Key Takeaways
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved a rule change on May 23, 2024, allowing exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to buy and hold Ethereum, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrencies.
This decision came less than six months after the SEC approved Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs. Those funds have been a significant success for the industry, with net inflows already in the billions of dollars.
The Ethereum ETFs went live on July 23, when the price of Ethereum stood at $3,450. The ETH ETF did over $1 billion in volume , led by ETHE, the Grayscale Ethereum Trust.
Meanwhile, ETH was able to cash in on the crypto surge following the re-election of Donald Trump in November, and it even managed to break past $4,000 on a couple of, admittedly brief, occasions, before dropping back down.
On Jan. 3, 2025, ETH was worth about $3,445. However, while its year-on-year rise of around 45% might sound impressive, it underperformed against a market which went up by about 97% in 2024.
Let’s now examine our price predictions for ETH, made on Jan. 3, 2025. We will also examine the history of ETH prices and explain what ETH is and what it does.
Here are the Ethereum price predictions from CCN on Jan. 3, 2025.
Minimum Ethereum Price Prediction | Average Ethereum Price Prediction | Maximum Ethereum Price Prediction | |
---|---|---|---|
2025 | $2,800 | $4,500 | $7,000 |
2026 | $3,500 | $6,000 | $10,000 |
2030 | $5,000 | $12,000 | $20,000 |
Ethereum’s price in 2025 is expected to benefit from increased adoption of decentralized applications (dApps) and institutional interest in Ethereum-based solutions. However, potential macroeconomic uncertainties and regulatory scrutiny may cap the upside, keeping the price range between $2,800 and $7,000.
By 2026, Ethereum’s growth could accelerate due to continued network upgrades like scalability improvements and Ethereum Layer-2 solutions gaining traction. If these upgrades succeed, combined with growing NFT and DeFi markets, the price may range from $3,500 to $10,000, depending on market sentiment and competition.
In 2030, Ethereum may solidify its position as a leading blockchain platform, driven by mass adoption of Web3 technologies and institutional integration. This long-term growth potential positions ETH in the $5,000 to $20,000 range, with the average reflecting sustained utility, innovation and global demand for decentralized ecosystems.
The four-hour ETH chart highlights an impulsive wave to a high of $4,085, followed by an ABC correction to $3,110. The price is now consolidating within a symmetrical triangle above the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement level of $3,419.
RSI movements indicate market indecision, oscillating between overbought and oversold signals.
The triangle formed after the ABC correction near the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level, suggesting consolidation following a 25% decline. While the structure hints at a potential reversal, bullish momentum remains limited. The RSI reflects neutrality, indicating no clear direction, with a breakout likely to determine the next trend.
The triangle’s resolution is pivotal, with Fibonacci levels serving as key support and resistance. A breakout above $3,519 could confirm bullish momentum, while a drop below $3,210 would raise bearish concerns.
The one-hour ETH chart suggests a lower-degree impulsive wave may be forming after the ABC correction. The triangle breakout aligns with wave two, hinting at potential upward momentum targeting $4,085.70. RSI shows mild bullish divergence, supporting further price gains if resistance levels are surpassed.
The 0.382 Fibonacci level at $3,419.5 is critical for confirming a sustained rally, while a pullback to $3,210.70 remains possible. The bullish target for wave three is $4,085.70, with downside risks at $3,001.80, the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement.
Key levels to watch when it comes to the Ethereum price prediction for the next 24 hours include $4,085.70 as a breakout target and $3,210.70 as critical support. Sustaining above $3,519.60 signals ongoing bullish sentiment, with RSI supporting potential upward movement unless overbought conditions develop.
The Average True Range (ATR) measures market volatility by averaging the largest of three values: The current high minus the current low, the absolute value of the current high minus the previous close, and the absolute value of the current low minus the previous close over a period, typically 14 days.
A rising ATR indicates increasing volatility, while a falling ATR indicates decreasing volatility.
