ethereum Community Update: Researchers Resign and Whales Unload at the Same Time
Core research staff at the Ethereum Foundation have announced resignations one after another; Bankless’ founder publicly announced selling off ETH; statistics show that from March to mid-May 2026, around 60 whale addresses holding more than ten thousand ETH each cleared their positions. As of the time of reporting, ETH was trading at about $1,800, down 64% from the prior-cycle peak of $4,955 and its all-time high.
Bitcoin Snapshot: Consecutive ETF Outflows, Strategy’s First Sale, and Derivatives Markets
Bitcoin has fallen from its historical high of $126,000 in October 2025 to about $63,000, a drop of nearly 50%. Bitcoin ETFs have seen outflows for at least 10 consecutive trading days, totaling more than $3 billion; Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) sold bitcoin (32 BTC) for the first time in four years, despite the very small size. In derivatives data, bitcoin funding rates have remained positive and there have been multiple sharp spikes, while open interest has stayed at relatively high levels.
FAQ
What is the basis for Standard Chartered’s end-of-year ETH $4,000 target?
Standard Chartered’s report cites three main supports: 54% of stablecoin activity runs on Ethereum; in 2026, stablecoin trading volume is about one-third of Ethereum’s total trading volume; and ETH’s DeFi TVL accounts for 60% of the network’s total. Standard Chartered also forecasts that by 2028 stablecoin market cap will grow 7 times to $2 trillion, and believes Ethereum is the primary beneficiary.
How should Polymarket’s ETH year-end probability data be interpreted?
As of the time of reporting, Polymarket’s market odds show the probability of ETH reaching $4,000 by end-2026 is 13%; the probability of falling to $1,500 has risen to 77%. Polymarket is a decentralized prediction market based on traders’ bets; the figures reflect the distribution of bets by market participants rather than an official forecast.
What is the data source for the 60 Ethereum whale addresses clearing their positions?
According to the statistics cited in the report, within the two-month period from March to mid-May 2026, about 60 wallet addresses holding more than ten thousand ETH each cleared their positions. The article does not specify the name of the original source for this dataset.
