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‘Dencun’ Upgrade Officially Deployed On Ethereum Mainnet, ETH Price Holds Steady Below $4,000

Ethereum (ETH) has completed a major software upgrade, Dencun, that promises to make utilizing the network ecosystem more cost-effective. This update specifically targets Layer 2 (L2) networks, such as Arbitrum (ARB), Polygon (MATIC), and Coinbase’s Base, which are interconnected with Ethereum. 

With Dencun, transaction costs on these networks have significantly decreased, with fees dropping from dollars to cents or even fractions of a cent.

Ethereum Dencun Upgrade And Cost Savings

Considered the most significant change in Ethereum’s end-user experience, the Dencun upgrade is expected to foster the development of new applications and services by significantly reducing expenses. 

As NewsBTC reported on Tuesday, the update introduces a new data storage system, departing from the traditional approach of storing Layer 2 data on Ethereum itself. Adopting a new “blobs” repository reduces data storage costs since information is warehoused for only about 18 days instead of indefinitely.

One of the notable benefits of the Dencun upgrade lies in its impact on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and gas costs. For instance, projected gas costs for popular Layer 2 networks, such as Arbitrum, Optimism, and Coinbase’s Base, are set to be significantly reduced. 

Ethereum

The projected savings translate into a reduction of Arbitrum’s swaps from $2.02 to $0.40, Optimism’s swaps from $1.42 to $0.28, and Coinbase’s Base swaps from $0.58 to $0.01, emphasizing the pivotal role of this upgrade. 

As the upgrade was successfully launched on the mainnet, Tim Beiko, Ethereum Foundation core developer, expressed his satisfaction with the work accomplished and claimed:

Dencun is both the most complex fork we’ve shipped since the Merge, and tied for “most total EIPs in a fork” with Byzantium. There were more teams than ever involved in the process, and it somehow all worked out smoothly…! Grateful to work with all of them, onto the next one. 

Blob Transactions And Pricing Changes

Layer 2 network Arbitrum has provided insights into the upgrade process. It will take around one to two hours for blob transactions to commence posting and for the new pricing changes specified by EIP-4844 to come into effect. 

ArbOS Atlas, an upgrade that supports Arbitrum Chains, will introduce further fee reductions for Arbitrum One, set to be activated on March 18th. The updated configurations include a reduction in the Layer 1 (L1) surplus fee from 32 gwei to 0 per compressed byte and a reduction in the L2 base fee from 0.1 gwei to 0.01 gwei.

The Dencun upgrade unlocks cost-saving opportunities for Layer 2 networks and addresses congestion concerns by freeing up more space on the Ethereum network for additional transactions. While the upgrade offers enhanced efficiency, it does come at the cost of no longer retaining a complete record of all data indefinitely.

However, as Layer 2 networks embrace this new update to the Ethereum ecosystem, the stage is set for accelerated adoption, usage, and broader accessibility within the Ethereum community and its underlying protocols.

Dencun Upgrade Fails To Propel ETH Above $4,000 

Despite the successful upgrade, ETH’s price remains unaffected, continuing to consolidate below the $4,000 threshold. The token attempted to surpass this crucial resistance level on Monday and Tuesday but failed to sustain its position above it.

Ethereum

For over 24 hours now, ETH has been trading between $3,930 and $3,970. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that ETH has maintained its upward momentum, with gains exceeding 18% over the past fourteen days and nearly 60% over the past thirty days. 

Additionally, introducing the Dencun upgrade is expected to drive increased demand for ETH, potentially sparking a renewed uptrend that could bridge the gap between current trading prices and its previous all-time high (ATH) of $4,878, achieved in November 2021.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Ethereum Is Not Done: Crypto Analyst Sets New $5,000 Target

Ethereum is currently looking to gain a strong footing above the $4,000 price level as bullish momentum continues to dominate. According to crypto analyst Ali Martinez, this bullish momentum could continue and Ethereum could as well reach $5,000 very soon.

Ali Martinez made this known while citing data from IntoTheBlock, noting that the second biggest cryptocurrency still has room to run to $5,000, albeit a small resistance around $4,522 to $4,646. 

Ethereum Path To $5,000 Looks Increasingly Clear As Resistance Dwindles

Ethereum’s momentum has been building for weeks amidst a broader crypto market increase, which has seen many cryptocurrencies reach new highs. The price of Ethereum has increased by 53% in the past 30 days alone, leaving investors to wonder how high it can keep going and whether it can follow in Bitcoin’s footsteps and attain a new all-time high. 

In a social media post on X, Martinez noted a $5,000 price point is in the books “as resistance thins.” However, a key hurdle remains at $4,522-$4,646, where 600,000 addresses hold 1.63 million ETH. Despite this resistance hurdle, Martinez believes a $5,000 price point is inevitable while noting that the only question left is when this will manifest.

The analyst made this prediction using IntoTheBlock’s “In/Out of the Money Around Price” metric, which tracks the number of holders making money at the current price. Interestingly, the metric indicated that 7.64 million ETH, representing 75.95% of the volume bought between $3,428 and $4,646, are making money at the current price. 

Ethereum is trading at $4,058 at the time of writing on the back of a minor correction after reaching a two-year high of $4,084. If bullish momentum continues and ETH can close the week above $4,175, that could pave the way for a quick move to $4,500 and potentially past its current all-time high of $4,891 to set a new one.

Current price action shows Ethereum has created a support around $3,950 during its move up to $4,000. As long as this price level continues to hold, the overall bullish trend remains intact. But a break below $3,920 could signal a deeper correction to $3,800.

Increased blockchain activity on layer-2 networks has pushed gas fees to new highs. As a result, developers are getting ready to roll in a Dencun upgrade, which is supposed to usher in a new era of cheaper fees. The Dencun upgrade is the first change to Ethereum’s blockchain code in over a year. 

Ethereum price chart from Tradingview.com

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Rocket Pool Stands To Reap Big From Ethereum’s Dencun Upgrade, RPL Flying

The Ethereum liquidity staking protocol Rocket Pool is on the brink of a massive transformation with the incoming Dencun upgrade. As one community advocate points out, this change is primarily due to the enhancements the Houston upgrade will tag.

Eyes On Dencun Upgrade

In a recent post on X, the advocate explained that the Dencun upgrade, scheduled to go live in mid-March 2024, will pave the way for the implementation of the Houston upgrade. The Houston upgrade, in turn, aims to improve Rocket Pool’s scalability and efficiency. 

The Dencun upgrade must first be successfully implemented so that the Houston enhancements can take effect and improve Rocket Pool’s performance. 

This hard fork update requires all Ethereum node operators to upgrade their software. Once the network is updated, developers predict that transaction costs, particularly in layer-2 networks, will decrease significantly. 

EIP-4788 And Why It Is Crucial For Rocket Pool

However, the Dencun upgrade will also execute a crucial enhancement, Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 4788. This proposal is designed to optimize communication between the execution layer, where all smart contracts and transactions occur, and the consensus layer, which includes validators like Rocket Pool. 

