Ethereum Gains Institutional Support, Although ETH Price Outlook Remains Contradictory
Ethereum (ETH) is attracting attention from both institutional investors and everyday users, as on-chain data shows increasing participation in all staking, wealth accumulation, and wallet creation.
Related Reading: New Ethereum Addresses Record Levels: What’s Driving Growth?
Similarly, price forecasts remain mixed. While central banks and market analysts see room for improvement, others warn that capital conditions, ETF flows, and technical resistance levels could limit near-term gains.
With ETH trading near the $3,300–$3,400 range in mid-January, the base of the network appears to be stronger than previous positions. However, the question remains whether these changes will turn into a sustainable price cycle.
ETH's price trends upwards on the daily chart. Source: ETHUSD on Tradingview
Ethereum Staking and Treasury Demand Signal Long-Term Commitments
Ethereum staking has reached a record value of $118 billion, with approximately 35.8 million ETH locked in the Beacon Chain. This represents about 30% of the circulating supply, suggesting a growing preference among owners to harvest rather than sell.
Network participation is also increasing. Active validators now exceed 976,000, while about 2.3 million ETH are lined up for future deposits. Lido Finance remains the largest provider, holding nearly a quarter of all ETH at stake.
The corporate treasury function added to this trend. BitMine Immersion, one of Ethereum’s largest financial companies, recently invested an additional 154,304 ETH, which is worth approximately $514 million at current rates. The company’s total ETH holding now exceeds 4 million tokens.
Institutional Forecasts Point to High Goals
Several financial institutions have revised their outlook for Ethereum in 2026. Standard Chartered recently raised its year-end price for ETH to $7,500, from the previous estimate of $4,000. The bank cited growing demand from corporate wealth, ETH investment products, and expectations for network currency growth.
According to analysts, treasury firms and ETF-related flows have accounted for about 4% of Ethereum’s circulating supply since mid-2025. Treasury buyers alone are reported to have received nearly 2.3 million ETH in just over two months, a pace the bank compares favorably to previous phases of Bitcoin hoarding.
Standard Chartered also suggested that Ethereum could overtake Bitcoin if real-world usage, stablecoin activity, and token asset adoption continue to expand on its network. Project costs for long-term scenarios could reach $25,000 in 2028 and $40,000 in 2030, although these projections are based on optimistic assumptions.
User Growth Increases, But ETH Price Faces Technical Limits
Ethereum’s user base is increasing. In early January, the network recorded approximately 393,600 new wallet addresses in one day, with a weekly average of 327,000 new addresses.
Analysts link this growth to the development of the Fusaka protocol, which has reduced data costs in Layer-2 networks, and record stablecoin transfer volumes of approximately 8 billion by the end of 2025.
Related Reading: Boycott Urged Over Draft Law: Expert Raises Concerns Over Bank Exploitation
Despite the strong fundamentals, price action remains cautious. ETH recently tested the resistance level of $3,400, with important barriers near $3,550 and $3,650 based on long-term moving levels. Support is forming around $3,000, and failure to hold that level could expose ETH to further downside.
Cover image from ChatGPT, ETHUSD chart from Tradingview
Planning process because bitcoinist focuses on delivering well-researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We maintain strict sourcing standards, and each page is diligently reviewed by our team of senior technical experts and experienced editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content to our readers.
