Despite facing considerable price challenges, Ethereum (ETH) remains resilient, with vital developments continuing to unfold within its ecosystem. Among the most anticipated advancements is the upcoming Pectra Upgrade, expected to roll out in mid-March. 

This upgrade is being hailed as the largest in Ethereum’s history, marked by the introduction of numerous Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) that promise to transform the network’s functionality and user experience.

How Ethereum Validators Could Earn Even Higher Rewards

Anthony Sassano, an independent Ethereum educator and angel investor, has been vocal about the potential impact of the Pectra Upgrade, emphasizing that this upgrade will significantly enhance Ethereum’s user transaction flow through account abstraction, primarily driven by EIP-7702. 

Instead of navigating the cumbersome approve-then-swap process, users will be able to execute these actions in a single transaction, substantially simplifying the user experience.

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Another notable proposal, EIP-7251, is set to increase the maximum effective balance that validators can earn rewards on from 32 ETH to an impressive 2048 ETH per validator. 

This change means that validators will no longer need to wait to accumulate 32 ETH before they can start earning staking rewards. The upgrade will also allow for the consolidation of validators managed by a single node operator, thereby alleviating some of the network’s operational burden.

Key EIPs To Optimize Network Performance

EIP-7691 addresses scalability concerns by increasing blob throughput. Blobs have been near capacity for months, which has constrained the scalability of rollups and layer 2 solutions while driving up transaction fees for users. 

With the forthcoming increase from 3/6 to 6/9 blobs, the network is expected to accommodate more transactions, leading to lower fees and improved performance for users.

The Pectra Upgrade also introduces EIP-7623, which raises the cost of using calldata for rollups. This measure encourages rollups to utilize blobs exclusively, optimizing resource allocation on the network. 

In addition, EIP-7002 will introduce a new mechanism that facilitates validator withdrawals at the execution layer. This innovation aims to create fully trustless staking pools, minimizing reliance on intermediaries for processing withdrawals and reward distributions.

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EIP-7685 enhances communication between the execution and consensus layers of Ethereum, allowing smart contracts to interact directly with the staking layer. This development could reduce the need for intermediaries, such as trusted oracles, thereby improving efficiency. 

Furthermore, EIP-2537 will make cryptographic processes on the network more efficient, particularly benefiting zero-knowledge (zk) operations that are crucial for scalability and privacy.

In addition to these prominent proposals, the Pectra Upgrade includes four more EIPs designed to streamline network operations. These encompass improvements such as serving historical block hashes from state and supporting validator deposits on-chain, which will further optimize Ethereum’s infrastructure.

Despite these expected upgrades, the Ethereum price continues to hover around $3,200 and $3,300, showing a notable lack of catalysts that could boost the altcoin’s price.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Cryptocurrencies remain subject to heightened market volatility as the hype surrounding President Trump’s return to office eases. Even so, greed remains the main emotion controlling the market as investors remain optimistic of a crypto-friendly environment under Trump’s administration.

As the bullish sentiment offers support to most cryptos, Ethereum is under pressure from the criticism and leadership issues rocking the Ethereum Foundation. On the other hand, iDEGEN is thriving as it widens its horizon through the video content embedded in its latest V3 upgrade. Beyond its popularity, savvy investors are buying into its potential as a leader in the AI meme coin space.

Ethereum price remains range-bound as its leadership fights negative sentiment

ETH price chart by TradingView

Ethereum price remains under pressure even as the fear of missing out (FOMO) sustains the broader crypto market. Notably, leadership issues within the Ethereum Foundation have alarmed some investors; leading ETH/USD to underperform against other crypto majors like Solana and Bitcoin. 

For instance, following the decision to host Trump’s meme coin, SOL/USD rallied to a fresh all-time high of $294.94 on 19th January before a corrective pullback to $254.96 as at the time of tis press release. It is such lost opportunities and seemingly misplaced priorities that have triggered Ethereum’s criticism from its community. 

Besides, as seen on SoSoValue, BTC spot ETF’s total net inflow for the week ending on 24th January was at $1.76 billion. In comparison, that of ETH spot ETF was $139.32 million.  

Amid this selling pressure, ETH/USD has lacked enough bullish momentum to break the resistance at the crucial zone of $3,500. Indeed, the formation of a bearish death cross about two weeks ago points to the continuation of its range-bound trading in the ensuing sessions. 

More specifically, the range between $3,410 and $3,240 is worth watching. Beyond the range’s upper limit, the bulls will likely face resistance at $3,479. On the flip side, further selling pressure will have the bulls defending the support zone of $3,195. 

iDEGEN’s robust social capital set to sustain its growth beyond the presale

In 2009, Bitcoin was launched as a decentralized digital currency challenging the fiat currency. What started as an asset with almost no monetary value has since surged to $105,013 with analysts forecasting that it will hit $200,000 in 2025. 

iDEGEN bears a comparable potential. In fact, some view it as the Bitcoin of AI meme coins. It has rightfully secured its position as a sentient meme lord revolutionizing the AI crypto space. In just two months, the project that begun on a blank slate has had 1.44 million impressions and over 21,000 holders of the 1,560 million $IDGN tokens already sold. 