On Jan. 3, 2025, ETH’s ATR was 168, a sign of relatively low volatility.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum indicator traders use to determine whether an asset is overbought or oversold. Movements above 70 and below 30 show over and undervaluation, respectively.
Movements above and below the 50 line also indicate if the trend is bullish or bearish.
On Jan. 3, 2025, Ethereum’s RSI was at 48, suggesting a very slightly bearish, if not neutral, trend.
The Market Cap to Total Value Locked (TVL) ratio measures the valuation of a decentralized finance project by comparing its market capitalization to the total value of assets locked in its smart contracts. This ratio shows the project’s utilization and links the platform’s health to the value of locked assets.
A ratio above 1.0 indicates overvaluation because the market cap exceeds the value of assets used in the platform. A ratio below 1.0 indicates undervaluation because the market cap is lower than the value of locked assets.
On Jan. 3, 2025, the Ethereum TVL ratio was 6.16, indicating overvaluation.
The CCN Strength Index combines an array of advanced market signals to measure the strength of individual cryptocurrencies over the last 30 days.
Every day, it assigns a strength score, ranging from 0 to 100, to the top 500 assets by market capitalization on CoinMarketCap, focusing on both trend direction and the intensity of price movements.
The index dynamically adapts to rapid changes. For example, an asset experiencing a 100% increase within a short timeframe would see a sharp jump in its score to reflect the intensity of the rise.
However, should that asset stabilize at this new price level, the score will gradually taper down and align with the dampened momentum as the movement normalizes.
The same principle applies to rapid declines: A sudden drop will spike the score downward, but as volatility decreases, the score will slowly adjust back up.
On Jan. 3, 2025, Ethereum scored XXX on the CCN Index, suggesting YYY momentum.
We looked at the ETH price history and found the times when the price was at its lowest across certain days, months, quarters and even weeks in the year, indicating the best times to buy Ethereum.
Time to Buy ETH | Days, Weeks, Months and Quarters |
---|---|
Best Day | Wednesday |
Best Week | 33 |
Best Month | January |
Best Quarter | First |
Ethereum is a blockchain that deals with smart contracts, so let’s compare its performance with other similar projects.
CCN’s Senior Research Analyst, Toghrul Aliyev, studied Ethereum in depth and found its advantages and disadvantages.
US Treasuries | Stablecoins | Commodities | |
Ethereum | $1384.49M | $88604.92M | $864.89M |
Stellar | $433.27M | $226.43M | $9.83M |
Solana | $47.96M | $3199.73M | – |
Mantle | $39.72M | – | – |
Polygon | $10.32M | $361.26M | – |
Arbitrum | $5.22M | $1309.82M | – |
Gnosis | $2.23M | – | – |
TRON | – | $61680.08M | – |
BNB Smart Chain | – | $4994.37M | – |
Base | – | $2,972.77 | – |
Avalanche | – | $2185.47M | – |
NEAR | – | $714.01M | – |
Let’s now take a look at some of the key dates in the ETH price history . While past performance should never be taken as an indicator of future results, knowing what the token has done can help give us some very useful context when it comes to either making or interpreting an Ethereum price prediction.
Period | Ethereum Price |
---|---|
Last Week (Dec. 27, 2024) | $3,436 |
Last Month (Dec. 2, 2024) | $3,761 |
Three months ago (Oct. 2, 2024) | $2,498 |
One year ago (Jan. 3, 2024) | $2,385 |
Five years ago (Jan. 3, 2020) | $134.55 |
Launch price (Aug. 7, 2015) | $2.83 |
All-time high (Nov. 16, 2021) | $4,891.70 |
All-time low (Oct. 21, 2015) | $0.4209 |
The market capitalization, or market cap, is the sum of the total number of ETH in circulation multiplied by its price.
On Jan. 3 2025, Ethereum’s market cap was $416 billion, making it the second-largest crypto by that metric.
On Jan. 3 2025 one wallet held more than 45% of ETH’s supply.
