- ETH 2.0 has over 21,000 validators with more than 700,000 tokens staked.
- The growing adoption may result in a massive bullish run after a short-term correction.
The Ethereum 2.0 staking is gaining traction. The dedicated smart-contract deposit has already received the number of coins required for the developers to start rolling out Beacon Chain, the critical component of the new version of Ethereum protocol, also known as Serenity. However, investors continue pouring money into the project even though their coins will be frozen for an indefinite time.
As FXStreet detailed in a recent publication, to become a validator and start earning passive income at around 7% per anum, once the network is launched, network participants have to stake at least 32 ETH (over $18,000 at the current exchange rate). These coins will be unavailable and unretrievable for at least two years until the transition progresses to Phase 2.
This condition discouraged many people at the initial stages, as the staking process was painfully slow and gathered pace only during the last week before the deadline.
ETH 2.0 has become the sixth-largest PoS blockchain
The deposit smart contract currently contains over 700,000 ETH, exceeding the required amount by 33%. Moreover, now Ethereum 2.0 is one of the largest proof-of-stake blockchains even before launch.
ETH 2.0 deposit smart contract address
Moreover, the number of unique depositors to the smart contract surpassed 2,000, while the number of validators exceeded 21,000, meaning that the network has already beaten some well-established PoS chains, including Tezos, Cosmos and Polkadot.
The genesis block is now set :)
— Justin Ðrake (@drakefjustin) November 24, 2020
genesis time: 2020-12-01 12:00:23 GMT
validator count: 21,063
The migration to ETH 2.0 means that the network will be supported by validators staking their coins instead of miners providing their computing power to ensure the network operations. As the industry insider Cooper Turley noted in the latest Defiant newsletter, the rapid increase of deposit is a strong positive signal for the community;
With more than 50% of the staked balance deposited in the last 48 hours, this milestone marks a major vote of confidence in Ethereum's most grueling upgrade to date taking place throughout at least four phases in what is expected to last at least two years according to developer estimates.
In the long-run, the transition to ETH 2.0 has the potential to become a strong bullish catalyst for the second-largest coin.
Ethereum price forecast
Ethereum price is hovering around $600 at the time of writing. The price has been gaining ground steadily since the beginning of November, while the bullish momentum gathered pace on November 20, after the price broke above the critical $500.
As Ethereum 2.0 rollout goes according to the plan so far, the price may easily reach $800, the highest level since April 2018. According to In/Out of the Money Around Price data, the minor resistance comes at $620 as over 400,000 addresses purchased 1.8 million ETH around that price. Once it is out of the way, the upside is likely to gain traction with the next focus on the psychological barrier of $700, followed by $800 and eventually $1,000.
ETH In/Out of the Money Around Price data
On the other hand, the TD Sequential indicator presented a sell signal in the form of a green nine candlestick on ETH daily chart. The bearish formation estimates that a spike in selling pressure for Ethereum may see it fall for one to four daily candlesticks. But if the bearish pressure is strong enough, the smart-contract giant might start a new downside countdown.
ETH/USD daily chart
The first critical support comes at $480 as this barrier served as resistance during the September recovery attempt. Also, this area slowed down the recent rally at the beginning of November. A sustainable move below this line will increase the selling pressure and open up the way to $330, the lower line of the previous consolidation channel, reinforced by the daily EMA200.
Note: All information on this page is subject to change. The use of this website constitutes acceptance of our user agreement. Please read our privacy policy and legal disclaimer. Opinions expressed at FXstreet.com are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of FXstreet.com or its management. Risk Disclosure: Trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to invest in foreign exchange you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with foreign exchange trading, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any doubts.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks
Top 3 Price Prediction Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple: BTC declines as resistance emerges near all-time high
Bitcoin and Ethereum are approaching their key support levels, and a sustained close below these marks could lead to further declines.
TON set to launch synthetic Bitcoin to boost its DeFi solutions
TON revealed its plan on Thursday to launch a synthetic Bitcoin token on its blockchain, allowing users to trade, stake, and earn yield using BTC. Following the announcement, TON is down over 3%.
Maker Price Forecast: MKR could stage 40% rally
MakerDAO is up 2% on Thursday and could be set for a 40% rise in the coming weeks if it successfully maintains an extended move above the descending trendline of a falling wedge. On-chain data also supports the bullish outlook after a four-month-long decline.
USDT market cap crosses $120 billion as stablecoins continue their uptrend
The stablecoin market cap continued its uptrend in October, characterized by USDT reaching a $120 billion market cap, according to a CCData report on Thursday. This indicates that investors are preparing liquidity to fuel more demand.
Bitcoin: New all-time high at $78,900 looks feasible
Bitcoin price declines over 2% this week, but the bounce from a key technical level on the weekly chart signals chances of hitting a new all-time high in the short term. US spot Bitcoin ETFs posted $596 million in inflows until Thursday despite the increased profit-taking activity.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.