• Ethereum’s lead developer Preston Van Loon believes that the Merge will drive widespread adoption of the altcoin. 
  • Ethereum aims to be the global settlement layer and with the transition to proof-of-stake developers expect ETH to become the preferred crypto.
  • Analysts believe Ethereum is on track to hit its $2,000 target as the altcoin recovers from its slump. 

Ethereum heads into the Merge within the next few days, therefore holders are awaiting a massive impact on the altcoin’s blockchain. Developer Preston Van Loon confirmed that the change in Ethereum’s consensus mechanism could drive ETH price higher. 

Also read: DeFi collapse alert: Here’s how to safeguard your funds from failure of Ethereum Merge

Ethereum’s impending Merge is a game changer for ETH

Ethereum’s Merge is a key event that ETH holders and the crypto community is looking forward to. The transition from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake is set to change the way new Ether is created and reduce power consumption by 99.95%. 

In the days leading up to the Merge, there is a decline in capital inflow in Ethereum. Irrespective of the drop in Total Value Locked and the reduced capital inflow from investors and institutions, analysts remain bullish on Ethereum. 

Preston Van Loon, an Ethereum protocol developer at Prysmatic Labs told CoinDesk TV that ETH’s objective is to be a “global settlement layer” and this will become likely with the Merge. The transition to PoS could drive Ethereum adoption higher. In the long term, network security and cost of transaction could reduce, thereby making Ethereum the preferred blockchain for developers. 

Ethereum’s Bellatrix upgrade, the last hard fork of the network before the Merge was implemented on Tuesday. Van Loon explained,

What it means is the proof-of-work side of Ethereum is now ready to merge with the proof-of-stake side. We see this [environmental impact of PoW] as a barrier for global adoption.

Van Loon argues that the beauty of proof-of-stake is having something at stake. Therefore saying I'm behaving in an honest way, rather than relying on this work mechanism. Since Ethereum’s energy consumption will be reduced, institutions would adopt the ETH blockchain. 

Analysts set a $2,000 target for Ethereum

Analysts revealed a bullish outlook on Ethereum and set a $2,000 target for ETH. The altcoin started its recovery from the recent slump and hit the $1,765 level. Tony M, a leading crypto analyst believes ETH is on track for its recovery to $2,000. 

ETH-USDT price chart

ETH-USDT price chart


Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

Chainlink holds near three-year high fueled by EU tokenized securities partnership

Chainlink holds near three-year high fueled by EU tokenized securities partnership

Chainlink (LINK) price trades slightly down around $25.50 on Tuesday following a 33% rally that was spurred by its partnership with Frankfurt-based fintech 21X for Europe’s first tokenized securities trading and settlement system. 

More Chainlink News
Trending altcoins: Hedera, VeChain and Algorand extend rally by posting double-digit gains

Trending altcoins: Hedera, VeChain and Algorand extend rally by posting double-digit gains

Three trending altcoins – Hedera (HBAR), VeChain (VET), and Algorand (ALGO) – post double-digit gains on Tuesday after surging last week, benefiting from the recent consolidation of Bitcoin prices. 

More Cryptocurrencies News
Ondo Finance Price Forecast: ONDO reaches a new all-time high of $1.79

Ondo Finance Price Forecast: ONDO reaches a new all-time high of $1.79

Ondo Finance surges more than 11% on Tuesday and reaches a new all-time high of $1.79. ONDO’s daily trading volume reached a new yearly high of $994 million, suggesting a surge in traders’ interest and liquidity.

More Ondo News
XRP en route to new all-time high; key metrics to watch out for

XRP en route to new all-time high; key metrics to watch out for

Ripple whales have accumulated over $1.8 billion worth of XRP tokens amid a 200% rise in weekly active addresses. WisdomTree filed an S-1 registration with the SEC for an XRP ETF. XRP investors across several cohorts realized over $2.7 billion in profits in past three days following heavy Ripple token unlock.

More Ripple News
Bitcoin: A healthy correction

Bitcoin: A healthy correction

Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a 7% correction earlier in the week, dropping to $90,791 on Tuesday before recovering to $97,000 by Friday. On-chain data suggests a modest rebound in institutional demand, with holders buying the dip. A recent report indicates BTC remains undervalued, projecting a potential rally toward $146K. 

Read full analysis
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

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.

Read More

BTC

ETH

XRP