ETH’s surprising rally in the shadow of Bitcoin
Bitcoin has dominated the cryptocurrency headlines in recent weeks, reaching a new all-time high of over $70,000 in Early March 2024. However, another major cryptocurrency, Ethereum (Ether), has been quietly experiencing impressive growth of its own.
Ether, the world’s second-biggest digital currency by market capitalization (over $460 billion), has seen significant gains in 2024. Similar to other cryptocurrencies, Ether’s momentum began in mid-October 2023, when the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) finally approved the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) after years of deliberation.
Fueled by ETF Hopes and Technological Advancements
The new ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to cryptocurrency price movements without the need to buy and sell them on exchanges directly. The increased interest sparked by ETFs drove Bitcoin to a record high in March 2024.
However, Ether’s performance has been even more remarkable. Year-to-date (as of March 2024), Ether has risen by nearly 72%, compared to Bitcoin’s 61% increase. Analysts attribute this surge to the anticipation of a potential Ethereum ETF approval in the United States. Regulatory bodies have until May 23, 2024, to decide on initial ETF proposals from VanEck and Ark 21Shares.
This potential development is leading some investors to shift their focus from Bitcoin to Ethereum, viewing it as a promising investment opportunity.
Beyond the allure of ETFs, several other factors are fueling Ethereum’s growth. A planned upgrade, codenamed “Dencun” and scheduled for March 13, 2024, is another reason for investor optimism. This significant change is expected to improve transaction processing speed by up to 100 times, according to the Ethereum Foundation.
It will also reduce transaction fees, which have been a growing pain point for users, and pave the way for an expanding ecosystem with diverse applications. For example, Ethereum is currently the preferred platform for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), digital certificates of authenticity that gained significant popularity in 2021.
Why Ethereum? Advantages Beyond Bitcoin
While not direct competitors, Bitcoin and Ethereum offer distinct advantages to investors. Analysts believe that Bitcoin operates as a “store of value” similar to gold owing to its restricted supply and non-programmability. Ethereum, on the other hand, serves as a platform for investment in the broader blockchain and smart contract ecosystem.
Smart contracts are self-executing digital agreements that can automate various functionalities, enabling the development of decentralized applications (dApps) across different industries, such as finance, supply chain management, and even online gaming.
Ethereum has recently undergone a change in its consensus mechanism, transitioning from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake. This new mechanism is designed to be more energy-efficient and sustainable compared to the previous one.
This has increased investor confidence, with the percentage of Ether used for staking growing from 10% to nearly 21%. Additionally, the upcoming “Dencun” upgrade is expected to further enhance Ethereum’s scalability and innovation.
The Future of Ethereum: Outperforming Bitcoin?
Michael van de Poppe, a well-known analyst, has a positive outlook on Ethereum’s future. He believes that Ethereum has the capability to outperform Bitcoin and might even exceed its market capitalization. The upcoming ETF decision, technological advancements like the Dencun upgrade, and the growing utility of the Ethereum platform for various applications all contribute to this optimistic outlook.
While Bitcoin continues to be a dominant force, Ethereum’s unique capabilities, strong growth trajectory, and commitment to sustainability position it as a serious contender in the ever-evolving cryptocurrency market. The coming months will be crucial as regulatory decisions on ETFs and the successful implementation of the Dencun upgrade will likely shape the future landscape for both Bitcoin and Ethereum.
