Ethereum

Bitcoin

Ether (<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/ethereum-price">ETH</a>) started the year strongly but began tapering off in mid-March. However, the altcoin began picking up momentum in mid-May amid anticipation of the approval of <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/learn/spot-ethereum-etf">spot Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs)</a>&nbsp;in the United States.
Although ETH has trailed Bitcoin (<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/bitcoin-price">BTC</a>) since Jan. 1, it has outperformed the flagship cryptocurrency since <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/sec-spot-ether-etf-approved">spot Ether ETFs received official approval</a> from the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 23. 
Since May 15, ETH has surged approximately 30% compared to BTC’s 9% gain in their respective U.S. dollar pairs.
<figure data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 <img src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-05/d20106b5-b152-4dd9-a5de-4511f7b44d35.png" alt="" title="">
 <figcaption style="text-align: center;">
 Ether, Bitcoin two-week performance. Source: TradingView
 </figcaption>
</figure>
There are three main reasons why ETH has been outperforming BTC throughout the past several days, including a growth in network activity and increased excitement surrounding the launch of spot Ether ETFs.
<h2 data-ct-non-breakable="true" id="eth-trended-higher-against-btc-in-the-last-10-days">ETH trended higher against BTC in the last 10 days</h2>
Ether is up 23% over the last 10 days, outperforming <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/learn/what-is-bitcoin-a-beginners-guide-to-the-worlds-first-cryptocurrency#:~:text=Bitcoin%20is%20digital%20money%2C%20also,independently%20of%20any%20central%20authority.">Bitcoin</a> and other top layer-1 tokens. BTC’s price has climbed only 2% over the last 30 days, while other top-cap layer-1 tokens, such as BNB Chain’s BNB (<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/binance-coin-price-index">BNB</a>) and Solana’s SOL (<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/solana-price-index">SOL</a>), have rallied 3.35% and 1%, respectively, over the same timeframe.
The ETH/BTC ratio began ascending on May 17, reaching a two-week high of $0.05854 on May 23, a 31% increase.
<figure data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 <img src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-05/d72c4a76-33c5-4bda-b6c6-30a83cce9343.png" alt="" title="">
 <figcaption style="text-align: center;">
 ETH/BTC ratio. Source: TradingView
 </figcaption>
</figure>
From a technical point of view, the ETH/BTC weekly chart showed a bullish divergence from the relative strength index, suggesting that a “trend reversal had started,” as observed by trader and founder of MN Trading Michaël van de Poppe. This ratio is considered bullish as long as the ratio remains above 0.051.
<figure data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 <img src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-05/be568365-3f0a-4968-a058-5003def96f63.png" alt="" title="">
 <figcaption style="text-align: center;">
 Source: <a href="https://x.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1795787182638338560" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Michaël van de Poppe</a>
 </figcaption>
</figure>
“ETH is absurdly undervalued,” pseudonymous analyst Plazma <a href="https://x.com/Plazma0x/status/1795011121843183722" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">declared</a> in a May 31 post on X, adding that the ETH/BTC ratio will hit 0.1 within a few months and “10&nbsp;ETH will be equal to 1&nbsp;BTC.”
<h2 id="increasing-on-chain-activity-underpins-ether-s-outperformance">Increasing on-chain activity underpins Ether’s outperformance</h2>
Ethereum’s network activity and scaling solutions <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-boring-ethereum-link-uni-arb-prices">contribute to its performance</a>. Data from DappRadar shows a 7.75% increase in transaction volume among top Ethereum decentralized applications (DApps) over the past week, fueled by decreases in Uniswap, Eigenlayer, MetaMask and Banana Gun. The number of unique smart contracts on Ethereum also rose from 37,870 on May 20 to 38,066 on May 31, according to CryptoQuant.
<figure data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 <img src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-05/3f929eef-e85c-4c62-aff0-14ea32b0de5c.png" alt="" title="">
 <figcaption style="text-align: center;">
 Blockchains ranked by 30-day DApp volumes. Source: DappRadar
 </figcaption>
</figure>
Additional data from CryptoQuant reveals an increase in Ethereum’s network activity over the last seven days.
<figure data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 <img src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-05/3fb5cbab-45c8-456b-81c3-e4612477fb50.png" alt="" title="">
 <figcaption style="text-align: center;">
 Number of unique smart contracts on Ethereum. Source: CryptoQuant
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 data-ct-non-breakable="true" id="spot-ether-etfs-may-launch-in-june">Spot Ether ETFs may launch in June</h2>
Besides strengthening on-chain metrics, the likelihood of Ether ETFs making their market debut soon is adding to ETH’s bullish momentum and increasing strength against Bitcoin.
Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas believes these investment products have a “legit possibility” of launching by late June after BlackRock updated a key filing necessary for launch.
BlackRock <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000638/000143774924018610/iset20240522_s1a.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">updated</a> its S-1 form for its iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) with the SEC nearly a week after the regulator approved its&nbsp;<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/sec-spot-ether-etf-approved">19b-4 filing</a>.
Blachunas <a href="https://x.com/EricBalchunas/status/1795934675380109479" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">said</a> that another round of filings to “fine tune” SEC comments is likely, but an “end of June launch [is] a legit possibility.” However, he kept his approval odds for around July 4, adding that an earlier approval would be a “long shot.”
<figure data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 <img src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-05/c791e6af-ed65-40ad-a5e7-d8f829708ab5.png" alt="" title="">
 <figcaption style="text-align: center;">
 Source: <a href="https://x.com/EricBalchunas/status/1795934675380109479" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Eric Balchunas</a>
 </figcaption>
</figure>
Fellow Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart <a href="https://x.com/JSeyff/status/1795933440090452413" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">said</a> BlackRock’s updated S-1 is “almost certainly the engagement we were looking for.” 
<blockquote data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 “Issuers and SEC are working toward spot Ethereum ETF launches.”
</blockquote>
Market participants are optimistic that spot Ether ETFs will see ETH <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/ethereum-due-new-all-time-high-ether-etf-nears-end">reach new highs</a> as some speculate Wall Street will use it as a <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/ethereum-etf-call-option-on-web3-analyst-claims">bet on Web3’s growth</a>. Others speculate ETH’s price&nbsp;<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/ether-etfs-eth-price-10k-approval-2025#:~:text=May%2021%2C%202024-,Ether%20ETFs%20could%20drive%20ETH%20price%20to%20%2410K%2C%20but,Ether's%20most%20significant%20price%20catalyst.">could hit $10,000</a> this cycle as institutional capital is rotated into Ether ETFs. 
Cointelegraph does not endorse the content of this article nor any product mentioned herein. Readers should do their own research before taking any action related to any product or company mentioned and carry full responsibility for their decisions.

3 reasons why Ethereum price remains strong against Bitcoin

Table of Contents

Cointelegraph

Other articles published on May 31, 2024

Mike Novogratz Predicts Ethereum Staking Shift

Mike Novogratz Predicts Changes in Ethereum Staking Regulations

Bitcoin Faces Short-Term Price Drop

ORDI Skyrockets 20% to $50.43, Volume Soars 200%

Coinbase Files Closing Brief In SEC Rulemaking Lawsuit

Users Spark Criticism Over Random Celebrities Token Launches

Join our free newsletter for daily crypto updates!