Ethereum (ETH/USD) is maintaining stability above $3,130 after successfully escaping a declining price channel. Concurrently, co-founder Vitalik Buterin has introduced a significant roadmap that has the potential to transform the blockchain’s framework over the forthcoming four years. Collectively, the technical indicators and network fundamentals are aligning for what might be Ethereum’s most significant transformation since The Merge.
Ethereum Re-Claiming Its Ground Above $3,100
Ethereum has risen 1.24% in the last 24 hours and is presently trading around $3,100, boasting a market capitalization of approximately $378 billion. After finally liberating itself from the troublesome descending channel, it seems that the period of sideways trading may be over for now – a positive sign for short-term bulls.
Examining the 4-hour chart, it’s evident that ETH is establishing a series of higher lows and higher highs – a promising indication that buyers are regaining their momentum, largely due to the 50-EMA crossing above the 100-EMA.
Additionally, the RSI is currently just above 70, indicating that the uptrend remains robust without becoming overly exuberant. Naturally, the initial resistance it will encounter is at the $3305 level, closely followed by $3432.
ZK-EVM and PeerDAS Transform the Network
Vitalik Buterin has stated that Ethereum has entered a “fundamentally new kind of decentralized network” with the transition of ZK-EVMs and PeerDAS from concept to execution.
Now that ZKEVMs are at alpha stage (production-quality performance, remaining work is safety) and PeerDAS is live on mainnet, it's time to talk more about what this combination means for Ethereum.
These are not minor improvements; they are shifting Ethereum into being a…— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 3, 2026
He characterized this combination as a groundbreaking advancement that “addresses the blockchain trilemma” — achieving decentralization, consensus, and high throughput concurrently.
Notable milestones from Buterin’s announcement include:
- 2026: ZK-EVM nodes begin deployment.
- 2027–2030: Gas limits rise, and distributed block building transforms network throughput.
- In the long run, Ethereum aims to facilitate distributed block construction — ensuring no single entity can dominate transaction flow.
These advancements could reduce costs and speed up adoption, strengthening Ethereum’s long-term value proposition beyond mere speculation.
Ethereum (ETH/USD) Technical Setup Hints at $3,430–$3,600 Range
The price prediction for Ethereum has turned optimistic as candlestick patterns are indicating strong signals. A bullish engulfing candle helped propel it out of the channel, followed by a spinning top, suggesting that the market may take a pause before continuing its ascent.
The measured move from this pattern points to $3430 as the next objective – and if this momentum persists, it could easily advance towards $3600.
Ethereum (ETH/USD) Price Chart – Source: Tradingview
Conversely, support remains around $3070, but if it drops below $3010, that breakout will be negated. For traders looking to engage, a long entry near $3100 with targets set between $3300 and $3430 may be advisable.
Long-Term Outlook: A New Ethereum Era
The alignment of strong fundamentals, network innovation, and technical resilience for Ethereum suggests a promising outlook for early 2026.
If Vitalik’s vision for distributed block building comes to fruition, Ethereum could transform into a faster, fairer, and more scalable blockchain — one capable of supporting the next wave of decentralized finance and AI-driven applications.
With momentum building both on-chain and in the charts, ETH appears ready to test the $3,600–$3,700 range before aiming for $4,000 later this year.
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