A crucial aspect of this proposal is enabling the execution layer to access consensus layer information without needing third-party oracles, thereby enhancing the mainnet’s security and efficiency.

With the activation of the Houston upgrade, Rocket Pool users can anticipate a series of enhancements designed to improve their experience. 

Once Houston goes live, the protocol will automatically lower the minimum ETH staking amount, allowing more users to stake. Additionally, introducing a delegated mini-pool contract will streamline the distribution of fees and rewards. In Rocket Pool, a mini pool is a virtual pool combining all the ETH from stakers. 

However, over time, the activation of EIP-4788 allows Rocket Pool to innovate on ETH staking. Looking at the price chart, this expectation has been well received.

RPL price trending upward on the weekly chart | Source: RPLUSDT on Binance, TradingView

So far, RPL, the native token of the liquidity staking platform, has been ripping higher. On March 6, the token broke above February highs above $33. Traders expect bulls to build on recent gains, pushing the token towards January 2024 highs of around $40. 

When written on March 7, the token was up nearly 110% from its October 2023 lows. Even so, RPL has yet to recover from the bear run of 2022. In April 2023, the token rose to as high as $65.

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Total ETH Burned Crosses 1.5 Million Ahead Of Ethereum Dencun Upgrade

The Ethereum Dencun upgrade is fast approaching and there have already been notable developments leading up to it. Besides the price of ETH rising to new two-year highs, there has been a significant increase in the amount of ETH that has been burned so far.

Over 50,000 ETH Burned

The Ethereum burn, which was brought with the EIP-1559 upgrade, has been ramping up over the past year. The ETH burned from fees on the blockchain quickly crossed the $100 million mark, and has now climbed to a new milestone.

According to Ultrasound Money, a website dedicated to tracking the performance of Ethereum since EIP-1559 was implemented, there have now been over 1.5 million ETH burned. A more accurate figure is 1,502,518.84 ETH at the time of writing, which is more than $5.6 billion at current prices.

The number of burned ETH has also greatly surpassed that of ETH issued, which means that the network has turned deflationary. Compared to the 1,502,518.84 ETH burned, there have been only 1,089,809.20 ETH issued in the same time period. This shows that the supply has not increased despite the new issuance, and ETH already in circulation is being burned as well.

At the time of the upgrade in 2022, the total Ethereum supply was 120,521,245. However, since then, the burn has been slowly eating into this figure and is currently sitting at 120,108,332 ETH. This means that the ETH supply has reduced by 412,706 ETH worth $1.55 billion since 2022.

Ethereum Dencun Upgrade Looms On The Horizon

The Ethereum Dencun upgrade is the latest in a long line of upgrades that have taken place in an effort to make it a better network. This upgrade is expected to come with a number of improvements for the network, including boosting its efficiency and capacity.

It was launched on all testnets last week which is expected to be the final phase before the launch. The launch itself has been scheduled to take place less than a week from now on March 13. Once completed, an increase in block space is expected to follow.

Presently, the ETH price is performing quite nicely leading up to the upgrade. It recently touched $3,900 for the first time since 2022, and while there has been a slight retracement, the altcoin continues to trend high above $3,700 at the time of writing.

Ethereum price chart from Tradingview.com (Dencun upgrade)

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Ethereum Plans For Dencun Upgrade: Is This The End Of Roll-Ups?

Ye Zhang, the co-founder of Scroll, a layer-2 project using zero-knowledge proof, is cautiously optimistic about the upcoming Dencun upgrade. In a post on X, Zhang pointed out Dencun’s potential benefits, particularly the low transaction fees.

However, in the same post, the co-founder highlighted the likely challenges it could present for existing layer-2 scaling solutions using roll-ups.

Dencun Introduces EIP-4844 In Ethereum: What It Means

Ethereum developers plan to implement Dencun in mid-March. Implementing the Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP)-4844 is a big part of this hard fork. With this execution, the proposal will introduce a new “blob-carrying transaction” feature. 

What’s unique about these transactions is that they allow users to cheaply attach blobs, which are large amounts of data, compared to traditional Ethereum transactions. 

Based on observations from the Goerli testnet, Zhang anticipates blobs to be 3-5 times cheaper than traditional call data on Ethereum. Accordingly, the vast difference means innovative developers can come up with blob-inscriptions. These inscriptions will effectively compete with layer-2 solutions like Arbitrum or Optimism leveraging roll-ups. 

This possibility cannot be discounted because, in essence, EIP-4844 aims to reduce layer-2 transactions through blob transactions. Effectively, the proposal means the foundation of Blob inscriptions. 

This solution takes a different approach but could take on roll-up platforms if widely adopted. It will be the case if users transacting large chunks of data realize the advantage of going the blob inscription route.

Even so, roll-ups will carry distinct advantages over blob inscriptions. A notable one is the superior scalability of roll-ups. These solutions can inherently process more transactions every second. Additionally, they are secure since they inherit security from the Ethereum mainnet.

ETH Prices Steady Above $3,800

Still, until after Dencun is implemented, the impact of EIP-4844 will be thoroughly measured. Overall, the Ethereum and layer-2 communities are ecstatic for the upgrade, expecting it to thrust ETH even higher in the current bull run.

Ethereum price trending upward on the daily chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Binance, TradingView

Ethereum is trading above $3,800. It has been up by double digits in the past week, and experts are predicting even more gains in the days ahead.

Related Reading: Analyst Cites Key Indicators That Signal Bitcoin Correction

In the medium term, bulls target $5,000, around the all-time high.

Layer-2 platforms TVL | Source: L2Beat

Amid the boom in ETH and crypto prices, interest in Ethereum layer-2 solutions continues to expand. The latest L2Beat data shows that Arbitrum, Optimism, and other alternatives manage over $36 billion. Arbitrum, enjoying its first-move advantage, manages nearly $16 billion.

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Ethereum Recovers From Dip: ETH Hits $3,900 For The First Time In Two Years

After Bitcoin (BTC) recorded a new all-time high (ATH), Ethereum (ETH) rallied above $3,800 before the price crashed over 10%. The second-largest cryptocurrency has recovered from the dip and reached $3,900 momentarily for the first time in over two years.

Ethereum Recovers And Rallies to $3,900

On Thursday, Bitcoin reached a crucial milestone after breaking above $69,000 and recording a new all-time high (ATH). Before the euphoria was over, the flagship cryptocurrency’s price started to drop, trading as low as $60,000. Since then, BTC’s price has recovered to hover between the $66,000-$67,000 price range.

Fueled by the bullish sentiment, Ethereum rallied above $3,800 before suffering a considerable price drop. The ‘king of altcoins’ lost momentum and shredded about 12% of its price to trade at a price as low as $3,360, according to CoinMarketCap data.

