The competition for Ethereum is increasing: is this the reason for the stagnation of ETH? The opinion of JPMorgan

February 9, 2025

Ethereum, undisputed leader in the smart contract blockchain sector, is facing increasingly intense competition from alternative networks, according to JPMorgan. 

This increasing competition could be one of the causes of the lack of growth in the price of ETH. The blockchain ecosystem is constantly evolving, and new solutions offer more efficient and scalable alternatives. 

This scenario puts pressure on Ethereum, which must face crucial challenges to maintain its dominant position.  

Summary

In recent years, several blockchain networks have gained ground, offering faster and cheaper solutions compared to Ethereum.

Solana, Avalanche e Binance Smart Chain are among the platforms that have attracted developers and users thanks to lower fees and reduced transaction times.  

Ethereum, despite being the first to introduce smart contracts, still suffers from scalability issues. The transition to Ethereum 2.0 and Layer-2 solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism have improved some aspects, but the competition has not stopped.

New blockchains with innovative consensus mechanisms continue to gain market share.  

JPMorgan has highlighted how the growth of the Ethereum ecosystem has slowed down due to competition. Although the network continues to dominate the DeFi and NFT sectors, its dominance is no longer absolute.

Recent data shows that Ethereum’s market share in DeFi trading volumes has fallen below 60%, while other blockchains are attracting liquidity and users. 

This drop in dominance might explain why ETH is unable to register a significant price increase, despite the cryptocurrency market showing signs of recovery.

One of the main problems of Ethereum remains the high cost of transactions. During periods of high congestion, the gas fees can reach prohibitive levels, making the network less attractive for retail users and developers.  

The Layer-2 solutions are trying to alleviate the problem, but the success of competing networks shows that many users prefer native alternatives with integrated scalability.

This scenario creates an increasingly competitive environment, in which Ethereum must accelerate its technological developments to avoid losing further ground.  

The price of ETH has shown a lack of momentum compared to other cryptocurrencies. Although Ethereum remains a fundamental asset for the blockchain ecosystem, investors seem to be waiting for more concrete progress before betting on significant growth.  

The market sentiment reflects a cautious wait: on one hand, Ethereum maintains a dominant position, on the other, the competition is reducing its lead. 

The lack of a clear catalyst could explain the stagnation of the price of ETH in a market that instead has seen other altcoins register more consistent gains.  

In other words, Ethereum is in a crucial phase of its evolution. The competition with emerging blockchains is putting pressure on its dominance and is influencing the performance of ETH on the market

To maintain its position, Ethereum will need to address the challenges related to scalability and costs, ensuring that its ecosystem remains the most attractive for developers and users.  

Continuous innovation will be the key to the future of Ethereum. Will the network overcome the competition and regain its momentum in the cryptocurrency market? Time and technological developments will provide the answer.