This month, the S&P 500 index reached a milestone, touching an all-time high of 6,099, driving bullish sentiments across the stock market. The surge is attributed to growing optimism surrounding former President Donald Trump’s potential reelection and the belief that his policies could fuel America’s financial prosperity. As investor confidence rises, charts reflect a positive outlook for the market, with many predicting further price appreciation following Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.
As traders eagerly embrace the bullish market environment, leading equities are seeing fresh investment, setting the stage for a strong rally in the S&P 500. With this backdrop, the index appears poised for continued upward momentum. Financial analysts have weighed in with their predictions for the S&P 500 in 2025, forecasting further growth. In this article, we delve into three of the most bullish price predictions for the index in the coming year.
3 Bullish Price Predictions for the S&P 500 Index in 2025
1. Oppenheimer’s John Stoltzfus: 7,100
John Stoltzfus, the Chief Investment Strategist at Oppenheimer, is the most optimistic about the S&P 500’s future performance. Stoltzfus has set a target of 7,100 for the index in 2025, which represents a significant 16.5% increase from its current level of 6,099. This prediction is based on several factors, including a strong economic recovery, corporate earnings growth, and continued investor optimism regarding the potential impacts of Trump’s policies. According to Stoltzfus, the S&P 500 could soar even higher if global economic conditions improve and if consumer spending continues to drive growth.
2. Wells Fargo: 7,000
Global investment bank Wells Fargo is also optimistic, forecasting that the S&P 500 could reach 7,000 points by 2025. This projection would mark a 16% rise from its current position of 6,050. The bank’s analysts point to the ongoing recovery in corporate profits, strong fiscal policies, and the potential for significant tax cuts under a Trump administration as factors driving their bullish outlook. Wells Fargo believes the market could continue to experience robust growth as long as inflation remains in check and interest rates remain supportive.
3. HSBC: 6,700
HSBC, a leading retail and investment bank, is slightly more conservative but still bullish on the S&P 500. The bank predicts the index will hit 6,700 in 2025, an 11% increase from its current level. HSBC’s forecast reflects optimism about corporate earnings growth, low unemployment rates, and the possibility of a stable macroeconomic environment. With the potential for moderate economic expansion, HSBC anticipates the S&P 500 will benefit from a favorable investment climate, though they caution that market volatility could temper gains.
The outlook for the S&P 500 index in 2025 is overwhelmingly bullish, with major financial institutions offering optimistic predictions. Whether it’s Oppenheimer’s forecast of 7,100, Wells Fargo’s target of 7,000, or HSBC’s 6,700 projection, all three predictions suggest strong potential for market growth. With a favorable political climate and expectations of continued economic expansion, 2025 could be a banner year for the S&P 500, making it an attractive option for investors seeking solid returns.
Welcome to the US Crypto News Morning Briefing—your essential rundown of the most important developments in crypto for the day ahead.
Grab a coffee as we analyze Standard Chartered’s Bitcoin (BTC) price projections. According to the bank, Bitcoin price could hit $500,000 as global institutions accumulate Strategy’s MSTR stock for indirect exposure to Bitcoin.
Crypto News of the Day: Standard Chartered’s Bold Bitcoin Prediction
Bitcoin was trading for $105,178, up by a modest 2.27% in the last 24 hours. In recent developments, the pioneer crypto market capitalization has ascended to an all-time high of $2.09 trillion.
However, analysts hold that institutional interest has much to do with Bitcoin’s value surge. Firstly, Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds), which offer Traditional Finance (TradFi) players indirect exposure to BTC, drive institutional interest.
In the same way, institutions are gaining indirect exposure to Bitcoin via Strategy’s MSTR stock. A recent US Crypto News publication indicated that Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) held 576,230 BTC as of May 19.
Holding a significant amount of Bitcoin on its balance sheet, Strategy’s MSTR stock price correlates closely with Bitcoin’s price movements.
MSTR vs. BTC performance in the past year. Source: ivanhoff.com on X
Analysts ascribe this correlation to a dynamic where Bitcoin is the base layer while MSTR operates as a vehicle with different risks, mechanics, and rewards.
Against this backdrop, BeInCrypto contacted Geoff Kendrick, Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered. According to Kendrick, Bitcoin is still on course to hit $500,000 before the end of Trump’s second administration.
Kendrick ascribes this to deepening institutional adoption, particularly through indirect exposure via MicroStrategy’s MSTR shares.
Standard Chartered Says Increasing Allocations to MSTR Is Bullish for Bitcoin
Newly released Q1 2025 13F filings from the US SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) support the bank’s bullish thesis. Specifically, Strategy saw increasing allocations to MSTR by a range of global sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities.
“As more investors gain access to the asset and as volatility falls, we believe portfolios will migrate towards their optimal level from an underweight starting position in Bitcoin,” Kendrick said in an email to BeInCrypto.
While direct holdings of Bitcoin ETFs declined slightly overall, largely due to the State of Wisconsin Investment Board selling its entire 3,400 BTC-equivalent position in BlackRock’s IBIT ETF, other entities quietly increased exposure via MSTR, which Kendrick described as a “Bitcoin proxy.”
“Government entities increased their holdings of Strategy Incorporated (MSTR), which typically trades like a Bitcoin proxy. Entities in Norway, Switzerland, and South Korea reported significant MSTR increases, and Saudi Arabia added a very small position for the first time,” Kendrick told BeInCrypto.
The Standard Chartered executive emphasized that while Bitcoin ETF flows were “unexciting,” the MSTR accumulation trend was the real story this quarter.
“The MSTR ownership detail was where the excitement was,” he added.
