As the final days of 2025 unfold, Ethereum (ETH) sits at a critical turning point. Strong protocol upgrades support its long-term outlook, but the price still struggles below $3,000 as traders respond to heavy ETF outflows and a massive $6 billion options expiry on December 26.
Many analysts view this fear-driven pressure as a final shakeout before market conditions improve. With the Fusaka upgrade now complete, attention has shifted to 2026 and two major updates, Glamsterdam and Hegota, which aim to improve speed, data efficiency, and privacy.
While sentiment remains cautious in the short term, these upgrades could set the stage for a meaningful ETH repricing next year. At the same time, capital is starting to rotate ahead of a potential 2026 supercycle.
As a result, investors are looking beyond established giants and toward high-utility infrastructure plays, positioning Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) as a strong contender for the best crypto to buy right now.
Source – Cilinix Crypto YouTube Channel
Ethereum Price Prediction
Ethereum has stayed steady for the past few days, trading near the lower end of its range as markets return from the holidays.
While Bitcoin briefly pushed toward $89,000, ETH held the $2,900 level, which supports a clear range between $2,900 and $3,200. The key level to watch sits near $3,030, where the middle of the range lines up with the yearly VWAP and acts as short-term resistance.
Today’s large options expiry, including about $3.7 billion in ETH contracts, could increase short-term volatility. In ranges like this, price usually moves back and forth unless a strong catalyst appears.
Even though ETH has lagged Bitcoin slightly, this setup often leads to a catch-up move, especially when ETH holds dollar support during BTC strength. On higher timeframes, ETH still trades below its earlier breakdown near $3,600, so the broader trend remains weak.
However, strong equity markets and thin holiday trading reduce the odds of a sharp drop. The market instead favors consolidation, with a move back toward $3,030 more likely than a major trend shift.
Traders should still watch for a quick dip below $2,900 before any push higher. The rally on December 19 left gaps between $2,880 and $2,840, and price often revisits these zones during options expiry.
If ETH dips into that area and quickly bounces, it could fuel a move back toward $3,030 or even $3,100 as 2026 begins.
Ethereum Sets Two Major 2026 Upgrades to Improve Speed, Fees, and Scalability
The Ethereum core team has locked in plans for two major upgrades in 2026 and will move to a clear, twice-a-year release schedule. This shift gives developers and institutions a more stable roadmap to build on.
The first upgrade, Glamsterdam, will launch in the first half of 2026 with a strong focus on speed and efficiency.
It brings block building directly into Ethereum’s core code through Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS), removing reliance on external relays like MEV-Boost, distributing rewards more fairly, and significantly reducing censorship risk.
Glamsterdam also kickstarts Ethereum’s move toward parallel processing, allowing independent transactions to run at the same time instead of waiting in a single queue.
With a higher projected gas limit, the network could eventually process up to 10,000 transactions per second, greatly reducing the fee spikes that have long slowed adoption.
The second upgrade, Hegota, will roll out in the second half of 2026 and address Ethereum’s growing data size problem.
It replaces the current structure with Verkle Trees, which shrink cryptographic proofs and enable “stateless” nodes that no longer need to store massive amounts of historical data.
This change could cut storage requirements by about 90%, making it easier for everyday users to run nodes and helping Ethereum remain open, decentralized, and scalable as on-chain activity expands.
As Ethereum prepares to scale its base layer in 2026, many investors are already looking for the best cryptos to buy that offer these high-speed capabilities today. This search has driven a surge of interest in Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER).
While Ethereum works toward parallel execution, Bitcoin Hyper already delivers it through a Layer-2 solution built on the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM).
Why Bitcoin Hyper Is Gaining Attention Ahead of Ethereum’s Scaling
Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) uses the Solana Virtual Machine to deliver fast, low-fee transactions while keeping final settlement on Bitcoin. This setup lets developers build apps that feel instant but still rely on Bitcoin’s security.
The system locks BTC on the Bitcoin chain and uses it on the Layer 2 as the main currency across apps. Instead of pulling value away from Bitcoin, Bitcoin Hyper pushes real BTC usage into payments, DeFi, and apps, adding real utility alongside Bitcoin’s store-of-value role.
The $HYPER token powers the network by covering transaction fees on the Layer 2. The project has already raised about $29.7 million in its presale, showing strong demand.
$HYPER now sells for $0.013485, but the next presale stage starts in less than 48 hours at a higher price. Early access is closing fast as funding and development move forward.
The Cryptonews YouTube channel recently reviewed Bitcoin Hyper and said it could be one of the best cryptos to buy right now.
Investors can still buy $HYPER during the presale on the official Bitcoin Hyper website using SOL, ETH, USDT, USDC, BNB, or a credit card. Buyers can also stake $HYPER immediately and earn up to 39% dynamic rewards.
For wallets, the team recommends Best Wallet. Many users rate it as a top crypto wallet, and it already lists $HYPER in the Upcoming Tokens section, making it easy to buy, track, and claim once the token goes live.
Visit Bitcoin Hyper
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