Bitcoin(BTC) price could surge 25% from current levels to reach a new all-time high of$135,000 by the end of the third quarter, according to a fresh price forecastfrom global bank Standard Chartered that challenges traditional marketpatterns.How High Can Bitcoin Go?New BTC Price Prediction from Standard CharteredThe Britishmultinational bank's digital asset research head Geoff Kendrick released thebullish projection last week, arguing that Bitcoin has broken free fromhistorical post-halving price declines due to unprecedented institutionaldemand through exchange-traded funds and corporate treasury purchases.Bitcoincurrently trades around $109,000, meaning the $135,000 target would represent aroughly 2% gain over the next two months. Standard Chartered goes even further,predicting Bitcoin will break $200,000 by year-end before ultimately reaching$500,000 per coin by 2028."Thanksto increased investor flows, we believe BTC has moved beyond the previousdynamic whereby prices fell 18 months after a 'halving' cycle," Kendricksaid in the Wednesday report. The analyst noted that traditional halvingpatterns would have suggested price declines in September or October 2025.You may also like: Bitcoin Sets Record Close in June, With July BTC Price Predictions Target $115KBreaking the Halving CyclePatternBitcoin'shalving events occur approximately every four years, cutting mining rewards inhalf and historically triggering both price spikes and subsequent corrections.The most recent halving happened in April 2024, and previous cycles in 2016 and2020 led to Bitcoin prices falling about 18 months afterward.However,Kendrick argues this cycle will play out differently because of two majorfactors that weren't present during earlier halvings: massive ETF inflows andcorporate bitcoin buying for treasury purposes."Weexpect prices to resume their uptrend, supported by continued strong ETF andBitcoin treasury buying," Kendrick wrote, emphasizing these drivers wereabsent in previous halving cycles.The bank'sanalysis shows Bitcoin ETF flows and corporate treasury buying totaled 245,000BTC in the second quarter alone. "We expect that level to be exceeded inboth Q3 and Q4," Kendrick added.A similarBitcoin price growth forecast was already presentedin April by Titan of Crypto, a popular analyst from X.Mixed Signals from RecentETF ActivityTheoptimistic forecast comes as Bitcoin ETF flows recently turned negative after astrong 15-day run. US spot Bitcoin ETFs posted $342.3 million in outflows last Tuesday,marking their first outflows since June 6 and representing 7% of the total $4.8billion inflows seen during the previous two-week streak.Despite therecent outflow, Standard Chartered maintains that institutional demand remainsthe key driver separating this cycle from previous ones. The bank acknowledgesprices could still be "somewhat choppy" in late Q3 and early Q4 dueto lingering concerns about historical correction patterns.Bitcoin Price Predictionsfor 2025 and 2028Thecryptocurrency market has attracted significant attention from major financialinstitutions, with numerous Wall Street firms and industry analysts releasingincreasingly bullish Bitcoin price forecasts. These predictions span bothnear-term targets for 2025 and longer-term projections extending into 2028 andbeyond.StandardChartered maintains one of the most aggressive mainstream forecasts, with thebank's digital assets research team projecting Bitcoin could reach $200,000 byyear-end 2025.VanEck, aprominent asset management firm, has outlined what they call a "dual-peakcycle" scenario for 2025. Their research team expects Bitcoin topotentially hit approximately $180,000 during a first-half rally, followed by amid-year correction, before potentially establishing new highs in the latterpart of 2025.TheFinder.com expert panel, which surveys over 50 cryptocurrency analysts andindustry figures, has produced an average forecast of $161,000 for Bitcoin bythe end of 2025. This consensus figure represents the collective wisdom ofdiverse market participants and provides a middle-ground estimate among thevarious predictions.Bitcoin Price Prediction TableLookingfurther ahead, price projections become even more ambitious. Standard Charteredhas outlined a multi-year trajectory toward $500,000 by 2028, representingtheir view of Bitcoin's potential as institutional adoption accelerates andmacroeconomic factors continue supporting alternative assets.ARK Invest,led by Cathie Wood, has published some of the most bullish long-term forecastsin the industry. Their base case