After the dip was done, ETH started to show a recovery alongside Bitcoin. As reported by NewsBTC, a crucial resistance level to clear during this recovery was $3,600. Ethereum surpassed this support level and has maintained its price above the $3,800 range during the last 4 hours.

Ethereum reached the $3,800 support level twice in the last 24 hours. This price range was not seen since January 2022, and the regained bullish momentum propelled the token’s price to a higher milestone.

Ethereum hit $3,900 for the first time since December of 2021. The biggest altcoin briefly soared to $3,901 before falling to the $3,850 price range.

At the time of writing, ETH is trading at $3,834, representing a 1.6% price drop in the last hour and a 2% increase from 24 hours ago. Similarly, the token exhibits green numbers on longer timeframes.

ETH, ETHUSDT, Ethereum

Ethereum’s price performance has surged almost 16% in the past week, 65% in the last month, and an impressive 145% in one year.

ETH’s market capitalization increased 1.55% to $459.7 million on the last day. Its daily trading volume has increased by 58%, with $52.16 billion in market activity in the previous 24 hours.

What’s Next For ETH’s Price?

Many analysts have forecasted that ETH’s rally is far from over. Analyst Altcoin Sherpa predicted that Ethereum could reach $4,000 when it breaks through the $3,000 price barrier.

Ethereum’s rally seems to be fueled not only by Bitcoin’s momentum but also by the general market dynamics. The date for the Dencun upgrade is approaching, and this update is expected to bring several technical improvements to Ethereum’s infrastructure,

Moreover, the possibility of Ether-based spot exchange-traded funds (ETF) being approved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in May has built expectations for Ether and the blockchain’s ecosystem.

Pseudonym trader Ash Crypto suggested to his Telegram subscribers that the price correction experienced after Bitcoin’s new ATH was not a “reason to panic.”

altseason, ETH, Bitcoin, altcoins

Related Reading: Ethereum Price Follows Bitcoin Surge, Why $4K Is Just A Matter of Time

The trader considers that the “late long flush to cut all the leverage” was expected and that a soon-to-come stabilization in BTC’s price will propel the run of ETH and all altcoins. Similarly, he announced the ‘incoming alt season’ after the price of ETH hit $3,900 and suggested that Ethereum’s next support level will be $4,200.

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The Ethereum Foundation Is Selling ETH Again, Is The Top In?

The Ethereum Foundation, a non-profit organization, has initiated an unexpected ETH sell-off to a single address, prompting speculation about a potential market peak. 

Ethereum Foundation Executes Multiple ETH Transfers

On Monday, March 4, Blockchain analytics platform LookOnChain revealed a series of transactions executed by a wallet address related to the Ethereum Foundation. Sharing a screenshot of the transaction details on X (formerly Twitter), LookOnchain disclosed that the Ethereum Foundation had initiated three ETH transactions to a single wallet address identified as “Cumberland Forwarder”. 

Among these transfers, two involved selling off 500 ETH each, while the third recorded a transaction amount of 0 ETH. At the time of writing the price of Ethereum is trading at $3,684.95 according to CoinMarketCap. This price puts the value of the Ethereum Foundation’s 1000 ETH sell-offs at over $3.68 million. 

It’s uncertain whether this unexpected sell-off indicates a shift in the foundation’s perspective on Ethereum’s current valuation, as the foundation is known for selling ETH tokens during tops. Additionally, the timing of the transfers could be an indication of a peak in Ethereum’s price, which often precedes a significant price correction. 

Including the Ethereum Foundation, there have been other major ETH transfers made by investors. Earlier in January, bankrupt cryptocurrency company Celsius Network initiated a massive sell-off worth about $125 million ETH. Following this large-scale transfer, Ethereum’s price experienced a major decline. 

With the price of Ethereum slowly approaching its peak value, if a similar sell-off phase occurs, it could potentially trigger a shift in market sentiment, pushing investors to opt for other major cryptocurrencies as they attempt to diversify their portfolios and avoid risks. 

ETH’s Price Update

Recently, Ethereum has been witnessing significant gains, driving its price closer to its previous all-time high of $4,379 in May 2021. Notably, the cryptocurrency has been aggressively following Bitcoin’s recent bullish uptrend, reinforcing its position as the second-largest cryptocurrency in the space. 

Various analysts have consistently made bullish predictions about the price of Ethereum, with the majority expecting the cryptocurrency to surge above $5,000 soon. Considering the multiple upgrades and developmental activities ongoing within the Ethereum blockchain, a price surge to $4,000 seems probable. 

In the advent that Ethereum reaches its “top in”, the cryptocurrency may undergo a sell-off phase, as investors seek to maximize profits by cashing out their investments. This could lead to a price reversal, with persistent selling pressures diminishing demand and instigating Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD) among traders and investors. 

Ethereum price chart from Tradingview.com

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If Bitcoin Clears $70,000, How Fast Will Ethereum Ease Past $5,000?

As Bitcoin surges towards its all-time high (ATH) of nearly $70,000, analysts are closely watching Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, wondering how quickly it will follow suit and break its record ATHs of approximately $5,000 printed in late 2021.

How Will Ethereum React When Bitcoin Breaks Above $70,000?

One analyst, posting on platform X, highlights the difference in the two coins’ positions compared to the last time Bitcoin broke above 2017 highs of $20,000 in December 2020. Then, Ethereum was trading at $600, a full 57% below its previous ATH of about $1,400. 

As Bitcoin nears its record peak of around $70,000 registered in December 2021, Ethereum is approaching $4,000. However, the difference between then and now is that ETH is about 36% shy of its ATH of around $5,000. 

The question in the analyst’s mind is, considering historical performance, how fast ETH will ease past $5,000. When Bitcoin broke above $20,000 in late December 2020, the analyst notes that it took approximately two months for ETH to sweep past $1,400 and record new highs.

The boom after this breakout lifted ETH to around $5,000, accelerated mainly by retail activities cycling around decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible token (NFT) minting.

Ethereum price trending upward on the daily chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Binance, TradingView

Looking at the Ethereum price action in the daily chart, it is clear that buyers are in control. ETH prices, CoinMarketCap data reveals, are up roughly 7% in the past 24 hours and 15% in the previous week. However, how quickly ETH might repeat the prior 2020-2021 feat remains to be seen. 

Exploring ETH’s Chances

Like in the past, the Ethereum price action benefits from the Bitcoin expansion. The revival in Bitcoin prices has seen capital flow to Ethereum, priming its broader ecosystem comprising DeFi and NFT protocols. DeFiLlama data shows that Ethereum manages over $56 billion worth of assets.

Notably, almost all top DeFi protocols in Ethereum, including Lido, Maker, Uniswap, and EigenLayer, have posted strong inflows in the past day, week, and month.

