Bull, Base, And Bear Scenarios Unpacked

Ethereum (ETH) has struggled via the primary quarter of the yr and the opening stretch of the second, nevertheless it has managed to carry a vital line close to the $2,000 mark. 

A brand new report from market professional Sam Daodu breaks down three potential paths for ETH for the rest of 2026, with every situation tied to catalysts that might push the community’s main altcoin again above $4,000.

Bullish Pathway For Ethereum

Daodu’s evaluation begins with the value motion. Ethereum, he notes, has been trending downward because the 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. 

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After that, the token has spent a lot of the yr transferring sideways between roughly $2,000 and $2,400, suggesting consolidation reasonably than a transparent rebound. A key driver within the report is the upcoming Glamsterdam improve, which Daodu says may very well be the deciding issue for whether or not ETH revisits the $4,000 degree throughout 2026. 

In his bullish situation, Glamsterdam is assumed to launch on schedule in June. The improve would minimize fuel charges by 78.6% and elevate throughput to as a lot as 10,000 transactions per second. 

On the similar 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 circumstances in place, Daodu suggests ETH might 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 sturdy rapid market response. ETF inflows stay constructive however sluggish, and Bitcoin is assumed to rise above $85,000 with out delivering a decisive breakout that may strongly re-ignite threat urge for food. 

Beneath this situation, Ethereum remains to be projected to clear $3,000 within the third quarter, then take a look at $4,000 within the final stretch of 2026. The year-end final result, nevertheless, is extra restrained: ETH would shut between $3,000 and $4,200. 

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The bear case is constructed round delays and macro stress. 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 surroundings by projecting that Bitcoin might 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 seemingly fail to carry present help and break under $2,085. From there, the report suggests Ethereum might retest the February 2026 low close to $1,743, after which finish the yr at or under right now’s value. 

On this bearish situation, the thought of Ethereum transferring previous $4,000 would seemingly shift right into a 2027 dialogue reasonably than remaining a 2026 goal. For now, the main altcoin trades at $2,134. 

Featured picture created with OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com