Bitcoin recently shot up in value. It got very close to its high points from August. Experts at Standard Chartered think the digital currency could hit $135,000 soon. This prediction comes from what’s happening in the US and how much money is flowing into Bitcoin ETFs.
The price of Bitcoin (BTC) jumped over 13% this week. It reached $122,522.59 just yesterday. That puts it very near its all-time high of $124,500. This big climb happens as the US faces political uncertainty. More investors are also putting money into special funds, called ETFs, that track the digital currency.
Geoffrey Kendrick, who leads digital asset research at Standard Chartered, released a report. He believes a potential US government shutdown is more important now than in the past. It’s creating good conditions for the crypto market. Kendrick says that Bitcoin now moves with the risk level of 10-year Treasury bonds. This means political uncertainty actually helps Bitcoin’s price go up, as CoinDesk reported.
Government Shutdown’s Role
Kendrick pointed out that during the 2018-2019 government shutdown, Bitcoin was in a different place. It wasn’t directly linked to how risky government debt seemed back then. Today, the close link between Treasury bond risk and Bitcoin’s price suggests a new trend. The political issues in Washington are giving Bitcoin a boost.
On Polymarket, a predictions platform, traders believe there’s a more than 60% chance the shutdown will last 10 to 29 days. Kendrick thinks this amount of time is enough. It can keep the upward pressure on Bitcoin and help it build value.
The expert says if Bitcoin clearly breaks past $124,500, then a jump to $135,000 could happen in just a few weeks.
🚀 Bitcoin podrÃa alcanzar los USD $135.000 según Standard Chartered.
La criptomoneda ya subió más del 13%, alcanzando los USD $122.522,59.
Impulsada por el cierre gubernamental en EE. UU. y flujos récord en ETF Bitcoin.
Expertos indican que la incertidumbre polÃtica… pic.twitter.com/DxRGkuzuv0
— Diario฿itcoin (@Blaze Trends)
Rise of ETFs and Big Money
Another reason for this hopeful outlook is the money going into Bitcoin ETFs. Gold-backed funds have done better recently as gold prices rose. But Standard Chartered expects this to change soon. Money flowing into Bitcoin ETFs is already at record levels.
So far, $58 billion has been invested in Bitcoin ETFs. Over $23 billion of that came in during 2025. This week alone, more than $2.25 billion poured in before Friday ended. This shows strong trust from large investors.
Kendrick thinks these investment tools could attract another $20 billion before the end of the year. This would be enough to support his prediction of Bitcoin reaching $200,000 by December.
Looking Ahead to Year-End
Many things are lining up: big economic trends, political uncertainty, and strong demand from institutions through ETFs. This creates a market that could swing a lot, but also strongly supports Bitcoin’s climb. For experts like Kendrick, Bitcoin is proving itself as a safe place for money during tough times. It stands out compared to other risky assets.
Meanwhile, traders are watching to see if this new energy will push Bitcoin past $124,500. Breaking that level would clear the way for much higher prices.