Ethereum (ETH) has struggled by way of the primary quarter of the yr and the opening stretch of the second, however it has managed to carry an important line close to the $2,000 mark.
A brand new report from market knowledgeable Sam Daodu breaks down three potential paths for ETH for the rest of 2026, with every state of affairs tied to catalysts that would push the community’s main altcoin again above $4,000.
Bullish Pathway For Ethereum
Daodu’s evaluation begins with the worth motion. Ethereum, he notes, has been trending downward for the reason that begin of the yr, with solely a short-lived restoration. ETH started 2026 round $3,100, later sank to a low of $1,743 in February—its weakest level since early 2023.
Associated Studying
After that, the token has spent a lot of the yr shifting sideways between roughly $2,000 and $2,400, suggesting consolidation moderately than a transparent rebound. A key driver within the report is the upcoming Glamsterdam improve, which Daodu says could possibly be the deciding issue for whether or not ETH revisits the $4,000 degree throughout 2026.
In his bullish state of affairs, Glamsterdam is assumed to launch on schedule in June. The improve would minimize gasoline charges by 78.6% and elevate throughput to as a lot as 10,000 transactions per second.
On the identical time, the information across the improve is anticipated to speed up Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows, and the report additionally assumes Bitcoin (BTC) breaks above $90,000. With these situations in place, Daodu suggests ETH may transfer above $4,000 within the third quarter, and end the yr between $5,000-$7,500.
ETH May Retest The February 2026 Low
Within the base case, the story is extra subdued. Daodu expects Glamsterdam to ship, however with no robust quick market response. ETF inflows stay optimistic however gradual, and Bitcoin is assumed to rise above $85,000 with out delivering a decisive breakout that might strongly re-ignite danger urge for food.
Underneath this state of affairs, Ethereum continues to be projected to clear $3,000 within the third quarter, then check $4,000 within the final stretch of 2026. The year-end end result, nevertheless, is extra restrained: ETH would shut between $3,000 and $4,200.
Associated Studying
The bear case is constructed round delays and macro strain. Daodu assumes Glamsterdam is both pushed again till the final quarter of the yr or launches with deployment bugs.
He additionally provides a extra risk-off setting by projecting that Bitcoin may fall under $70,000, pushed by inflation knowledge or renewed hawkishness from the Federal Reserve (Fed), together with ETF outflows returning.
If these assumptions play out, ETH would possible fail to carry present help and break under $2,085. From there, the report suggests Ethereum may retest the February 2026 low close to $1,743, after which finish the yr at or under as we speak’s worth.
On this bearish state of affairs, the thought of Ethereum shifting previous $4,000 would possible shift right into a 2027 dialogue moderately than remaining a 2026 goal. For now, the main altcoin trades at $2,134.
Featured picture created with OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
