Ethereum Price Prediction 2026 – Expert Forecasts
Ethereum's 2026 price prediction is one of the most debated topics in crypto markets. With ETH currently around $2,240, analysts have wildly diverging views on where the year-end price will land. Forecasts from major institutions range from $3,175 (Citi) to $7,500 (Standard Chartered).
Standard Chartered, which has been among the most bullish institutions on ETH, declared "2026 will be the year of Ethereum," citing institutional buying at nearly double Bitcoin's accumulation pace, the passage of the GENIUS Act, and corporate treasuries accumulating roughly 3.8% of circulating ETH since June 2025.
Key 2026 Ethereum Price Targets
- Standard Chartered year-end target: $7,500
- Citi cautious target: $3,175
- CoinDCX technical target range: $2,800–$3,500
- Arthur Hayes and Tom Lee: five-figure prices (extended timeline)
- CoinReporter average projection by end-2026: $5,732
Bullish vs. Bearish Factors for ETH in 2026
Bullish catalysts: Staking-enabled ETFs offering yield-bearing crypto exposure, layer 2 ecosystem growth driving adoption, corporate treasury accumulation, and potential ETH-BTC ratio recovery. Ethereum's strong on-chain fundamentals, with over 120 million ETH in circulation and growing DeFi activity, support a long-term bullish thesis.
Bearish risks: Layer 2 networks diverting fee revenue from the mainnet (Standard Chartered estimated Base alone removed $50 billion from ETH's market cap), macroeconomic headwinds, and the possibility that staking ETF products cannibalize existing ETH ETF demand rather than attracting new capital.