Ethereum DeFi protocols pulling in capital | Source: DeFiLlama

Aside from market-related factors, Ethereum prices are also steadied by hopes around the eventual approval of a spot Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF). BlackRock is among the leading asset managers to file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

However, the agency postponed a ruling on BlackRock’s application for a spot Ethereum ETF, citing concerns about the network’s new proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. The SEC expressed worries that staking, a core aspect of proof-of-stake, could create opportunities for manipulation. 

The clear reservation regarding proof-of-stake cast a shadow on Ethereum’s near-term outlook despite the current uptick in prices. Still, the community finds relief realizing that the Commission rejected approving a spot Bitcoin ETF for roughly ten years before January 2024.

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Uniswap Founder: Dapps Will Soon Handle Gas Fees On Behalf Of Clients

In comments likely to resonate with crypto fans, Hayden Adams, the founder of Uniswap, a leading decentralized exchange (DEX), predicts that network fees will eventually become a background expense for users, much like server costs are today for top centralized applications running on Amazon Web Service and other platforms.  

Gas Fees Is A Major Pain Point, Mass Migration To Solana, Layer-2 Platforms

Taking to X, Adams envisioned a future where decentralized applications (dapps) seamlessly cover network fees on behalf of users. This approach, the inventor adds, aligns with how server costs are currently handled in the current setup, especially among operators of common applications like X or Facebook.

Server costs are often considered a hidden expense in the overall business model. However, this can cost millions of dollars monthly, depending on the app’s popularity.

Presently, the dream of low-fee transactions remains out of reach for some blockchains, particularly Ethereum, the dominant platform for smart contracts. Ethereum is a legacy blockchain that recently shifted from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensus.

However, while this was a major shift, the network still struggles with scaling challenges. At optimum, Ethereum can only process 15 transactions every second. Comparing this with current demand only means “gas fees” must be high to incentivize the validator to include transactions in the next block.

Ethereum price trending upward on the daily chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Binance, TradingView

This high “gas fee” continues to be a major pain point, leading some projects to migrate to alternative networks with faster transaction speeds and lower fees. Solana, a high-throughput blockchain, and layer-2 scaling solutions like Arbitrum have emerged as popular destinations for these migrating projects. This trend is particularly evident with the recent surge of meme coins like BONK and WIF, which have seen significant growth on Solana.

Unlike Ethereum, Solana and layer-2 platforms relying on Ethereum for security boast higher throughput and negligible gas fees. Accordingly, more meme coin projects are launching on these networks. Here, users can transact without considering the implication of gas fees. In recent weeks, top meme coins, besides PepeCoin (PEPE) or Dogecoin (DOGE), have been launching on Solana.

Ethereum Is Working On Scaling

Ethereum will implement the Dencun Upgrade in mid-March to combat its scaling woes. The update aims to reduce costs for users interacting with layer-2 solutions significantly. However, this upgrade is just one of the many Ethereum developers plan to implement over time.

Eventually, the proof-of-stake network aims to scale processing speeds, allowing it to execute millions of transactions every second through innovations like Sharding. 

Uniswap total value locked | Source: DefiLlama

Uniswap continues to lead in popularity, looking at assets under management. So far, Uniswap developers have deployed its solution across other blockchains and layer-2 options, including Arbitrum and the BNB Chain.

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Justin Sun Moves $100M To Binance, Stacking Ethereum?

Justin Sun, the co-founder of Tron–a smart contracting platform for deploying decentralized applications (dapps), is once again moving and shuffling millions of dollars. According to Lookonchain data on February 29, Sun reportedly transferred 100 million USDT to Binance, days after moving huge sums earlier this week.

Justin Sun moves $100 million USDT to Binance | Source: Lookonchain via X

Justin Sun Holds Millions Of ETH: Will The Co-founder Buy More?

From February 12 to 24, a wallet associated with Sun acquired 168,369 ETH for an average price of $2,894. This purchase, valued at roughly $580.5 million, currently holds an unrealized profit of around $95 million. Profitability could increase considering the sharp demand for crypto, especially top coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum, in recent days.

Ethereum price trending upward on February 29 | Source: ETHUSDT on Binance, TradingView

The Ethereum price chart shows that ETH has been on a clear uptrend, rising from around $2,200 in early February to over $3,450 when writing. At this pace, and considering the institutional interest in potent crypto assets, including ETH, the odds of the second most valuable coin stretching gains will be highly likely.

As Bitcoin inches closer to $70,000, the probability of Ethereum also tracking higher toward its all-time high of around $5,000 will be elevated.

Since ETH already owns a big stash of coins, there is speculation that the co-founder will double down, buying even more coins. The crypto community will continue watching the address until this happens and there is solid on-chain data to support the purchase.

Spot Ethereum ETFs And The Dencun Upgrade Are Key Updates

So far, optimism is high, especially among the broader altcoin community. As Bitcoin races to register new all-time highs pumped by institutional billions, eyes will be on the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). There are multiple applications for a spot Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF). 

The agency has not provided a definitive timeline for approving or rejecting the derivative product. There is regulatory uncertainty around the status of ETH, a significant headwind that might delay or even prevent the timely authorization of this product.

Still, the community is looking forward to the next communication in May. If the spot Ethereum ETF is a go, the coin will likely rally to new all-time highs, following Bitcoin.

However, before then, eyes are on the expected implementation of Dencun. The upgrade addresses challenges facing Ethereum, including scalability. Through Dencun, Ethereum developers hope to lay the base for further throughput enhancements in the coming years.

With higher throughput, transaction fees drop, overly improving user experience. This upgrade might go a long way in cementing Ethereum’s role in crypto, wading off stiff competition from Solana and others, including the BNB Chain.

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Altcoin Market Cap Break From “Wyckoff Accumulation Phase”: Will Ethereum, XRP Fly?

In a post on X, one analyst observes that the altcoin market capitalization has broken from the Wyckoff accumulation phase. With this upswing, the trader expects altcoin prices to move higher.

This refreshing breakout coincides with Bitcoin’s (BTC) stellar performance when writing on February 28. At spot rates, the coin is trading above $60,000, a psychological round number- now supported- and is closely approaching $70,000. 

The Altcoin Breakout From Accumulation

The “Wyckoff accumulation pattern” is a concept developed by technical analysts to pick out potential buying opportunities, in this case, altcoins. Whenever prices are in this phase, it is widely believed that the so-called “smart money” or large institutional players are accumulating at low prices. 

Altcoin market cap breaking out | Source: Analyst on X

Currently, prices consolidate at tight ranges and with low trading volumes. A signal marking the end of this accumulation is a sharp breakout, lifting prices above the defined range. Often, this upswing is with rising trading volume. 

Looking at the chart, the altcoin market cap has broken above the accumulation phase. With previous resistance and support, the altcoin market cap will likely continue floating higher. As such, top altcoins, including Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP, will follow suit, posting fresh 2024 highs. 

Why Spot Bitcoin ETFs Give BTC Edge In This Bull Run

So far, Bitcoin is leading the way, posting over $10,000 in less than a week. However, with the coin trading above $60,000, its demand-side drivers differ entirely from what’s influencing altcoins. The approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has seen billions of dollars flow to the world’s first cryptocurrency.

