Recent analyses suggest that Ethereum prices may operate on an 8-year cycle, differing from Bitcoin's established 4-year cycle. This can explain the significant decline in Ethereum prices relative to Bitcoin prices since the beginning of this year. Keeping this in mind, technical analysis indicates that Ethereum prices have a long way to go in this cycle, especially if Bitcoin prices start to experience significant adjustments.
Understanding the 8-year cycle of ETH/BTC
Technical analysis of the ETH/BTC chart points to interesting cycles between the two crypto giants. Notably, the chart shows that over the past few years, Ethereum's price has significantly lagged behind Bitcoin's price, and this trend has further intensified since July of this year.
Unlike Bitcoin's price, which follows a 4-year cycle aligned with its halving events, Ethereum's price seems to have taken a different path. For years, data has shown that Ethereum follows an 8-year cycle. This distinction explains why Ethereum and its ecosystem often appear to lag behind Bitcoin during bull and bear markets. Interestingly, this distinction is very evident in the current bull market cycle, where Bitcoin's price has broken multiple historical highs while Ethereum continues to struggle below $4,000.
The 8-year cycle of Ethereum indicates that as Bitcoin prices begin to peak within their own cycle, Ethereum may offset these trends. This aligns with the concept of altcoin season, where investors start to profit from Bitcoin prices and begin investing in the altcoin market.
According to analysis from the TradingView platform, the 4-year cycle of Bitcoin prices indicates that, based on the power law corridor of 2026, the leading cryptocurrency may fall to the depths of its sine path in 2026. On the other hand, the anticipated decline in Bitcoin prices will be offset by a simultaneous surge in Ethereum prices, which will allow it to reach its peak in the 8-year cycle in 2026.
Ethereum prices are expected to peak in mid-2026
According to the 8-year cycle theory, Ethereum's price is expected to peak in mid-2026. This peak is anticipated to align with the trough of Bitcoin's 4-year cycle, thus forming a balance between the two major cryptocurrencies. During this period, as Bitcoin enters a price adjustment phase, Ethereum's price is expected to rise to its highest levels. Furthermore, as Bitcoin prices decline, BNB is expected to act as a stable asset alongside Ethereum.
Price predictions suggest that by June 2025, the price of Ethereum could reach $17,600, while BNB will rise to $3,520 at the same time. By July or August 2026, Ethereum is expected to reach $150,000, while BNB may climb to $30,000.
At the time of writing, Ethereum and BNB are trading at $3,385 and $660, respectively. Bitcoin is trading at $98,150.
