Ethereum Price Stagnation: Experts Debate Future Growth Potential

The price of Ethereum has struggled to meet investors’ expectations despite the high hopes and expectations for this blockchain technology, which has housed thousands of crypto projects. While Bitcoin surged over 115% and XRP skyrocketed nearly 400% in the past year, Ethereum lagged behind, spending most of the year trading sideways and currently posting less than a 10% gain compared to its price a year ago.

After rallying from $2,280 in the early months of 2024, the price of Ethereum rallied to new yearly highs of $4,000 but has since continued to underperform. Ethereum generates total value locked (TVL) in the DeFi space but has shown less volume to increase in price.

Ethereum for years has struggled with scalability and high transaction fees, leading to a need to implement the Dencun update as many anticipated this upgrade to fix the problems of scalability Ethereum has faced; despite this upgrade after Ethereum merge, the blockchain technology has remained stagnated from its price with speculation of other layer-2 technology taking over. 

These rumours were not sufficient, as investors’ interest in Ethereum grew following Bitcoin spot ETF (Exchange-traded fund) approval, which was followed by an institutional push for Ethereum ETF approval by top asset holding firms such as Grayscale, Fidelity, and BlackRock. 

Despite institutional adoption, Ethereum’s price uptrend prospect reduced from May to December 2024 as its economy faced more backlash from crypto experts and investors. In contrast, Solana’s price has rallied by over 4,500% from its low of $10 during the FTX collapse. Could the price of Ethereum be awake as it prepares for a rally?

Ethereum ETF Struggle For Success

Following the approval of the Ethereum spot ETF, ETH’s price has performed below par compared with Bitcoin’s spot ETF, which gained interest and adoption from institutional players rallying to new highs.

Ethereum Spot ETF Flows Since Launch

Source: Ethereum Spot ETF  Flow From Aokresearch

However, the reverse has been the case for Ethereum, as investors and institutional players are beginning to lose much patience as a result of its declining price for months. 

The end of 2024 proved pivotal for the crypto market. Many regulatory policies were rolled out, and Trump’s pro-crypto administration was expected to favor the crypto industry, which could lead to adoption. This led to the price of Ethereum gaining momentum, coupled with a rising interest in building on the Ethereum ecosystem.

Source: On-chain Ethereum Performance From Santiment 

On-chain data from Santiment shows that the price of Ethereum volume and active addresses from Q4 of 2024 have started rising. Crypto experts have been speculating a major rally for the Ethereum price in the past few weeks, with more reports suggesting the Ethereum price is currently performing better compared to Bitcoin and other larger caps. 

The end of 2024 recorded an accumulation of over $34 billion inflow of Ethereum ETF, as the total assets under management (AUM) amounted to $11.5 billion, seeing an over 29% increase compared to past months. This highlights increasing momentum and interest in Ethereum. How will the price of Ethereum perform in the coming months, and what are the expectations for 2025?

Crypto Experts Lock Horns On Ethereum Price Predictions 2025

Following improved price performance and growing institutional interest and volume across the Ethereum ecosystem, crypto analysts are beginning to make bold price predictions for 2025, with optimistic expectations of $10,000 per ETH being speculated.

While Solana has invited much interest into its ecosystem in the past few months, Ethereum remains a dominant player and would not be written off in the current bull run. Let’s dive deep and evaluate some of Ethereum’s price speculation for 2025. 

Anbessa’s Ethereum Outlook: Key Resistance at $4,000 Holds the Key to a Major Rally

Top crypto analyst Anbessa recently shared his Ethereum price outlook on X, highlighting key technical patterns and market sentiment shifts that could determine ETH’s next big move.

According to Anbessa, Ethereum’s price action has been struggling to gain momentum, facing rejections at key resistance levels. He notes:

  • Broadening wedge continuation pattern invalidated due to a failed breakout.
  • BTC dominance S/R flip failed, pushing ETH back into a rising wedge.
  • Retrace to the Fibonacci 0.618 level at $2,533, a crucial support zone.

“It’s about patience, watching how the price reacts as it revisits support.”

Despite recent weakness, he emphasizes that Ethereum’s ability to break $4,000 is the critical factor for a major rally. If ETH flips this key level into support, it could trigger a strong breakout towards $7,000 or even $10,000.

However, Anbessa warns against overhyped market sentiment, referencing how excessive bullishness often leads to corrections.

“Just last week, everyone and their grandma were bullposting ETH. Naturally, the market had to humble that sentiment.”

While macro uncertainties and U.S. policies have impacted short-term price action, Anbessa remains focused on technical setups as a guide for Ethereum’s next move. With ETH consolidating below $4,000, traders should watch for a decisive breakout—which could mark the beginning of a major rally. 

Anbessa Ethereum Price Target

CoinCodex Ethereum Price Prediction: A More Conservative Outlook

While some analysts are targeting $7,000 to $10,000 for Ethereum this cycle, CoinCodex’s price prediction takes a more measured approach. Based on our technical indicators and market analysis, we estimate that Ethereum will peak above $6,000 by May 2025 before facing potential resistance.

CoinCodex Ethereum Forecast:

  • May 2025: ETH surpasses $6,000, reaching its projected peak.
  • Q4 2025: Price stabilizes within a strong support range, with potential for further upside depending on macroeconomic conditions.

Our more conservative prediction reflects a gradual, sustainable uptrend rather than an immediate parabolic surge. While Ethereum has strong institutional backing, factors like market cycles, Bitcoin dominance, and regulatory developments could impact the speed of its growth.

With spot Ethereum ETFs gaining traction and institutional demand increasing, ETH remains positioned for a significant rally. However, traders should stay cautious of extreme volatility, especially as Ethereum approaches key resistance levels in the coming months.

Conclusion: Can Ethereum Break Out and Reach New Highs?

Despite its dominance in DeFi, Ethereum has lagged behind Bitcoin and XRP, gaining less than 10% in the past year. However, spot ETF approvals, institutional adoption (BlackRock, Fidelity, Grayscale), and rising on-chain activity suggest ETH may be on the verge of a major rally.

Analysts are divided—some target $10,000, while CoinCodex estimates a more conservative $6,000 peak by May 2025. Key resistance at $4,000 remains critical, and a breakout could fuel a strong uptrend toward $7,000–$10,000.

To navigate market volatility, traders can leverage Margex, a user-friendly trading platform offering:

  • Copy trading to follow experienced traders
  • Advanced charting tools for informed decisions
  • Zero-fee converter for seamless swaps
  • Multi-network support (Solana, Avalanche, Base, Toncoin)

With Ethereum approaching key resistance, having the right tools is crucial. Whether ETH hits $6K, $7K, or $10K, traders should stay informed and prepared for the next big move.

Source: https://coincodex.com/article/62565/ethereum-price-stagnation-experts-debate-future-growth-potential/