Ethereum (ETH) Price Prediction: Will the Merge Save the Network From Extinction by 2040?

While Ethereum ETFs are struggling to attract investors, the crypto is going through a turbulent phase. Unfortunately, without a sustained bullish rally or a strong narrative, even with powerful staking, ETH flows will stagnate according to Eric Balchunas. Coming to the rescue, Vitalik Buterin is launching an emergency plan to prevent collapse… but several signs already forecast Ethereum’s extinction by 2040.

Since their launch in the United States in July 2024, Ethereum ETFs have not enjoyed the same enthusiasm as their Bitcoin counterparts. The cause: disappointing performance from the network’s native crypto, Ethereum. For Eric Balchunas, ETF analyst at Bloomberg, staking, even if authorized, will have only a “limited impact” without a genuine rally.

“It is an option that can help, but it will not be enough to reverse the trend,” he explained in the New Era Finance podcast on April 29. Currently, the SEC has not yet given the green light to allow Ether ETFs to offer staking, a decision that could come between May and October.

Eric Balchunas highlights the lack of prolonged bullish momentum. After a peak at $4,107 on December 16, 2024 — thanks to a rally triggered by Donald Trump’s election victory — Ethereum plunged 56%, falling to around $1,809 by the end of April 2025. As a result, capital inflows into ETFs dropped as quickly as they had risen.

Yet, between November 22 and December 10, 2024, these ETFs recorded 2.6 billion dollars in net inflows! But this momentum quickly faded. So, to rekindle investor interest, Balchunas believes that “a strong real narrative” combined with a prolonged rise is needed. As it stands, Ethereum still seems far from achieving this.

Facing existential threats weighing on Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin is deploying a true emergency plan for 2025. His priorities: strengthening network infrastructure with instant finality, security at all levels, privacy, and decentralization. Moreover, he promotes a global decentralized ecosystem, ranging from DAOs to decentralized AI, as well as Web3 social networks.

The goal is to maximize a “meaningful” use of Ethereum and its technical and social resilience. But if this strategy fails, Charles Hoskinson predicts nothing less than the extinction of Ethereum … within the next 15 years.

According to the co-founder of Cardano, several factors could lead to this outcome. In an interview with InstiCoin, Hoskinson explained that if Bitcoin faces difficulties, institutions might abandon cryptocurrencies altogether.

Furthermore, he believes that blockchain projects are not advancing quickly enough, which could tire out investors. Finally, if the narrative around crypto fails to take hold with the general public, interest will wane.

Therefore, Ethereum is playing for its survival over the coming years. Without a durable rebound or significant adoption of its core values, even ETFs and staking will not suffice. Vitalik Buterin’s plan is clear, but failure could mark the end of a crypto giant by 2040.

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The world is evolving and adaptation is the best weapon to survive in this undulating universe. Originally a crypto community manager, I am interested in anything that is directly or indirectly related to blockchain and its derivatives. To share my experience and promote a field that I am passionate about, nothing is better than writing informative and relaxed articles.