scenario projects Bitcoin reaching $1.2million by 2030, with a bull case extending to $2.4 million. Even their bearcase scenario anticipates Bitcoin reaching approximately $500,000 by thedecade's end.VanEck,while not providing specific 2030 targets, expects Bitcoin to achieve new highsbeyond 2025, with some projections suggesting the next cycle could push pricesabove $400,000.Why Bitcoin May Not ReachNew ATH? Experts Weigh InNoteveryone shares Standard Chartered's aggressive timeline, though many agree onBitcoin's long-term potential.KirillKretov from CoinPanel expressed caution about the near-term projections:"While Bitcoin reaching $135K or even $200K by year-end is possible,especially in a thin, sentiment-driven market, I would remain cautious abouttaking such projections at face value."Kretov'son-chain research shows "larger players are actively accumulating BTC inthe $100K–$110K range, while liquidity continues to be withdrawn from activelytransacting wallets." He sees near-term fluctuations between $95K and$115K as more realistic, calling the current environment "a structuredaccumulation phase" rather than trend-chasing.For Bitcointo move decisively higher, Kretov believes the market needs "clearermacroeconomic direction," reduced volatility exploitation by largeplayers, and "a flush of 'dead weight' - long-standing holders hoping toexit on price strength."Paul Howardfrom Wincent offered a more optimistic but measured view: "To date, Geoffhas consistently delivered more accurate price predictions than not."Howard expects "tailwinds from fiat devaluation, and ETF activity will inall likelihood propel BTC to break $150k before year end."However,Howard expressed skepticism about the $200,000 target: "I will besurprised if prices touch $200k given this would arguably need around $1Tnadditional market cap. I dont see where that money come from in the next 6months but we do get there by 2027."Institutional AdoptionContinuesThe debateover Bitcoin's short-term trajectory occurs against a backdrop of continuedinstitutional adoption. Howard noted "genuine institutional activity indigital assets spurred on by a more positive US regulatory environment,"though he warned that "the macro threat of tariffs could still spoil therecipe."StandardChartered's forecast represents one of the most aggressive near-term Bitcoinpredictions from a major traditional financial institution. The bank'sconfidence stems from its belief that ETF demand and corporate buying havefundamentally altered Bitcoin's market dynamics, potentially renderinghistorical price patterns obsolete.WhetherBitcoin can achieve the predicted 25% jump to new highs this quarter willlargely depend on sustained institutional demand and broader macroeconomicconditions. The cryptocurrency's ability to break free from traditional halvingcycle patterns could reshape how investors approach Bitcoin's four-year cyclesgoing forward.Bitcoin News FAQWhat will BTC be worth in2025?Based oncurrent institutional forecasts, Bitcoin is expected to reach $135,000 to$200,000 by the end of 2025, with most major financial institutions convergingaround six-figure targets. Key 2025 Price Predictions:StandardChartered: $200,000 by year-end, with $135,000 expected by Q3VanEck:Peak around $180,000 in a dual-cycle scenarioFinder.comExpert Panel: $161,000 average forecastCurrenttrajectory: Bitcoin needs approximately 25% growth to reach the $135,000 Q3targetThe bullishoutlook stems from unprecedented ETF inflows and corporate treasury adoptionthat weren't present in previous Bitcoin cycles. Standard Chartered arguesthese factors have broken traditional post-halving correction patterns,potentially eliminating the 18-month price declines that historically followedhalving events.How much will 1 Bitcoin beworth in 2030?Long-termBitcoin projections for 2030 range from $405,000 to $2.4 million, depending onadoption scenarios and market conditions. ARK Invest provides the most detailed2030 analysis, with their base case of $1.2 million per Bitcoin assumingcontinued institutional adoption and Bitcoin's evolution as "digital gold2.0." Their bull case scenario of $2.4 million factors in acceleratedcorporate treasury adoption and potential sovereign wealth fund allocations.How high can Bitcoin gorealistically?Bitcoin'srealistic long-term potential depends on its role in the global financialsystem, but institutional analysis suggests $500,000 to $1.2 million representsachievable targets based on current adoption trends.This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.