Therefore, while altcoins have historically outperformed BTC when crypto prices rally, there is an edge with spot Bitcoin ETFs. As such, this bull run will likely differ from 2017 and 2021. This forecast is because institutions will likely favor a regulated asset over altcoins whose status remains undefined. 

Ethereum price trending higher on the daily chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Binance, TradingView

As of late February 2024, the United States SEC has not approved spot ETFs of any altcoin, including that of Ethereum. Additionally, the agency has labeled several top altcoins, including Cardano (ADA), unregistered securities. The agency even filed lawsuits against major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, accusing them of facilitating the trading of what the commission described as “unregistered securities.”

It is not immediately clear whether the United States SEC will change their preview of leading altcoins, especially Ethereum (ETH), which has a market of over $400 billion. Wall Street heavyweights like BlackRock and Fidelity remain interested in launching spot Ethereum ETFs. 

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Can Ethereum Touch $4,000? Crypto Analyst Says ETH Rally Far From Over

Like Bitcoin, Ethereum has also picked up steam, with the second-largest crypto token crossing the $3,000 resistance level for the first time since 2021. Interestingly, this crypto analyst believes the rally is far from over, as he highlighted a key price level that ETH could hit soon enough. 

Ethereum Could Rise To As High As $4,000

Crypto analyst Altcoin Sherpa suggested in an X (formerly Twitter) post that Ethereum could rise to as high as $4,000. His prediction looks feasible when one considers crypto analyst Bitcoin Ape’s recent analysis of Ethereum from a technical analysis perspective. 

In his X post, Bitcoin Ape noted that the ADX (average directional index) indicator is currently “very high,” signalling that ETH’s bullish trend is strong. Indeed, this bullish momentum might be very strong as the crypto token has since crossed the $3,130 price level, which Bitcoin Ape highlighted in his post as ETH’s new resistance level. 

Interestingly, the analyst noted that Ethereum had already faced four resistance levels in February alone and has so far broken all of them, having also crossed the $3,130 mark. Although Bitcoin Ape failed to give his short-term prediction for ETH, he expects the crypto token to hit its all-time high (ATH) of $4,891 when the bull run returns in full force.  

Meanwhile, Altcoin Sherpa isn’t the only one who believes that ETH could rise to $4,000 soon enough. Standard Chartered Bank had also predicted that the crypto token would hit this price level by the time the Spot Ethereum ETF is approved in May. 

Crypto analyst Rager also recently gave a bullish prediction for ETH’s price, although he put his short-term target at $3,500. However, he added that this price level is only the beginning, stating that it isn’t the “peak high by any means.”

Ethereum’s Rally Not Hinged On Bitcoin’s Success

There is reason to believe Ethereum’s current bullish momentum isn’t due to Bitcoin’s price surge, as the Ethereum ecosystem also has narratives that may be driving ETH’s rally. For one, the Ethereum network’s ‘Dencun’ upgrade is set to take place on March 13. This much-anticipated event is significant as it would usher in advancements in the scalability, security, and usability of the Ethereum network.

Meanwhile, talks about a Spot Ethereum ETF likely being approved in May have created a lot of excitement for investors who have chosen to double down on their investments in the second-largest crypto token in anticipation of this happening. 

The increased interest in ETH is expected to spark significant rallies in its price ahead of the May deadline, when the SEC will have to approve or deny VanEck’s Spot Ethereum ETF application.

Ethereum price chart from Tradingview.com (Crypto analyst)

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Ethereum Outperforms Bitcoin As Institutional Investors Clamor For ETH Exposure

Reports have revealed that institutional investors are shifting their focus to Ethereum, displaying a preference compared to the largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. Despite Bitcoin’s recent rally to over $55,000, Ethereum’s unique features and potential developmental capabilities continue to capture institutional players’ interest. 

Institutions Favor Ethereum Over Bitcoin

On February 24, cryptocurrency exchange, Bybit, published a research report on its users’ asset allocation. The research examined investors’ hodling and trading behaviours, covering the period from July 2023 to January 2024. Bybit’s report also provided valuable insights into investors’ asset allocation across cryptocurrencies such as altcoins, stablecoins and meme coins, shedding light on the specific coins users are currently bullish or bearish on.  

According to the research report, Ethereum has unexpectedly emerged as the primary cryptocurrency choice for institutional investors. The report revealed that “institutions are betting big on Ethereum,” allocating more of their funds to ETH compared to BTC. 

Bybit has disclosed that the recent rise in interest in Ethereum began in September 2023, when ETH was still trading around $2,000. Subsequently, Ethereum’s market sentiment became more bullish, experiencing a surge in investor interest to about 40% by January 2024. The crypto exchange has confirmed that, as of January 31, ETH has become the single largest cryptocurrency held by institutions.

Bybit’s report also revealed that institutional investors’ interest in Bitcoin began to wane following the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approval of Spot Bitcoin ETFs on January 10, 2024. At the time, Bitcoin had experienced massive selling pressures, resulting in investors trimming their BTC holdings to favour other cryptocurrencies. 

The excessive allocation of Ethereum is reportedly attributed to investors anticipating a favourable outcome from Ethereum’s upcoming Decun Upgrade, slated to launch in March 2024. 

Notably, Bybit has disclosed that it is still being determined if the recent shift to Ethereum is a short-term manoeuvre or a more prolonged move. However, the approaching Bitcoin halving in April potentially adds a layer of bearish risks, as projections indicate Bitcoin’s significant rise in value to new all-time highs during the halving phase. 

Ethereum price chart from Tradingview.com (Bitcoin)

Retail Investors Think Otherwise

Bybit’s research report also examines the asset allocation trend for retail investors on the cryptocurrency exchange. The report revealed that retail investors are significantly more bullish on Bitcoin than Ethereum, allocating more funds into BTC than ETH despite Ethereum’s recent surge in value. 

Over the past week, Ethereum has experienced a substantial hike in its price, jumping over 7% and outpacing Bitcoin, suggesting a potential for a more extensive upward trajectory. At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading at $3,227, reflecting a 4.05% increase in the last 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap. 

While Ethereum’s massive rally has successfully elevated the sentiment among institutional investors, retail investors remain less swayed, opting to hold onto or incorporate additional Bitcoin into their diversified portfolio of digital assets. 

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Ethereum Exodus: Whales Withdraw $64 Million ETH From Exchanges, Bullish Signal?

According to data from Lookonchain, an on-chain analytics platform, Ethereum (ETH), whales have withdrawn roughly $64.2 million worth of ETH from major exchanges.

This significant movement of funds coincides with a notable uptick in the price of ETH, indicating an increasing interest in the asset.

