Grayscale: Ethereum’s Rally Mainly Due to Dencun Upgrade, Not Spot ETFs
While the potential approval of a spot Ethereum ETF has been cited as a reason for Ethereum's recent price increase, Grayscale Investments offers a different perspective. In a recent report, the asset manager suggests the upcoming Dencun upgrade, scheduled for March 13, 2024, is the true driver behind the surge.
Grayscale analyst William Ogden Moore argues that the market anticipates the upgrade's ability to improve transaction throughput and cost reduction, making Ethereum more competitive with faster blockchains like Solana. While bullish on Ethereum, the report acknowledges the cryptocurrency's underperformance compared to its sector in 2023, particularly against Solana's impressive 900% growth.
This bullish stance from Grayscale might be influenced by their ongoing efforts to convert their Ethereum trust into a spot Ethereum ETF. With spot Bitcoin ETFs already approved, some predict similar approval for the Ethereum equivalent by May 2024.
Beyond Dencun and potential ETF approval, Grayscale also highlights "net deflationary supply" and "network revenue generation" as factors contributing to Ethereum's future. Additionally, the report emphasizes Ethereum's potential to recapture lost ground in the smart contract application market. They believe that by becoming more competitive in throughput and cost, Ethereum can attract applications requiring high levels of security and censorship resistance, such as stablecoins and tokenized financial assets.
