Recent insights indicate that Ethereum might be running on an 8-year cycle, contrasting Bitcoin’s more familiar 4-year rhythm. This would clarify why Ethereum’s price has been lagging behind Bitcoin since the start of this year. With this understanding, technical analysis hints that Ethereum may still have a considerable journey ahead, particularly if Bitcoin experiences a significant downturn.
## Understanding ETH/BTC’s 8-Year Cycle
Diving into the ETH/BTC chart reveals a compelling cycle between these two crypto giants. Recently, Ethereum has been significantly underperforming against Bitcoin, a trend that’s become even starker since July.
Unlike Bitcoin, whose price trends closely follow its halving events in a 4-year cycle, Ethereum appears to follow a different trajectory—an 8-year cycle, in fact. This possibly explains Ethereum and its ecosystem’s tendency to lag in comparison to Bitcoin during both bull and bear markets. The current bull run has highlighted this distinction, with Bitcoin setting multiple new records while Ethereum struggles to push past the $4,000 mark.
This 8-year cycle theory suggests that as Bitcoin peaks in its cycle, Ethereum may counteract these moves. This can herald an altcoin season, where investors might pivot from Bitcoin to altcoins.
According to a study on the TradingView platform, Bitcoin’s 4-year cycle implies it might dip to its sinusoidal lows by 2026. Meanwhile, Ethereum is expected to surge, reaching the crest of its 8-year cycle in that same period.
## Projected Peak for Ethereum Price in Mid-2026
If the 8-year cycle holds, Ethereum could reach its peak by mid-2026. This period would coincide with the nadir of Bitcoin’s 4-year cycle, creating a balancing act between these crypto leaders. During this phase, Ethereum is expected to ascend to the highest price levels while Bitcoin undergoes a correction. BNB is also projected to act as a stabilizing force, alongside Ethereum, during Bitcoin’s decline.
Price predictions are optimistic, suggesting Ethereum could hit $17,600 by June 2025, and BNB could rise to $3,520. By July or August 2026, Ethereum could potentially soar to $150,000, while BNB might go up to $30,000.
As of now, Ethereum and BNB are trading at roughly $3,385 and $660, while Bitcoin stands at $98,150.
Featured image crafted with Dall.E, chart sourced from Tradingview.com.