Evidently, savvy investors are looking beyond its virality and buying into its potential. To begin with, the one-of-a-kind social experiment has a robust social capital that has already propelled it to heights beyond its creators’ wildest imaginations. Not even the two bans on X could contain this project that has redefined the concept of “by the community, for the community”. 

In fact, it has emerged stronger, garnering immense attention in the US and the UK. With its latest V3 upgrade, video content is set to advance its popularity even further. By entering the Telegram frontier during its V2 upgrade, the project raised an additional $1 million within 24 hours.   

Besides, there is only one month left before its listing on 27th February. As the project captures the attention of more meme coin enthusiasts, anticipation is building up and FOMO intensifying. More savvy investors acknowledge that this may be the only opportunity to own $IDGN tokens at the current price of $0.0146. The early adopters are already sitting on hefty profits with returns of over 13,000%.

Learn more how to buy IDEGEN

Cardano price double top pattern points to a consolidation phase

ADA price chart by TradingView

ADA/USD traded in the green for the second consecutive week even as it dropped by 14% from the one-month high it hit about a week ago. Amid heightened market volatility, the altcoin will likely remain under pressure in the near term.

A look at its daily chart shows the formation of a bearish double top pattern during the first half of the month. Besides, an RSI of 50 points to a period of range-bound trading as the bulls defend the support zone of $0.9608. 

At its current level, the crypto is hovering around the 20-day EMA at $1.0055. A rebound past that level will likely have it face resistance at $1.0471.

Ethereum (ETH) has been trading within a narrow 4-hour range between $3,150 and $3,500, leaving investors frustrated with its lackluster performance in recent weeks. As other assets in the crypto market make strides, Ethereum’s sideways movement has caused many to question whether it can regain its momentum this year. The prolonged consolidation has dampened sentiment, with some investors beginning to lose patience and faith in ETH’s ability to deliver substantial returns.

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However, optimism remains among technical analysts who see Ethereum nearing a critical inflection point. Top crypto analyst Daan recently shared a technical analysis on X, highlighting a massive falling wedge pattern forming on Ethereum’s chart. This setup is widely considered a bullish reversal indicator, with the potential to spark significant upward movement if the price breaks out.

According to Daan, a breakout from this falling wedge would likely pave the way for Ethereum to test the $4,000–$4,100 level, offering a glimmer of hope for bullish investors. Such a move could reinvigorate market confidence and set the stage for Ethereum to reclaim its status as a leading altcoin. For now, all eyes are on ETH as traders await confirmation of the next big move in this highly-watched range.

Ethereum Facing Serious Risks

Ethereum has remained in a downtrend since late December, struggling to regain momentum as bearish sentiment continues to dominate the market. The lackluster price action has left investors and analysts increasingly concerned about the possibility of a deeper correction, as ETH consolidates near critical support levels. While some remain hopeful for a turnaround, the current outlook suggests Ethereum faces significant challenges ahead.

Top crypto analyst Daan recently shared his insights on X, highlighting a massive falling wedge pattern on Ethereum’s chart. This pattern is often regarded as a bullish reversal signal, with the potential to trigger a significant breakout if confirmed. According to Daan, a successful breakout could propel ETH toward the $4,000–$4,100 range, revisiting its cycle highs. However, he also expressed caution, suggesting that if ETH does manage to reach this level, it may encounter strong resistance, potentially leading to another sharp rejection.

Daan emphasized the importance of monitoring the falling wedge trendline, noting that it will play a crucial role in determining Ethereum’s next move. For now, the market remains in a wait-and-see mode, with ETH navigating a precarious balance between bullish breakout potential and the risk of further downside.

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As Ethereum hovers around key levels, traders and investors are closely watching for signs of a definitive move. A breakout above the falling wedge could breathe new life into ETH and reignite optimism, while failure to hold support may lead to an extended period of consolidation or even a deeper correction. The coming days will be critical in shaping Ethereum’s trajectory, with its performance likely to influence broader market sentiment.

ETH Consolidates Above Key Demand

Ethereum (ETH) is trading at $3,322 after enduring several days of choppy price action, reflecting the broader uncertainty in the crypto market. The price has struggled to gain momentum as it remains stuck in a tight range, testing the patience of investors and traders alike. To ignite an uptrend, bulls must hold the critical $3,300 support level, which has served as a key demand zone in recent sessions.

A decisive push above the $3,500 resistance level, which has capped ETH’s upward movement for weeks, is essential to confirm a bullish breakout. Clearing this level would likely reinvigorate market sentiment and attract fresh buying interest, setting the stage for Ethereum to target higher price levels in the coming days.

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However, the downside risks are significant. If ETH fails to hold the $3,300 mark, it could trigger a wave of selling pressure, leading to a deeper correction. Such a move could also cause capitulation among investors who have grown disillusioned with Ethereum’s underperformance compared to Bitcoin and other altcoins.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView