In early 2026, Ethereum (ETH) once again surpassed $3,000, even reaching a high of $3,185. What is behind this market movement? Is it the starting point of a new rally or a trap to lure more buyers? We need to look at it from three perspectives.



**Federal Reserve's monetary easing signals driving asset valuations higher**

At the end of last year, the Federal Reserve hinted that it might cut interest rates three times in 2026. The dollar is expected to weaken, and global funds are starting to seek alternatives, naturally flowing into high-risk, high-reward assets. Historical data shows that after the Fed's zero interest rate policy and QE began in 2020, Bitcoin surged over 400% in Q4. Currently, the market anticipates another 25-50 basis point cut in Q1. If inflation data remains moderate and the dollar continues to depreciate, ETH's $3,000 support level could hold.

But there's a risk: buying the expectation and selling the reality. If rate cuts are less than expected or inflation rebounds, liquidity will tighten, and ETH may experience a correction.

**ETH ecosystem is quietly strengthening**

This rally isn't purely speculative. ETH staking has surpassed 30 million ETH, accounting for a quarter of the total circulating supply, with an annualized yield stable at 4.5%. This creates a steady locked-in yield cycle, locking up a significant portion of the market supply.

Layer2 tracks are also heating up. The maturity of scaling solutions has increased ecosystem activity, providing solid fundamental support for the price.
ETH7,13%
BTC4,34%
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BearMarketBuildervip
· 01-08 07:08
Buy the rumor, sell the news. This phrase hits too close to home; it's always like this that we get cut. Can the $3000 level hold? I doubt it; interest rate cuts won't be that smooth. The pledged amount breaking 30 million is real, but don't be too superstitious about the fundamentals. The previous two bull markets were also described this way.
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GreenCandleCollectorvip
· 01-06 12:21
3185 That wave was really awesome, but playing too many expectation gap games is easy to get burned. No rate cut and it's really over; as soon as the dollar tightens, it immediately reverts to its original state. Pledging 30 million sounds stable, but once liquidity tightens, no one can escape the chain reaction. Is it a trap or a real rise? Actually, just look at the inflation data and you'll know. Really, playing the expectation game has been played out long ago. Can it be different this time? Layer2 heating up is good, but we still need to watch out for the Fed's repeated moves. Bitcoin's 400% increase didn't stop ETH; how long can the current fundamentals support until? This time, whether it can hold 3000 feels like just a matter of a rate cut.
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SighingCashiervip
· 01-05 21:50
Hey, they're at it again. When the Federal Reserve loosens, the coins go up; when they tighten, they have to fall. Staking volume is quite convincing, but how many people truly believe in it?
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AirdropDreamervip
· 01-05 21:50
Buy the expectation, sell the reality—that's a punch to the gut... Let's wait until the inflation data is out.
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PerpetualLongervip
· 01-05 21:49
$3000 cannot be maintained, interest rate cuts won't meet expectations, history will repeat itself, I bet it will pull back
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WealthCoffeevip
· 01-05 21:43
Buy the rumor, sell the fact. This phrase really hits home; I'm always caught at this point. Whether the $3,000 support line holds depends on the Fed's mood. We've seen too many times where they promise rate cuts and then backtrack. Pledging 30 million tokens sounds like a good number, but the real test is still to come. If this wave is just a trap to lure more, then we'll have to eat dirt again.
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SelfCustodyBrovip
· 01-05 21:42
Buy the expectation, sell the fact—that's a real punch to the gut. Have you really made a profit once? Staking yields of 4.5% are okay, but I'm worried about inflation rebounding and wiping out the gains. Whether 3000 yuan can be held onto still depends on the Fed's stance; fundamentals are just a backdrop. Layer2 has emerged, but are there truly usable applications? It still feels like just storytelling. Is this price increase purely speculative? Honestly, who would believe it if there's no real substance?
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LiquidationWatchervip
· 01-05 21:31
Is it a trap to lure more buyers or a new starting point? The key is whether the Federal Reserve really follows through, otherwise this move is just a trick to accumulate shares.
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