Geoff Kendrick went further, detailing Standard Chartered’s analysis of the filings. Based on their analysis:
Norway added 700 BTC-equivalent via MSTR, now holding 6,300 BTC-equivalent.
Switzerland also added 700 BTC-equivalent, reaching 2,300 BTC-equivalent.
South Korea added 700 BTC-equivalent, bringing its total to 1,300 BTC-equivalent.
US state funds (California, New York, North Carolina, Kentucky) added 1,000 BTC-equivalent collectively, now at 3,300 BTC-equivalent.
Saudi Arabia’s Central Bank opened a small MSTR position—its first.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s quasi-sovereign wealth fund Mubadala added 300 BTC equivalent via ETF holdings, increasing its position to 5,000 BTC equivalent.
“SEC 13F data for Q1 supports our thesis that Bitcoin is attracting a wider range of buyers. While data on Bitcoin ETF holdings was disappointing, MSTR – a Bitcoin proxy – saw increased buying. Overall sovereign positions were unchanged due to the Wisconsin pension fund selling its ETF holdings,” Kendrick concluded.
The data reinforce Standard Chartered’s outlook that institutional and sovereign flows—both direct and indirect—will be a key driver of Bitcoin’s ascent to $500,000 in the coming years.
Chart of the Day
Governement holdings of BTC ETFs and MSTR. Source: Standard Chartered
This chart illustrates the total government holdings of Bitcoin ETFs and MicroStrategy’s MSTR stock from Q4 2023 to Q1 2025, measured in ‘000 (thousands) BTC equivalents. Based on the chart, holdings have grown steadily, peaking in Q1 2025 at around 18,000 BTC.
The chart shows that key contributors include Abu Dhabi (ETFs), Norway, Sweden, South Korea, France, New York, Wisconsin (ETFs), Michigan (ETFs), Switzerland, Liechtenstein, California, North Carolina, Saudi Arabia, and Kentucky, with varying contributions across quarters.
Byte-Sized Alpha
Here’s a summary of more US crypto news to follow today:
Cardano has traded within a tight range over the past week as the broader crypto market attempts a recovery. It has faced resistance at $0.75 and found support at $0.69.
Despite the price consolidation, on-chain data reveals a strengthening bullish bias that could pave the way for an upward breakout.
Cardano Stuck in a Range—HODLing Points to a Potential Breakout
Amid ADA’s sideways price movements over the past week, investors have increased their holding times. According to IntoTheBlock, holding time has increased by 77% during the review period.
An asset’s coin holding time is a metric that tracks the average duration of time its tokens are held in wallet addresses before being sold or transferred.
As this time spikes, it signals Cardano holders are opting to hold onto their assets rather than sell. This suggests growing confidence in the asset’s long-term potential. If the trend persists, it could reduce selling pressure and cause ADA to attempt a break above the resistance at $0.75.
Additionally, ADA’s Network Realized Profit/Loss (NPL) remains negative, meaning most Cardano holders would incur losses if they sold now. At press time, this indicator stands at -2.33 million.
This metric measures the total profit or loss realized by investors when they move their coins on-chain, indicating overall market sentiment. When NPL is negative, more investors are at a loss, reducing the incentive to sell.
This would help reduce selling pressure in the ADA market and increase the likelihood of a potential rebound as more investors hold onto their assets instead of realizing losses.
ADA’s Next Move: Break Above $0.75 or Drop to $0.65?
At press time, ADA trades at $0.71. The horizontal trend of its Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the daily chart confirms the coin’s sideways movements.
The RSI indicator measures an asset’s oversold and overbought market conditions. When it is flat, as with ADA, it indicates a balance between buying and selling pressure, meaning there is no clear momentum in either direction. This suggests market consolidation, where the asset trades within a range without strong bullish or bearish dominance.
However, with the steady uptick in ADA accumulation, a break above the resistance at $0.75 could be on the horizon. If successful, ADA could rally toward $0.77.
Cryptocurrency exchange Gemini has announced the listing of Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD on its exchange, enabling trading, deposits, and withdrawals.
This marks a significant step forward in the global adoption of RLUSD. Moreover, the listing triggered a surge in RLUSD’s trading volume, which has increased by 63.7%.
“RLUSD is now available for trading on Gemini. Deposits and withdrawals are enabled. Buy, sell, and store today,” the post read.
The move positions Gemini alongside other major exchanges supporting RLUSD trading. For instance, Bitstamp enabled trading for the stablecoin on January 8. Meanwhile, Kraken followed suit on April 2.
Notably, Gemini’s listing had a positive impact on RLUSD. Following the announcement, the stablecoin’s 24-hour trading volume surged to over $52 million, reflecting a 63.7% increase over the past day, according to data from CoinGecko.
Since its launch late last year, the stablecoin has seen remarkable growth. Its market capitalization has risen 338.6% since the beginning of 2025. As of the latest data, it stands at $317 million.
Although the market cap remains modest compared to industry leaders like Tether (USDT) and USDC (USDC), analysts remain optimistic about RLUSD’s prospects.
“Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin has exploded since launch, now pushing over $860 million in monthly volume. It’s fully backed, built on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum, and already integrated into Ripple Payments. Kraken, Bitstamp, and LMAX Digital have listed it. This is Ripple’s enterprise-grade answer to global stablecoin demand, and it’s built for compliance, scalability, and cross-border dominance,” a user wrote on X.
Meanwhile, the broader stablecoin ecosystem is also positioned for significant growth. According to forecasts from the US Treasury, the market capitalization could reach $2 trillion by 2028.
Furthermore, Citigroup’s projections estimate that the market cap could soar to $3.7 trillion by 2030. This overall expansion of the stablecoin market is expected to benefit RLUSD as well, driving further integration and usage as the demand for stablecoins continues to rise.
