Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has been making headlines for both its recent price volatility and the ambitious plans of its development team. Despite its price slipping below $3,000 in late January 2026, long-term traders and crypto enthusiasts remain bullish, with some predicting a path to $10,000 for the digital asset. Meanwhile, new projects like Digitap ($TAP) are emerging, promising to shake up the crypto landscape and potentially offer even greater returns for early investors.

On January 31, 2026, Ethereum’s price hovered around $2,690 to $2,710, marking a six-month low and standing significantly below its October 2025 peak of nearly $4,831, according to FXStreet. This drop has rattled some market participants, but seasoned traders see it as a technical reset rather than a sign of weakness. “Ethereum’s inability to hold the $3,000 level isn’t a concern for long-term traders and investors,” reported AMBCrypto, highlighting the coin’s strong fundamentals and bullish technical indicators.

Several factors underpin the optimism surrounding Ethereum. Technical analysts point to Wyckoff-style accumulation patterns, cycle-based upswings, and liquidity correlations as signals that the current downturn could be a prelude to a significant rally. If these align, some believe Ethereum could more than triple in value, potentially reaching the much-anticipated $10,000 mark. Such a move would represent a 2x or 3x return from its all-time high of $4,946.05—a substantial gain, though perhaps modest compared to the explosive growth of earlier years.

But it’s not just technical charts fueling hope. Ethereum’s on-chain activity has been nothing short of remarkable. On January 15, the network recorded an all-time high of 2.78 million daily transactions, with daily active addresses surging by about 50% over the previous month. Even more impressively, transaction fees have dropped to multi-year lows, briefly falling below 150 ETH per day. This reduction in costs has made the network more accessible, spurring a record number of smart contract deployments. As AMBCrypto notes, “Cheaper fees are making Ethereum more usable, which could attract more developers over time.”

Behind the scenes, Ethereum’s leadership is taking bold steps to ensure the network’s continued growth and resilience. In late January, co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced he had withdrawn roughly 16,384 ETH—worth approximately $44.7 million—to support further development on the chain. This move comes as the Ethereum Foundation adopts a phase of “mild austerity,” aiming to balance the pursuit of an aggressive technical roadmap with the need for long-term sustainability. In a detailed post on X, Buterin explained, “In order to be able to simultaneously meet two goals: Deliver on an aggressive roadmap that ensures Ethereum’s status as a performant and scalable world computer that does not compromise on resilience and decentralization, while ensuring the foundation’s long-term sustainability.”

Buterin’s commitment goes beyond financial support. He has pledged to personally take on development responsibilities that might otherwise require additional foundation resources, ensuring the network continues to evolve without sacrificing its core values. The withdrawn ETH will be deployed gradually over several years, focusing on open-source infrastructure projects in finance, communications, governance, and privacy. Rather than chasing an “Ethereum everywhere” strategy, Buterin emphasized building for users who genuinely need blockchain capabilities. “In a world where for many the usual mindset is to participate in a race to become a big and strong bully, otherwise the existing big and strong bullies will eat you first, our path represents a necessary alternative,” he wrote, positioning Ethereum as a platform for autonomy and security.

Despite the strategic vision and technical progress, the market has not been kind in the short term. According to FXStreet, Ethereum saw $281.3 million in liquidations within a single 24-hour period, including $261 million in long liquidations. The price is now approaching a key support level around the 200-week Exponential Moving Average (EMA) near $2,630—a level that bulls successfully defended in June and November 2025. Should Ethereum fall below this threshold, analysts warn it could slide further to around $2,340. On the flip side, a decisive move above key weekly EMAs could reignite the uptrend. Technical indicators offer a glimmer of hope; the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is below neutral, while the Stochastic Oscillator is deep in oversold territory—conditions that sometimes precede a reversal.

While Ethereum continues to dominate headlines, the spotlight is also shifting to promising newcomers like Digitap ($TAP). This fintech startup has launched what it calls the world’s first “omni-bank” platform, seamlessly blending traditional fiat finance with digital assets. Digitap’s live banking app—available on iOS, Android, and web browsers—offers standard bank accounts, high-yield savings, over 20 foreign currency accounts, global money transfers, and support for more than 100 crypto tokens. Perhaps most notably, users can access a Visa debit card linked to their account balances, enabling real-world spending of digital assets.

Digitap’s approach is designed to address a critical gap in global banking: the estimated 800 million adults worldwide who lack access to traditional banking services due to insufficient identification. Through an optional no-KYC (Know Your Customer) signup process, Digitap aims to provide basic banking, including a Visa card, to this underserved population. As AMBCrypto reports, “Digitap can provide basic banking services, including a Visa card, to this overlooked community of hardworking people seeking financial inclusion.”

The $TAP token presale, launched in the summer of 2025, has already shown impressive growth. Investors who bought in at the initial price of $0.0125 have seen paper profits of over 250%, with the token now priced at $0.0454. This performance has made $TAP a standout in an otherwise challenging market, offering a hedge for diversified portfolios. Digitap’s tokenomics further distinguish it: half of the platform’s profits are allocated to buying back and burning tokens and funding staking yields, directly linking $TAP’s value to the platform’s success. Every transaction on the app reduces the token supply, capped at 2 billion $TAP.

For those seeking outsized gains, Digitap’s early-stage status and tangible product offer the kind of ground-floor opportunity that Ethereum once did. While Ethereum’s path to $10,000 would be a milestone for the entire industry, the potential returns from projects like Digitap could be even greater for those willing to take on the risk. As AMBCrypto points out, “Digitap could offer the type of gains Ethereum once delivered. Ethereum is up a mind-boggling 98,000% over its lifetime. Even a fraction of that type of return over time would be meaningful for investors.”

As Ethereum navigates market turbulence and ambitious upgrades, and as new contenders like Digitap make their case, the crypto world finds itself at a crossroads—balancing established giants with the allure of the next big thing. For investors and observers alike, the coming months promise both challenge and opportunity in equal measure.