Lede
Standard Chartered is reportedly evaluating the launch of a dedicated crypto prime brokerage platform, a move that would represent a significant expansion of its existing digital asset services. This proposed platform would operate under SC Ventures, which serves as the British multinational bank’s venture capital arm. This exploration comes on the heels of the bank’s previous entry into the space in July 2025, when it launched specialized trading services. Those services were designed specifically to allow corporations and institutional clients to engage in the trading of major cryptocurrencies.
The potential for a prime brokerage platform under SC Ventures indicates a strategic shift toward providing institutional-grade access to the digital asset market. By leveraging its venture capital arm, the bank may be seeking to foster innovation within its own corporate structure while addressing the needs of a maturing market. Although the bank has not finalized a timeline for this launch, the initiative follows established efforts to integrate crypto trading into its broader service portfolio. The July 2025 launch of institutional trading services served as a foundational step, and this new platform would likely build upon that existing framework to offer more comprehensive services for entities looking to manage large-scale digital asset positions within a regulated banking environment. This development signifies the bank’s intent to remain competitive in an environment where traditional financial protocols and digital assets are increasingly intersecting.
Context
The strategic moves by Standard Chartered are taking place within a rapidly changing competitive landscape, as other major financial institutions are also deepening their crypto-related footprints. For instance, investment banking leader Morgan Stanley recently filed to launch an Ether (ETH) exchange-traded fund (ETF). This filing represents the firm’s third attempt to establish a crypto ETF, signaling a persistent interest in bringing regulated Ethereum-based products to market. At the same time, Bank of America has authorized the proactive recommendation of four separate spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs.
This approval allows for these products to be offered through its extensive network of more than 15,000 wealth advisors, representing a significant shift in how traditional retail and private wealth management interact with digital assets. This trend among global banking giants illustrates a broader institutional acceptance of cryptocurrency as a legitimate asset class. The fact that firms like Morgan Stanley and Bank of America are actively developing or approving products suggests that the infrastructure for crypto investment is becoming more standardized across the industry. Standard Chartered’s consideration of a prime brokerage platform is a continuation of this trend, as it aims to provide the necessary tools for institutional participation. As these large banks compete to offer the most robust digital asset services, the market is seeing a convergence of traditional financial protocols and the unique requirements of the crypto ecosystem.
Impact
While Standard Chartered is considering expanding its service offerings, it has simultaneously adjusted its price outlook for Ether, reflecting a more cautious view of the market’s medium-term trajectory. The bank recently lowered its price forecast for Ether to $7,500 by the end of 2026. This is a notable decrease from its earlier projection of $12,000 for the same period. Additionally, the bank reduced its end-2028 forecast from $25,000 to $22,000. These downward revisions for the mid-term suggest that the bank is accounting for potential headwinds or a more measured pace of institutional adoption than previously anticipated.
However, despite these reductions in the medium-term targets, Standard Chartered has actually become more optimistic about Ether’s long-term value. The bank has increased its long-term price target, now projecting that Ether will exceed $40,000 by 2030. This new target is a significant upgrade from its previous forecast of $30,000. This suggests that while the bank expects the road to be more challenging over the next few years, its belief in the long-term fundamental value and eventual market cap of the Ethereum network remains strong. These updated forecasts provide institutional investors with a revised roadmap for growth, balancing immediate market cooling against a much higher long-term ceiling. The contrast between lowering mid-term goals while raising the 2030 target highlights the bank’s view of Ether as a maturing asset that may experience slower initial growth before reaching much higher valuations in the next decade.
Outlook
The current market environment for Ether is characterized by a mix of price decline and varying levels of investor activity. At the time of writing, Ether was trading at $3,105, which follows a period of significant depreciation. Over the past three months, the asset’s value has fallen by 17%, and it has seen a 5.4% decline over the course of the past year. This downward trend coincides with a period where different investor groups are taking divergent paths. On-chain data indicates that “smart money” traders, known for high returns, sold $7.13 million in spot Ether during the previous week.
In contrast to the selling seen from smart money, larger investors known as whales have been actively accumulating. Specifically, $16.5 million in Ether tokens were acquired by whales across 324 different wallets during the same one-week period. This divergence in behavior—where one group of professional traders is exiting positions while another group of large-scale holders is increasing theirs—suggests a significant tug-of-war within the market. This localized accumulation by whales could be interpreted as a sign of confidence in the asset’s long-term prospects despite the recent 17% three-month drop. As Standard Chartered moves forward with its plans for SC Ventures and its potential brokerage platform, these market dynamics will be instrumental in shaping institutional demand. The combination of current price weakness and the bank’s high-conviction 2030 forecast of over $40,000 creates a complex backdrop for the future of Ether trading and institutional involvement.
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