Coinbase Buys the Dip as Experts Forecast More Crypto Downside

Standard Chartered Bank cuts year-end price targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum, citing potential for further market declines.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Coinbase, the largest U.S. public crypto exchange, says it will continue "buying the dip" in Bitcoin despite a broader crypto market downturn. Meanwhile, Standard Chartered Bank has lowered its year-end price targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum, forecasting further "price downside" in the coming months as new buyers fail to materialize.

Why it matters

Coinbase's decision to buy more Bitcoin during the market slump signals that some major crypto players remain bullish on the long-term prospects of digital assets, even as retail investors appear spooked by the volatility. However, Standard Chartered's more pessimistic outlook suggests the market may face additional sell-offs before a recovery can take hold.

The details

Coinbase said it spent $1.7 billion buying back its own shares between October and early February, and has $2.3 billion available for future transactions. The exchange believes the "undercurrent of technological change and crypto product adoption" remains intact despite the market downturn. Meanwhile, Standard Chartered Bank has cut its year-end price target for Bitcoin to $50,000, implying over 25% downside from current levels. The bank also lowered its Ethereum forecast, expecting the second-largest cryptocurrency to hit a low of $1,400. Standard Chartered cited a lack of new buyers entering the market as a key factor behind its more bearish outlook.

  • On February 13, 2026, Coinbase announced it would continue "buying the dip" in Bitcoin.
  • Standard Chartered Bank released its updated crypto price forecasts on February 12, 2026.

The players

Coinbase

The largest public cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S.

Standard Chartered Bank

A British multinational banking and financial services company that has issued a more pessimistic outlook on the crypto market.

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What they’re saying

“Crypto is cyclical, and experience tells us it's never as good, or as bad as it seems.”

— Coinbase (Coinbase shareholder letter)

“We think further capitulation is likely, rather than new buyers stepping in soon.”

— Geoff Kendrick, Global Head of Digital Assets Research, Standard Chartered Bank (Standard Chartered Bank research report)

What’s next

Standard Chartered Bank expects a "resumption of ETF inflows" to be a key catalyst for a recovery in crypto prices.

The takeaway

Coinbase's decision to continue buying Bitcoin during the market downturn reflects the long-term optimism of some major crypto players, even as Standard Chartered Bank forecasts further near-term price declines due to a lack of new buyers entering the market.