Ethereum (ETH) continues to demonstrate resilience in the volatile cryptocurrency market, holding above the critical $1,700 support level despite a minor 1.2% dip over the past 24 hours. As of late April 2025, ETH is trading around $1,780, maintaining stability amid broader market fluctuations. While short-term price action remains cautious, a confluence of technical signals, groundbreaking scalability proposals, and foundational upgrades suggests that Ethereum may be positioning itself for a significant upward move.
This analysis dives into the key catalysts that could propel Ethereum’s next price surge—ranging from protocol-level innovations to on-chain technical patterns—while also addressing concerns raised by industry critics.
Ethereum’s Scalability Evolution: EIP-9698 and Beyond
One of the most promising developments for Ethereum’s future is EIP-9698, a proposal introduced by Dankrad Feist of the Ethereum Foundation. This initiative aims to increase Ethereum’s gas limit by 100x over a four-year period, starting with a gradual, deterministic growth schedule beginning around June 1.
The current gas limit stands at approximately 36 million per block. Under EIP-9698, this would rise tenfold within two years, then double again—eventually reaching 3.6 billion. Such an expansion could dramatically enhance Ethereum’s transaction throughput, potentially pushing it beyond 2,000 transactions per second (TPS).
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This level of scalability would allow Ethereum to better compete with high-speed blockchains like Solana—currently processing between 800 and 1,050 non-vote TPS—while maintaining its leadership in decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contract execution.
The implications go beyond speed. Higher gas limits mean lower congestion during peak usage, reduced transaction fees, and improved user experience across DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 platforms—key factors in driving mass adoption.
Vitalik Buterin’s Layer-Zero Breakthrough
In response to growing concerns about Ethereum’s long-term viability, co-founder Vitalik Buterin has shared a major update on Layer-Zero scalability, signaling a potential paradigm shift in how Ethereum processes transactions.
Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, recently warned that Ethereum could “collapse within 15 years” if Layer-2 networks continue to siphon off activity and value from the mainnet. Buterin’s counterproposal addresses this head-on by reimagining Ethereum’s core execution layer.
The new architecture proposes replacing the traditional Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with a zkVM based on RISC-V standards. Early research suggests this upgrade could reduce computational cycles by up to 832× compared to current EVM interpreters.
Additional benefits include:
- A 95.7% reduction in proving cycles, making zero-knowledge proofs faster and more efficient
- Up to 30× higher throughput when leveraging GPU acceleration
- Significant proof compression, reducing data load and verification costs
This shift toward a more efficient, hardware-optimized execution environment could anchor Ethereum’s relevance for the next decade—ensuring that even as Layer-2s scale off-chain, the base layer remains robust, secure, and capable of handling complex validation tasks.
Technical Analysis: Bullish Patterns Emerge
From a price perspective, Ethereum is exhibiting signs of consolidation with bullish undertones. After gaining over 12% last week, ETH has formed a falling wedge pattern on the daily chart—a classic reversal signal often preceding strong upward moves.
Key technical levels to monitor:
- Immediate support: $1,700
- Critical support: $1,449
- Resistance zone: $1,861 (recent high)
- Psychological target: $2,000
- Bullish target: $2,875 (projected from wedge breakout)
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) currently sits at 53 and trending downward toward neutral (50), indicating that bullish momentum is cooling but not reversing. This suggests accumulation may be underway before the next leg up.
The Parabolic SAR indicator further supports a bullish outlook, having flipped below price candles—signaling that buyers are regaining control after months of selling pressure.
However, traders should remain cautious. A break below $1,569 could invalidate the bullish setup, potentially opening the door to a deeper correction toward $1,385.
Core Keywords Driving Ethereum’s Narrative
The future trajectory of Ethereum hinges on several interconnected themes. The following core keywords capture the essence of its current momentum:
- Ethereum price prediction
- ETH scalability
- EIP-9698
- Vitalik Buterin
- Layer-Zero
- zkVM
- falling wedge pattern
- Ethereum transaction speed
These terms reflect both investor sentiment and technological progress, forming the backbone of search queries related to Ethereum’s mid-term outlook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Ethereum likely to reach $2,875?
A: Based on the current falling wedge pattern and bullish technical indicators, $2,875 is a realistic target if Ethereum breaks above $1,861 with strong volume. However, macroeconomic conditions and Bitcoin’s performance will also play crucial roles.
Q: What is EIP-9698 and how does it affect ETH?
A: EIP-9698 is a proposal to increase Ethereum’s gas limit 100x over four years. If adopted, it would significantly boost transaction capacity, reduce fees, and improve network efficiency—positively impacting ETH’s utility and demand.
Q: Can zkVM replace the EVM completely?
A: While full replacement is still theoretical, zkVM based on RISC-V offers superior efficiency and proof performance. It may eventually become the standard for Ethereum’s execution layer, especially as zero-knowledge technology matures.
Q: Why is Layer-Zero important for Ethereum?
A: Layer-Zero refers to foundational upgrades beneath Layer-1. Improving core infrastructure ensures that even as Layer-2s scale off-chain activity, Ethereum remains secure, efficient, and capable of handling finality and validation.
Q: Could Ethereum really collapse in 15 years?
A: While critics like Hoskinson highlight risks from Layer-2 decentralization, Ethereum’s active development community and continuous innovation suggest strong adaptability. Collapse is unlikely if upgrades like EIP-9698 and zkVM are successfully implemented.
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Final Outlook: Catalysts Align for Growth
Despite short-term volatility and skepticism from rival blockchain founders, Ethereum remains at the forefront of innovation in the smart contract space. With concrete proposals like EIP-9698 enhancing throughput and Vitalik Buterin’s Layer-Zero vision redefining efficiency, the network is evolving to meet future demands.
Technically, the formation of a falling wedge and stabilizing price action between $1,725 and $1,850 suggest that bulls are firmly in control—at least for now. A decisive break above $1,861 could ignite a rally toward $2,000 and beyond, with $2,875 within reach in a favorable market environment.
Investors should watch for:
- Finalization of EIP-9698 discussions
- Progress on zkVM implementation
- On-chain activity spikes during network upgrades
- Broader crypto market trends tied to regulatory clarity
As Ethereum continues to adapt and scale, it reinforces its position not just as a store of value or platform for dApps—but as the foundational layer for the next generation of decentralized systems.
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