Ethereum Whales Movement Signals Confidence

According to Lookonchain’s findings, much of the ETH supply has been shifted from exchange wallets to custodial wallets. The on-chain analytics platform reported that an Ethereum address labeled 0x8B94 had withdrawn an amount of 14,632 ETH, valued at approximately $45.5 million, from Binance.

Lookonchain states these funds have been actively staked within six days, indicating a deliberate move towards adopting long-term investment strategies.

The analysis from the platform also points out that another two fresh whale wallets have transferred 6,000 ETH, amounting to $18.7 million, from Kraken to undisclosed wallet addresses over the last two days.

This trend suggests an increase in major investors to secure substantial amounts of Ethereum away from exchange platforms, potentially as a means of positioning for long-term asset appreciation.

Further echoing this is a recent analysis from CryptoQuant’s Quicktake, which underscores a notable trend regarding Ethereum withdrawals from exchanges over the past few weeks. This observation relies on the “Exchange Reserve” metric, which monitors the quantity of ETH tokens held in the wallets of all centralized exchanges.

When the value of this metric increases, it signifies that investors are depositing more assets than withdrawing them from centralized exchanges, indicating a buildup of Ethereum reserves. Conversely, a decline in the metric suggests a net outflow of assets from these platforms.

According to data from CryptoQuant, over 800,000 ETH, equivalent to roughly $2.4 billion, has exited cryptocurrency exchanges since the beginning of the year. Such substantial outflows from these platforms typically indicate a surge in investor confidence in the Ethereum network and its native token.

Ethereum’s Price Momentum And Potential For A Significant Breakout

Meanwhile, Ethereum’s price has displayed bullish momentum, witnessing a 5.5% increase in the past week and reclaiming the crucial $3,000 mark.

Ethereum (ETH) ETH price chart on TradingView

Financial guru Raoul Pal has drawn attention to Ethereum’s potential for a major breakout, pointing to a “dual-chart pattern” observed on the ETH/BTC chart.

Pal highlights a “mega wedge” pattern alongside an inner descending channel, indicating a consolidation phase with bullish potential.

Featured image from Unsplash, Chart from TradingView

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Market Expert Highlights Top Coins To Watch As Ethereum (ETH) Reaches 22-Month High

Market expert Miles Deutscher has identified several key trends and developments in the cryptocurrency market, particularly focusing on the Ethereum (ETH) rally and its implications for Layer-2 (L2) decentralized finance (DeFi) altcoins. 

Deutscher highlights that ETH’s recent surge to a 22-month high of $3,130 has sparked increased interest in L2/DeFi altcoins, presenting potential opportunities for investors.

Ethereum Price Strength Continues

In a recent post on social media X (formerly Twitter), Deutscher notes that Ethereum continues to show strength, especially compared to Bitcoin (BTC), which remains in a key consolidation phase at $51,100. Holding above the significant psychological level of $3,000, ETH’s bullish momentum is further fueled by reports of Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, purchasing over $500 million worth of ETH in recent days. 

Deutscher remains optimistic about ETH and ETH-betas leading up to the proposed exchange-traded fund (ETF) dates in May and the upcoming Dencun upgrade in March. There are also potential indications of ETH/BTC breaking out, with investor Andrew Kang actively increasing his ETH long position.

First, on his altcoins watchlist, Deutscher highlights the fee switch proposal underway at Uniswap (UNI). This US-based decentralized crypto exchange has seen notable price gains of over 37% in the past week, which could have significant implications for the entire industry from a regulatory standpoint.

Notably, the analyst believes that this development could potentially trigger a broader rotation into other DeFi 1.0 tokens such as Curve DAO (CRV), Compound (COMP), Aave (AAVE), and Frax Share (FXS), THORchain (RUNE), GMX, as investors seek to capitalize on the DeFi landscape.

Moving on to another altcoin that could see a price spike, Deutscher suggests that this week’s anticipated launch of Blast L2, founded by the same individual behind BLUR, presents an opportunity for BLUR stakers to receive tokens from the airdrop and potentially be further integrated into the ecosystem. 

Deutscher suggests that BLUR provides an alternative way to gain exposure to the Blast project, which has garnered bullish sentiment from numerous funds and thought leaders.

Following the positive news surrounding Uniswap, DYDX has been on the rise, with the token seeing a 7% increase in price over the last seven days. However, Deutscher cautions that a significant unlock is expected this week, which may tempt some recipients to sell, potentially causing a temporary dip in price.

Next in the spotlight, speculation surrounding the upcoming launch of Aevo (AEVO), which will allow developers to launch their protocols on its rollup and introduce an incentive program, is growing and generating interest in Ribbon Finance (RBN).

Given these developments, Deutscher notes that the prospect of pre-markets and IOU markets gaining “massive” attention and the recent record $4 million in fees positions RBN within an exciting narrative.

Deutscher’s Insights Point To Promising Trends

Following Deutscher’s mention of COTI last week, the coin has seen over 100% growth, breaking through key resistance levels. With the launch of their new privacy-enhancing L2 coinciding with the upcoming Ethereum Dencun upgrade, Deutscher notes that the protocol is in a favorable position for further price growth in the market.

On the other end of the spectrum, Deutscher acknowledges the rapid pace of market rotation and suggests keeping a close eye on Artificial Intelligence (AI) coins, which, as reported by NewsBTC, have seen significant gains with the hype surrounding AI projects such as Worldcoin (WLD).

Finally, with signs of life emerging over the weekend, according to the analyst, Rollbit Coin’s (RLB) burn mechanics position it as a leader in the “Rev Share/Real Yield” narrative. With the market potentially entering an “explosive bull run,” Deutscher believes the casino/gambling narrative could gain traction, benefiting projects like Rollbit, which has also seen gains of over 7% in the past 24 hours.

Ethereum

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Crypto Analyst Sounds Warning Alarm: Last Chance To Buy Bitcoin And Ethereum Before Bull Run

Crypto analyst Rager recently provided valuable insights to Bitcoin and Ethereum investors ahead of the imminent bull run. As part of his statements, he revealed the best time to go all in on the two largest crypto tokens by market cap, Bitcoin and Ethereum.

“Last Great Opportunity For This Cycle”

Rager opined in an X (formerly Twitter) post that the “last great opportunity for this cycle” will come around the Bitcoin Halving. In line with this, he also stated that he was still holding spot in positions and waiting for the “BTC and ETH pullback”, which he explicitly predicts will happen between now and May. 

Going by Rager’s opinion, this “nice dip” presents the perfect time for crypto investors to position themselves ahead of this cycle’s bull run. His statement also suggests that Bitcoin and Ethereum (and possibly other crypto tokens) will run massively after that pullback occurs. Interestingly, analysts have continued to identify this event as what will kickstart the next bull run.

Bitcoin price chart from Tradingview.com

Bitcoin Run To $60,000 Might Be Close

In a subsequent X post, Rager gave an idea of what price level Bitcoin could drop to when the crash occurred as he hinted that he wouldn’t invest until Bitcoin dropped to $48,000. He also provided an analysis of Bitcoin’s current price action, noting that it has been “composed of a few days of strong price action followed by a lot of chop and pullbacks.”