As of Jan. 3 2025, the five richest ETH wallets were
Supply and Distribution | Figures |
---|---|
Total Supply | 120,475,547 |
Circulating Supply as of Jan. 3 2025 | 120,475,547 (100% of total current supply) |
Holder Distribution | Top 10 holders owned 54.87% of supply as of Jan. 3 2024 |
In its technical documentation or whitepaper , Ethereum says it is designed to take blockchain to a new level.
It says that it wants to use blockchain technology to do more than just support cryptocurrency.
It explains: “What Ethereum intends to provide is a blockchain with a built-in fully fledged Turing-complete programming language that can be used to create ‘contracts.'”
Ethereum was founded in 2013 by a team of developers led by Vitalik Buterin, a Russian-born and Canadian-based computer genius.
Before Ethereum, blockchains supported cryptocurrencies, but there was the idea that they could be used for things other than money. In 2015, Ethereum came out and allowed people to create decentralized applications (DApps).
Ethereum has gone through a variety of hard forks. These are when a new form of the blockchain is created, making all valid transactions invalid and vice versa. However, it still has its native coin. This coin is technically called Ether, but most people call it Ethereum.
Anyway, this crypto, known by its ticker handle ETH, pays for transactions on the blockchain. People can buy, sell, and trade it on exchanges. Holders can also stake their ETH.
For a long time, the Ethereum blockchain used a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, which meant that people solved increasingly complex equations to add blocks to the blockchain, earning rewards for doing so. However, there were two major problems with that. Firstly, it had a negative impact on the environment. The blockchain was responsible for upwards of 90 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy per year, according to data from the Ethereum Energy Consumption Index . To put that into context , Ethereum used more energy than the entire nation of Kazakhstan.
Secondly, the Ethereum blockchain could get very slow and very crowded. This meant that transactions took longer, which cost people more money, and it also meant that there was a surge of layer 2 scaling solutions. These were platforms linked to the Ethereum blockchain with the aim of taking transactions off the blockchain, carrying them out, and then putting them back on, thus, theoretically, saving time and money.
In 2020, it was decided that Ethereum would move to a new consensus mechanism. A form of Proof-of-Stake (PoS), it now meant that people who held ETH could add blocks to the blockchain-based on how much ETH they held. The final move to PoS, dubbed The Merge , was completed on Sept. 15, 2022. This was expected to contribute to a bullish Ethereum price prediction, but the price has still lagged behind Bitcoin since the merge.
It is hard to say. It has recovered well from the news that the SEC was suing Binance and Coinbase. Not only that, but it is moving forward with new upgrades. However, while the Ethereum ETF launch went without a hitch, ETH’s price did not necessarily reflect the interest in the new funds.
Not only that, but the Merge, which was to take Ethereum to a whole new level, was something of a damp squib, at least in terms of the ETH price. Cryptos have a reputation for being very volatile, so ETH could drop at any time.
On the other hand, the news that more ETH was staked than ever before suggests that, in technical terms, The Merge has been well-received. Meanwhile, it is doing better than it has in a long time.
Before you make a decision, you must do your own research on Ethereum and not just focus on price predictions.
No one can really say for sure. While many forecasts are upbeat, price predictions are often wrong. Remember, too, that prices can and do go down and up.
This is a question you will have to answer yourself. Before you do so, you will have to do your own research, not only on ETH but on other cryptos, such as Bitcoin. It is also vital that you never invest more money than you can afford to lose.
Technical analysis by Valdrin Tahiri.
It might do. Our price predictions suggest Ethereum could, potentially, reach five figures as soon as 2026.
ETH supports the Ethereum blockchain. People can also buy, sell, and trade it on exchanges.
Please note that the contents of this article are not financial or investing advice. The information provided in this article is the author’s opinion only and should not be considered as offering trading or investing recommendations. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. The cryptocurrency market suffers from high volatility and occasional arbitrary movements. Any investor, trader, or regular crypto users should research multiple viewpoints and be familiar with all local regulations before committing to an investment.