Arthur Hayes, former CEO of BitMEX, predicted that Ethereum will reach $10,000 by the end of 2026, a more than threefold increase from its current price near $2,700. Hayes made the forecast during an appearance at the KBW 2026 conference in Seoul.
The prediction comes as Ethereum gained nearly 70% during the third quarter of 2026 following two consecutive losing quarters. Despite the recent rally, ETH remains approximately 46% below its all-time high of $4,946.
Hayes' Case for Ethereum
Hayes stated that he favors Ethereum because it allows for substantial investment without the risk of sudden large losses from exploits. He attributed Ethereum's underperformance relative to other networks to narrative shifts, noting that competing blockchains captured attention through alternative narratives while Ethereum became slower during different points of the market cycle.
He acknowledged that Ethereum, despite pioneering decentralized computing, faced challenges as other networks took on some of the activity. However, Hayes argued that Ethereum remains the most secure layer one blockchain based on its largest market capitalization.
Recent Trading Activity and ETF Flows
Hayes' own Ethereum trading history has included recent losses. In August, he sold 2,365 ETH at approximately $1,821 after purchasing 7,213 ETH at an average price of $1,923, resulting in a loss of $241,000. In July, he sold 5,900 ETH for nearly $10 million after buying them days earlier for $10.58 million, incurring a loss exceeding $600,000.
Ethereum ETFs recorded $892 million in net inflows during September, contributing to cumulative inflows of $13.95 billion. At the time of reporting, Ethereum was down 1% over 24 hours and nearly 3% over the preceding seven days, though it remained up more than 11% across two weeks.
