Ray Dalio Backs Bitcoin as Hedge, Standard Chartered Hikes BTC Forecast to $126K

Billionaire investor Ray Dalio is urging investors to allocate between 10% and 15% of their portfolios to gold while holding "a bit of Bitcoin" as protection against a looming US debt crisis. Speaking Friday, the Bridgewater Associates founder warned that mounting political and geopolitical tensions could push the United States into a debt crisis within roughly three years unless policymakers change course. Dalio has historically been skeptical of Bitcoin, raising concerns about privacy and quantum computing, but his latest remarks signal a continued softening toward BTC as a legitimate portfolio hedge. Back in 2022, he described a 1% to 2% allocation as "reasonable," and his current endorsement marks a notable evolution in that stance.

Standard Chartered has raised the prospect that its $100,000 year-end Bitcoin price target may be too conservative, with global head of digital asset research Geoff Kendrick suggesting BTC could approach its all-time high of $126,000 before December. In a Friday note, Kendrick pointed to short liquidations and recovering inflows into spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds as catalysts behind the latest rally. Low open interest across derivatives markets, he added, leaves room for additional capital to return as prices climb. The bank had previously cut its year-end targets in February, trimming Bitcoin to $100,000 from $150,000 and Ether to $4,000 from $7,500.

Meanwhile, MANTRA's native token plunged 18.5% from its 24-hour high to a record low shortly before the MANTRA Chain blockchain halted block production. The team announced a precautionary halt while investigating an unexplained incident, though specific details about the cause have not yet been disclosed. The sharp sell-off highlights the fragility of mid-cap altcoins amid broader market volatility. Analysts will be watching closely for a post-mortem from the MANTRA team as investors await clarity on whether user funds remain secure.