He added that Bitcoin and the broader crypto market “has a lot of upside opportunity.” However, he warned that there could likely be a short-term pullback, which he predicts could be the last great opportunity to invest. Rager also claimed that Bitcoin would break the $60,000 resistance for the first time since 2021 once this pullback is done. 

ETH To $3,500 Is The Next Target

In another X post, Rager mentioned that the $3,500 price level is the target for the current bullish momentum in the market. He also believes this will likely happen “sooner rather than later” with the help of the Ethereum Spot ETF rumours. Industry experts have expressed confidence that these funds will be approved.  

$3,500 is just Rager’s first target for Ethereum in this cycle’s bull run, noting that it isn’t the “peak high by any means.” Meanwhile, the analyst stated that the peak of this bull run is still far off. Using the crypto fundraising data as an indicator to determine when the market top is almost in, he noted that fundraising was still at lower levels compared to peak bull market activity.

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Ethereum Price Tops $3,100: Mega Wedge Breakout Imminent

After a prolonged period of weakness for a year and a half against the Bitcoin price, the Ethereum price is currently showing strength again and could be set for an explosive move, according to several renowned analysts.

Ethereum/BTC Chart Is A ‘Stunner’

In an analysis of the ETH/BTC trading pair, renowned financial expert Raoul Pal has brought to light a compelling dual-chart pattern. The formation of both a “mega wedge” and an inner descending channel is setting the stage for what might be a significant breakout for Ethereum when priced in Bitcoin. Pal stated:

The ETH/BTC chart is an absolute stunner…and ready for the next big move, the break of the mega wedge…let’s see how it pans out….

ETH/BTC price analysis by @RaoulGMI on X

The “mega wedge” pattern, discernible on the weekly ETH/BTC chart, showcases a contraction of price movement between two converging trend lines over an extended time frame. The upper trend line, acting as a dynamic resistance, has repeatedly pushed back ascending price attempts. Conversely, the lower trend line has provided a sturdy support base.

Within the boundaries of this one and a half year wedge, a more immediate descending channel has taken shape. This channel, characterized by a downward trajectory with price action making lower highs and lower lows, indicates a bearish sentiment within the overarching consolidation phase of the mega wedge.

However, Ethereum’s current positioning, slightly above the upper boundary of this descending channel, implies that a breakout could be on the cards (if confirmed). As of press time, Ethereum was trading at an equivalent value of over $3,059, which translates to roughly 0.06037 BTC.

The intersection of these two patterns, particularly if the breakout from the descending channel is confirmed, could be a harbinger of increased volatility and a potential trend reversal for ETH against BTC. A potential retest of the channel could catalyze a rally towards the mega wedge’s upper trend line, challenging the longer-term resistance. A successful breakout from the mega wedge could then ensue, signaling a massive bullish phase for Ethereum against Bitcoin.

More Bullish Voices On ETH

Remarkably, Raoul Pal is not the only seasoned analyst observing this major trend. Christopher Inks, founder of Texas West Capital stated via X:

The monthly ETH/ BTC chart looks crazy bullish off the lows. Bullish SFP, volume expansion at the lows, rally into descending resistance. An impulsive break out above that descending resistance will have me looking for price to target the top of the range and, likely, new ATHs.

Ethereum/Bitcoin price analysis

Renowned analyst Will Clemente has also weighed in on the unfolding situation with his expert commentary, echoing the significance of the patterns observed by Raoul Pal. Clemente accentuates the breaking of a multi-year downtrend on the weekly chart, a technical milestone that carries substantial weight for market sentiment.

Clemente’s analysis further deepens the plot by highlighting several key factors currently at play in the Ethereum ecosystem. First, Ethereum’s price action has revisited and swept the lows of May 2022, a move often associated with shaking out weak hands before a potential trend reversal.

Second, the recent talk of “Ethereum obituaries” on social media timelines suggests a sentiment extreme, often seen at major turning points. Moreover, there is currently a new narrative for ETH shaping, the emergence of “restaking”.

Probably the strongest catalyst for the ETH price in the coming months could be the potential approval of an spot Ethereum ETF in the United States. Similar to the Bitcoin ETF euphoria, Clemente speculates that the approval has not yet been priced in.

Lastly, Uniswap’s governance proposal to switch on fees could redirect significant value to token holders, potentially adding further bullish momentum to ETH’s valuation. Clemente caps his commentary with a forecast that resonates with the sentiments of many observers: “ETH & ETH shitcoin rotation is probably upon us.”

At press time, ETH traded at $3,059.

Ethereum price

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800,000 ETH Flow Out Of Centralized Exchanges In 2024 – Bullish Sign For Ethereum Price?

The price of Ethereum has been a joy to watch since the start of 2024, climbing by more than 30% in less than two months. The latest on-chain revelation suggests that ETH investors are approaching the market with more confidence, as the cryptocurrency’s price rally seems to be far from over.

$2.4 Billion Worth Of ETH Leaves Exchanges: CryptoQuant

A pseudonymous analyst on CryptoQuant’s Quicktake revealed that significant amounts of the Ethereum token have been making their way out of exchanges in the last few weeks. This observation is based on the “Exchange Reserve” metric, which tracks the amount of ETH tokens in the wallets of all centralized exchanges.

When the value of this metric increases, it implies that investors are making more deposits than withdrawals of an asset (Ether, in this case) into centralized exchanges. Meanwhile, the metric’s decline means that more assets are flowing out than entering these platforms.

According to data from CryptoQuant, more than 800,000 ETH (equivalent to approximately $2.4 billion) has flowed out of cryptocurrency exchanges since the turn of the year. Typically, the movement of significant amounts of cryptocurrencies out of these platforms suggests a rise in investor confidence.

Ethereum

As the CryptoQuant Quicktake author noted, this reduction in Ether’s exchange reserve balance could be a bullish catalyst for the altcoin’s price. A sustained decline in the ETH’s supply on exchanges could trigger a supply crunch, potentially driving the Ethereum price higher.

As of this writing, the Ethereum price stands at around $2,920, reflecting a 1.8% decline in the past day. Nevertheless, the “king of altcoins” is still in the green on the weekly timeframe, with an almost 5% price jump over the last week.

Ethereum Price Rise Due To Anticipation Of Dencun Upgrade: Grayscale

In a recent report, Grayscale has offered commentary on Ethereum’s positive price performance so far in 2024. The asset management firm tied ETH’s bullish trajectory to the upcoming Dencun upgrade of the Ethereum network.

William Ogden Moore, Grayscale’s research analyst, wrote in the report:

We believe that recent price performance reflects the market’s anticipation of this upgrade, as Ethereum (up 26% YTD) has outperformed the broader Smart Contract Platforms Sector (up 3% YTD) since January 1st, 2024.

