StanChart Sees Ether Beating Bitcoin by 40% as Strategy's $2.5 Million Sale Shifts Sentiment
Updated
Updated · CoinDesk · Jun 2
StanChart Sees Ether Beating Bitcoin by 40% as Strategy's $2.5 Million Sale Shifts Sentiment
3 articles · Updated · CoinDesk · Jun 2
Standard Chartered's Geoff Kendrick said Ether could outperform Bitcoin by more than 40% by year-end, with the ETH-BTC ratio rising to 0.04 from about 0.028.
Monday's trigger was Strategy's first bitcoin sale since 2022: only $2.5 million, but ETH still gained 5% versus BTC after the announcement despite a broader crypto selloff.
Kendrick argues the divergence reflects treasury economics: bitcoin holdings generate no yield, so firms may need to sell assets or raise capital to meet obligations.
Ether treasury firms can stake holdings for about 3% annualized yield, giving them recurring income and potentially making names such as Bitmine and SharpLink more self-sustaining.
The call would mark a reversal after ETH lost 66% against BTC since Ethereum's 2022 shift to proof-of-stake, though it has rebounded more than 60% from its April 2025 low.
With ETH underperforming, what catalyst could fuel its 40% surge against Bitcoin by year-end?
Is earning yield on Ethereum a wiser corporate treasury strategy than just holding non-productive Bitcoin?
Could Ethereum's staking model signal the end of Bitcoin's reign as the ultimate crypto asset?
Strategy’s $6.5B Bitcoin Sale Marks Corporate Turning Point: Ethereum Staking and Institutional Adoption Reshape 2026 Crypto Outlook
Overview
Strategy (MSTR), known for pioneering the corporate Bitcoin treasury strategy in 2020, recently sold part of its massive Bitcoin holdings at an average price of $77,135 per coin. The proceeds were used for preferred stock distributions. This sale, coming after a period when many public companies followed Strategy’s lead in accumulating crypto treasuries, triggered a sharp market reaction—Bitcoin’s price dropped below $70,000 and continued a decline that has now reached over 42% from its all-time high. The move also coincided with record net outflows from Bitcoin ETFs, highlighting a shift in market sentiment and raising questions about the future of corporate crypto strategies.