{"id":849989,"date":"2025-05-21T09:11:33","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T14:11:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/21\/standard-chartered-predicts-bitcoin-to-hit-500000-heres-why-us-crypto-news\/"},"modified":"2025-05-21T09:11:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T14:11:33","slug":"standard-chartered-predicts-bitcoin-to-hit-500000-heres-why-us-crypto-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/21\/standard-chartered-predicts-bitcoin-to-hit-500000-heres-why-us-crypto-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Standard Chartered Predicts Bitcoin to Hit $500,000, Here\u2019s Why | US Crypto News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to the US Crypto News Morning Briefing\u2014your essential rundown of the most important developments in crypto for the day ahead.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grab a coffee as we analyze Standard Chartered\u2019s Bitcoin (BTC) price projections. According to the bank, Bitcoin price could hit $500,000 as global institutions accumulate Strategy\u2019s MSTR stock for indirect exposure to Bitcoin.<\/p>\n

Crypto News of the Day: Standard Chartered\u2019s Bold Bitcoin Prediction<\/h2>\n

Bitcoin was trading for $105,178<\/a><\/span>, up by a modest 2.27% in the last 24 hours. In recent developments, the pioneer crypto market capitalization has ascended to an all-time high of $2.09 trillion.<\/p>\n

\"bitcoin
Bitcoin 3-Month Price Chart. Source: BeInCrypto<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To some extent, macro factors such as PBOC rate cuts and Moody\u2019s US credit downgrade<\/a> provide tailwinds.<\/p>\n

However, analysts hold that institutional interest has much to do with Bitcoin\u2019s value surge. Firstly, Bitcoin ETFs<\/a> (exchange-traded funds), which offer Traditional Finance (TradFi)<\/a> players indirect exposure to BTC, drive institutional interest.<\/p>\n

In the same way, institutions are gaining indirect exposure to Bitcoin via Strategy\u2019s MSTR stock. A recent US Crypto News<\/a> publication indicated that Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) held 576,230 BTC as of May 19.<\/p>\n

Holding a significant amount of Bitcoin on its balance sheet, Strategy\u2019s MSTR stock price correlates closely with Bitcoin\u2019s price movements.<\/p>\n

\"MSTR
MSTR vs. BTC performance in the past year. Source: ivanhoff.com on X<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Analysts ascribe<\/a> this correlation to a dynamic where Bitcoin is the base layer while MSTR operates as a vehicle with different risks, mechanics, and rewards.<\/p>\n

Against this backdrop, BeInCrypto contacted Geoff Kendrick, Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered. According to Kendrick, Bitcoin is still on course to hit $500,000 before the end of Trump\u2019s second administration.<\/p>\n

Kendrick ascribes this to deepening institutional adoption, particularly through indirect exposure via MicroStrategy\u2019s MSTR shares.<\/p>\n

Standard Chartered Says Increasing Allocations to MSTR Is Bullish for Bitcoin<\/h2>\n

Newly released Q1 2025 13F filings from the US SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) support the bank\u2019s bullish thesis. Specifically, Strategy saw increasing allocations to MSTR by a range of global sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAs more investors gain access to the asset and as volatility<\/a> falls, we believe portfolios will migrate towards their optimal level from an underweight starting position in Bitcoin,\u201d Kendrick said in an email to BeInCrypto.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While direct holdings of Bitcoin ETFs<\/a> declined slightly overall, largely due to the State of Wisconsin Investment Board selling its entire 3,400 BTC-equivalent position in BlackRock\u2019s IBIT ETF<\/a>, other entities quietly increased exposure via MSTR, which Kendrick described as a \u201cBitcoin proxy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cGovernment entities increased their holdings of Strategy Incorporated (MSTR), which typically trades like a Bitcoin proxy. Entities in Norway, Switzerland, and South Korea reported significant MSTR increases, and Saudi Arabia added a very small position for the first time,\u201d Kendrick told BeInCrypto.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Standard Chartered executive emphasized that while Bitcoin ETF flows were \u201cunexciting,\u201d the MSTR accumulation trend was the real story this quarter.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe MSTR ownership detail was where the excitement was,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Geoff Kendrick went further, detailing Standard Chartered\u2019s analysis of the filings. Based on their analysis:<\/p>\n