The Dencun upgrade, which is less than a month away, will aim to enhance Ethereum in terms of scalability and cost-effectiveness. It is also expected to help the network compete with “faster chains in the Smart Contract Platforms Crypto Sector, such as Solana.”

Another narrative that may be propelling the price of ETH is the approval of Ethereum spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States. Interestingly, Grayscale is amongst the asset managers looking to debut an Ether spot ETF.

Ethereum

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Is Ethereum Overvalued, Similar ‘To Meme Coins Like Shiba Inu’?

A crypto investor, Fred Krueger, thinks Ethereum is overvalued at spot rates. Referring to X, Krueger added that  Ethereum supporters are “detached from reality” after ETH, the native currency, recently broke above $3,000.

The investor pointed to the general declining on-chain activity, fierce competition from alternatives like Solana and Avalanche, for instance, and regulatory uncertainty that makes holding the coin risky.

Ethereum Is Slow And Usage Is Shrinking

Krueger argues that Ethereum’s on-chain transactions could be faster and cheaper. In the current landscape marked with scalable and low-fee alternatives, either built on Ethereum or existing as independent chains, the chain’s challenges no longer justify ETH trading at spot rates of about $3,000. 

Beyond scaling and throughput challenges, the investor also refers to the sharp decline in daily active users (DAUs) on the mainnet. Since 2021, Ethereum and altcoin prices have peaked, and active DAUs have fallen from around 120,000 to approximately 66,000 in February 2024. 

Ethereum DAU falling | Source: Fred Krueger on X

Though network supporters said there had been developments like layer-2 platforms like Arbitrum pinning their security on Ethereum, Krueger notes that even the most active and largest protocols by total value locked (TVL) have seen user losses.

To illustrate, Uniswap V3, the third version of one of Ethereum’s largest decentralized exchanges, Uniswap, now records around 16,000 daily active users, significantly lower than previous years.

Alternatives Like Solana Offer Better: Is ETH Expensive?

The investor argues that the decline in DAUs, pointing to active usage, sharply contrasts with Ethereum’s rising market capitalization and spot rates. In Krueger’s opinion, this emerging state of affairs is why Ethereum has become a bloated “meme coin like Shiba Inu,” looking at its high market cap.

It in the investor’s assessment that faster and cheaper alternatives like Solana, Avalanche, and Near Protocol offer better value for specific use cases like decentralized finance (DeFi) and games. 

Krueger also took issue with the lack of regulatory clarity on Ethereum. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently approved the first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETF) batch. Primarily, this is because SEC officials recognize Bitcoin as a commodity.

Gary Gensler and the SEC have failed to classify ETH in the same category as BTC. Accordingly, though the broader crypto community is optimistic about the eventual authorization of a spot Ethereum ETF, Krueger thinks it is unlikely.

Ethereum price trending upward on the daily chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Binance, TradingView

Still, time will only tell how Ethereum and its market valuation will evolve in the coming months. Supporters are optimistic, despite criticism, that rising adoption and ETH’s deflationary nature will lift prices towards 2021 highs of $5,000.

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Ethereum Price Tops $3,000, But ‘Is Completely Detached From Reality’: Expert

The Ethereum (ETH) price has crossed the $3,000 threshold for the first time since April 2022 yesterday. However, amidst the celebratory fireworks in the crypto community, Fred Krueger, a renowned Bitcoin ETF expert, has voiced a starkly contrasting opinion. Krueger, a Wall Street veteran and prop trader, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his skepticism about the current valuation of ETH, stating, “ETH is completely detached from reality.”

Why Ethereum Is “Completely Detached From Reality”

Krueger’s comments come at a time when the crypto market is witnessing a resurgence in investor interest, with Ethereum at the forefront due to its recent price rally. Despite this, Krueger points out a concerning trend in the usage of the Ethereum blockchain.

“ETH is at $3,000. Surely this must mean that a ton of people are using ETH, right? Nope. Eth, the chain has dropped from 120K active daily users in 2021, to just 66K over the last year. The top app, Uniswap V3 is only getting 16K DAUs. I remember, back in 2020 this number was 60K or more,” he noted, emphasizing a decline in the platform’s direct utility and engagement.

The Bitcoin ETF expert further criticized the valuation of Ethereum, drawing parallels to meme coins like Shiba Inu due to its inflated market cap, which stands at $361 billion despite the fall in active users. “It really has become a type of meme coin, similar to Shiba Inu,” Krueger remarked, pointing to the stark contrast between Ethereum’s high market cap and its diminishing direct use.

Krueger argues that Ethereum is not only overvalued but also faces stiff competition from other blockchains that outperform it in terms of transaction costs and speed. “It’s not particularly cheap ($1.50 per transaction), or fast. If you are just interested in reward points for games, or casino-style DeFi apps — Solana, Avalanche, Near etc.. all crush it.”

Krueger also expressed skepticism about the future regulatory landscape for Ethereum, particularly concerning the potential for an ETH exchange-traded fund (ETF). “Finally, I don’t think Gensler is going to allow an ETH ETF… I just don’t think Gary wants to make his second ETF a massive pre-mine. Sets a very bad precedent,” he stated, reflecting on the challenges Ethereum faces in gaining mainstream financial acceptance.

The Crypto Community Reacts

In response to Krueger’s critical take, the crypto community on X provided mixed reactions. One user challenged Krueger’s analysis by pointing to Ethereum’s rollup-centric roadmap and the misleading nature of using mainnet daily active users (DAU) as a metric for the platform’s health. Krueger, however, remained unconvinced, stating, “Even L2s like Arbitrum have been in decline for the last 12 months. This is not the case that all is well in ETH-land.”

Another user attempted to highlight the cyclical nature of DeFi and the broader crypto market, suggesting that the current downturn is a temporary phase of risk aversion. Yet, Krueger dismissed these arguments, reiterating his lack of interest in speculative DeFi activities and emphasizing his belief in Bitcoin as the true revolutionary cryptocurrency. “I am not interested in degen ape games. Have fun,” he stated.

Krueger’s critique extends beyond Ethereum to the broader landscape of cryptocurrencies, questioning the long-term viability and value proposition of altcoins, including Layer 1 solutions other than Bitcoin. He argues that these platforms are unlikely to become significant value generators in the long term, likening their control mechanisms to fiat currencies but with central figures like Vitalik Buterin in place of traditional central bankers.

Krueger’s overall stance on Ethereum and the broader crypto market is clear. “My position on ETH. At the end of the day, Bitcoin is the revolution… Every other cryptocurrency is fighting for some other much smaller use case,” he explained, underscoring his belief in Bitcoin’s unique value proposition as a decentralized, finite currency system.

At press time, the ETH price surpassed the 0.5 Fibonacci retracement level (at $2,922), trading at $2,935. A weekly close above this threshold could confirm another leg up for the ETH price.

Ethereum price