Ethereum (ETH) Has Experienced a Significant Downturn in 2025, Lagging Behind Bitcoin and Solana

Ethereum (ETH) has recorded a modest gain of 47%, a stark contrast to the 400% surge witnessed during the 2021 bull market.

Third May, 2025 – (New York) Ethereum (ETH) has faced a significant downturn in 2025, with losses nearing 50%, lagging markedly behind Bitcoin and Solana. This underperformance can be attributed to various factors.

After the March 2024 launch of the Dencun upgrade, which introduced blobspace for storing Layer-2 transactions, shifted Ethereum’s revenue model. While the upgrade increased transaction throughput and reduced fees, it inadvertently led to a decrease in revenue and a return to inflationary supply growth, with over 730,000 new ETH being minted since April 2024.

In contrast, Solana (SOL) has benefited from a surge in demand, primarily driven by meme coin trading. The launch of the token platform Pumpfun in January 2024 has resulted in over 17 million new addresses on Solana, contributing to a significant increase in its revenue and price.

The disparity in exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows between Bitcoin and Ethereum has also played a critical role in their performance. Bitcoin has attracted substantial institutional investment through spot ETFs, garnering record net inflows of $39.56 billion since their inception. This influx has contributed to Bitcoin’s impressive 130% rise since 2024.

In comparison, Ethereum’s ETFs have only seen cumulative inflows of $2.49 billion, failing to exert a significant positive influence on its price. The difference in inflow dynamics largely stems from Bitcoin’s growing acceptance as “digital gold” within traditional finance, whereas Ethereum lacks a similarly compelling narrative.

Publicly traded companies are increasingly adopting Bitcoin treasury strategies, exemplified by Michael Saylor’s firm, which holds over 553,000 BTC and has seen its stock price surge by 660% since 2024. This corporate endorsement has bolstered Bitcoin’s price.

Firms are now beginning to replicate this strategy with Solana, but Ethereum has seen negligible corporate investment and commitment.

Furthermore, the increasing incidence of hacks targeting Ethereum has compounded its challenges. Ether has become the preferred target for cybercriminals, accounting for over 50% of stolen cryptocurrencies since 2024, which has negatively impacted its price.

In response to its recent struggles, the Ethereum Foundation is restructuring its leadership and reaffirming its commitment to scaling and enhancing Ethereum. The forthcoming Pectra upgrade, scheduled for May 7, aims to improve Ethereum’s scalability, privacy, and user experience.

Additionally, the launch of Ethrealize, led by notable developers, seeks to market Ethereum to institutional investors and develop Ethereum-based products for this sector.