Ethereum To $4,000? Standard Chartered Lowers Expectations

Ethereum, like the broader crypto market, has experienced a sharp drop in price in recent weeks. From a high of $3,352 at the start of 2025, Ether now trades around $1,800 and $1,900, reflecting a sharp drop to the world’s second-biggest crypto by market cap. Looking at Ether’s bigger picture, it’s down 47% from last year’s value.

If we go by the latest analyses and observations from commentators, Ether’s price correction will likely be extended. The altcoin is facing a huge bearish wave, with plenty of market factors undermining its price performance.

One significant factor is Standard Chartered’s recent decision to cut its price prediction by 60%, confirming market expectations.

News: Standard Chartered slashes ETH price target!

The bank cuts its 2025 ETH forecast from $10K to $4K, blaming Layer-2 networks like Base, which they say has drained $50B from Ethereum’s market value.#Ethereum #ETH #Crypto #Layer2 #Base #Blockchain

— Andres Meneses (@andreswifitv) March 17, 2025

Ethereum is currently in a price slump, and many experts expect a much deeper dive in the next few weeks. Ether’s price is currently floating above the $1,900 level as it continues its bearish price movements.

Analysts use the MACD indicator to verify and confirm the asset’s bearish sentiment. Also, the asset’s moving averages suggest a neutral trend and possible price consolidation.

Ethereum (ETH) remains in the correction zone today, trading around $1,874. The price continues to move in a descending channel, indicating a possible continuation of consolidation. Moving averages confirm the neutral trend: the price is holding below the 50-day and 200-day MA,… pic.twitter.com/R3vNqFBDkZ

— LVelarde (@0xvelarde) March 17, 2025

According to a crypto user named “LVelarde,” Ether’s price continues to follow the descending channel, suggesting price consolidation. The asset’s price is consolidating below its 5-day and 200-day moving averages, with traders looking for possible rejection or breakout. Since it fell below $2k, sentiments have been generally bearish, with many questioning its future price trends.

Even some of the biggest banks, like Standard Chartered Bank, are lowering their expectations of Ethereum. From a high of $10,000, the bank is reducing its price target to just $4,000, explaining that the Layer 2s are impacting its bottom line.

The bank added that changes and improvements to the blockchain affected its overall value, like its shift to the proof-of-stake and scaling roadmap.

Standard Chartered used Coinbase’s Base Layer 2 as an example, suggesting that the project has cost Ethereum $50 billion from its market cap. According to Geoff Kendrick, Standard Chartered analyst, Ethereum’s losses will continue as Base’s dominance in the industry continues.

Kendrick calls this the blockchain’s “midlife crisis”, adding that Ethereum’s chain has become a commodity with its Layer 2 framework.

According to Kendrick, Ethereum can address its downturn in two ways. First, it can leverage its security-based dominance in the context of the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA). If Ethereum focuses on security, it can maintain its 80% market share.

Second, it can charge taxes for its Layer 2s, but it’s highly unlikely. Kendrick expects Ethereum to continue its underperformance in the short term.

Featured image from Bloomberg, chart from TradingView