Citi Cuts Bitcoin Forecast as Standard Chartered Backs Morpho Over BTC, ETH

• Citi lowered its Bitcoin price prediction to $82,000, citing ETF outflows and weaker investor demand
• Standard Chartered says Morpho could outperform Bitcoin and Ethereum through 2030 as DeFi adoption grows
• The contrasting outlooks highlight Wall Street’s shifting focus from major cryptocurrencies to DeFi infrastructure

Wall Street’s crypto outlook is starting to split. While Bitcoin price prediction models have turned more cautious after months of ETF outflows and fading institutional demand, not every corner of the market is being written off. Citi has lowered its expectations for both Bitcoin and Ethereum over the next year. But Standard Chartered is looking elsewhere for growth. Its latest bet isn’t on the market’s biggest cryptocurrencies, but on a DeFi lending protocol it believes could deliver stronger returns over time.

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Citi Cuts Bitcoin and Ethereum Price Forecasts as ETF Demand Weakens

Citi has lowered its 12-month Bitcoin price prediction to $82,000, down from $112,000. At press time, Bitcoin was trading at $61,070.62 following a 4.02% increase over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, it trimmed its Ethereum price prediction to $2,240 from $3,175. ETH was priced at $1,643.55 after rising by 4.4%.

The bank cited slowing investor demand, persistent Bitcoin ETF outflows, and the lack of meaningful progress on US crypto legislation as the main reasons behind the downgrade.

The revision also reflects a sharp change in Citi’s expectations for ETF demand. The bank now assumes net inflows will be flat over the next year, compared with its previous estimate of $10 billion. According to the note, spot Bitcoin ETFs have already recorded roughly $3.3 billion in net outflows this year, reducing one of the biggest drivers of crypto prices.

Citi’s bear-case scenario is even more conservative. The bank’s price prediction for Bitcoin is set at $53,000 and for Ethereum at $1,094 if recession risks deepen and ETF withdrawals continue. The bank also noted that investor attention has increasingly shifted toward artificial intelligence stocks. It has been drawing capital away from digital assets.

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Standard Chartered Sees Morpho Outperforming Bitcoin and Ethereum

Citi has become more cautious about Bitcoin and Ethereum price predictions. But Standard Chartered sees stronger long-term potential in DeFi. The bank initiated coverage on Morpho with a price prediction of $60 by 2030. Standard Chartered argues the protocol could outperform both Bitcoin and Ethereum in percentage returns. Analysts pointed to Morpho Vaults, growing institutional integrations with firms such as Fireblocks, Anchorage and Taurus, and rising demand for on-chain lending infrastructure.

At press time, MORPHO was priced at a low of $2.15 following a notable increase of 8.68% over the past 24 hours. The highest that the asset has surged to is $4.17 back in 2025.

Standard Chartered expects DeFi assets under management to expand significantly over the rest of the decade, creating room for lending protocols to grow alongside traditional financial institutions entering the space.

The contrasting price predictions for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and MORPHO point towards a major shift in institutional thinking. Bitcoin and Ethereum remain central to the market. But banks seem to be looking at the difference between established cryptocurrencies facing near-term obstacles and blockchain infrastructure projects they believe could benefit from the next stage of digital asset adoption.

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