Is Ethereum headed for 5 figures? Experts debate the direction of ETH's price in 2026

Can Ethereum break the $10.000 barrier in 2026? We analyze projections from Tom Lee, Standard Chartered, and the explosion of tokenized assets (RWAs) that are redefining the value of the leading smart contract network.

The beginning of 2026 marked a decisive turning point in global financial markets. Attention, which for years oscillated between retail speculation and volatility, has now firmly focused on the technological infrastructure underpinning the new digital economy. In this context, Ethereum (ETH) It is positioned not only as the second largest cryptocurrency by capitalization, but also as the protagonist of a high-level financial debate: Is the asset ready to break the psychological and technical barrier of five figures?

Several Wall Street experts and banking analysis firms have updated their investment theses, agreeing that the accumulation phase has ended. Current projections suggest that ETH is poised to surpass its previous all-time highs, driven not by the hyping from previous cycles, but by an unprecedented integration with traditional financeIn other words, the narrative has changed, and Ethereum is no longer just the money of the internet, but has become the preferred settlement layer for institutional banks.

The price of ETH is heading towards $20.000, according to major analysts.

The discussion about the price of Ethereum has ceased to be the exclusive domain of niche forums and has entered the boardrooms of the largest asset managers. Tom LeeLee, a prominent figure at Fundstrat Global Advisors and current president of Bitmine, has presented one of the most bullish and well-founded scenarios for the immediate future of this cryptocurrency. In a recent media appearance, Lee estimated that the price of ETH could consolidate within a range of between 7.000 and 9.000 dollars during the early stages of this year.

However, Lee's analysis goes beyond the short term. He envisions exponential growth potential that could lead the asset to reach [a certain level]. $20.000 over a longer time horizonThe basis of this optimism lies in a fundamental transformation in the perception of value: the Ethereum network is ceasing to be seen as a risky vehicle and is becoming critical infrastructure for Wall Street. According to this thesis, the massive migration of tokenized assets to the ETH blockchain is the catalyst the market has been waiting for since the approval of the first crypto exchange-traded funds, or ETFs.

This macroeconomic view is shared by Arthur HayesHayes, co-founder of BitMEX and one of the most respected voices in the industry, has reaffirmed his goal of seeing the asset reach $10.000. He argues that the current market behavior is a natural process of price discovery after almost four years of sideways movement and consolidation below the peak of $4.878 per ETH, recorded in 2021. 

Both Lee and Hayes agree on a crucial point: the active testing and infrastructure deployed by giants like BlackRock are unequivocal signs that the network is ready to support massive institutional volumes, eliminating doubts about its scalability and security.

The network that drives the new digital economy

Financial optimism surrounding Ethereum in 2026 is based not only on promises, but also on tangible technical evolution and real-world usage metrics. The network's technological maturity has been crucial for managing innovative sectors such as Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and, more importantly, Real-World Assets (RWA). A milestone that exemplifies this institutional confidence is JPMorgan's recent move to launch its first tokenized market fund, called MONY, on this public network, validating the security of the protocol against private alternatives.

Furthermore, the data supports this explosive growth of the ecosystem. Recent projections indicate that the stablecoin market could expand to $500.000 billion by December 2026, a considerable jump from the current $316.000 billion. In this scenario, it's important to remember that the network founded by Vitalik Buterin It processes more than half of all that global activity with stablecoins. 

Likewise, the tokenized real asset sector is expected to grow to $300.000 billion, evolving from individual bond issuances to complex, fully digitized funds. Currently, the Ethereum network already processes over $12.000 billion in this asset class, far surpassing direct competitors such as Solana and Arbitrum, and consolidating its status as the industry standard for the digitization of the real economy.

Institutional appetite could drive up the price of ETH

From international banking, Standard Chartered also has adjusted its valuation models, raising its target for Ethereum this year to $7.500 and projecting a figure of $25.000 per ETH by 2028. As the basis for its projections, the bank highlights a key phenomenon: the shortage of supply.

The analysis highlights an aggressive accumulation of ETH by corporate treasuries and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Since last June, these players have acquired approximately 3,8% of the total circulating supply of ETH. Treasury firms, in particular, such as Bitmine, purchased nearly 2,3 million units in a period of just over two months, an acquisition rate that doubles the pace observed at comparable stages in Bitcoin's history. 

According to Standard Chartered analysts, this constant flow of institutional capital, combined with network burn-down mechanisms, drastically reduces the supply available on the open market, creating buying pressure that, by the law of supply and demand, could lead to a vertical appreciation of the price of ETH. 

In short, market experts believe Ethereum is headed toward an appreciation cycle supported by increasing institutional participation and a progressively decreasing supply. If the projections of Lee, Hayes, and Standard Chartered hold true, the interplay between accumulation and scarcity could redefine its role within the crypto ecosystem, marking a decisive step toward its consolidation as a global benchmark asset.