Ethereum is once again grabbing the spotlight in the crypto world. Whether it’s the growing trend of tokenizing real-world assets or major developments across its ecosystem, ETH continues to attract serious attention. Even with market conditions being uncertain, Ethereum is gaining more interest and may be gearing up for a big breakout in 2026. With prices currently dipping, some investors are starting to ask: Is now a good time to buy?

One major reason Ethereum is making headlines is its growing role in tokenization — the process of moving real-world assets like real estate, bonds, or stocks onto the blockchain. As this movement gains traction, Ethereum is emerging as the top choice to host these digital assets. Analysts believe this strong position could make ETH one of the most valuable crypto assets by 2026.

A recent analysis from CryptosRUs highlights how Ethereum is performing exceptionally well, even in a bearish market. Normally, when the crypto market slows down, so does network activity. But Ethereum is defying that trend:

– Daily active wallet addresses have hit an all-time high (ATH)
– The number of daily transactions is at an ATH
– Stablecoin supply on Ethereum is almost at an ATH
– More ETH than ever before is being staked
– Gas fees are back to levels seen in mid-2020

These are strong signals that Ethereum is still growing, scaling, and seeing increased usage — even when prices are low. This shows that investors and users still believe in ETH’s long-term value.

Another reason ETH is gaining momentum is growing interest from large institutions. Despite ETH being down 35% from its all-time high, big players aren’t backing off — they’re doubling down. For example:

– BitMine and other treasury companies are buying and holding ETH
– Ethereum ETFs recently saw their biggest weekly inflow since last October’s market crash
– JPMorgan launched its first tokenized money-market fund using the Ethereum blockchain

These developments suggest that major financial institutions see strong potential in Ethereum and are starting to invest more heavily.

A key event that could drive Ethereum’s growth even further is the expected approval of the Clarity Act — a proposed law that would provide clearer regulations for crypto assets beyond Bitcoin. While Bitcoin already enjoys regulatory clarity, most altcoins like Ethereum do not. If this act passes, it could boost trust and adoption for projects built on Ethereum, especially in areas like DeFi (decentralized finance), AI integration, and stablecoins.

According to crypto analysts, Ethereum leads in all these areas, and more regulation could bring more users and developers to its ecosystem — increasing network activity and driving up demand for ETH.

Lastly, there’s a macroeconomic factor at play: U.S. Federal Reserve interest rates. Experts predict that by 2026, interest rates will drop again. This would make traditional investments like T-bills less attractive due to lower returns. In contrast, ETH offers a 2.5%–3% yield through staking, plus the potential for price growth. As a result, institutional investors could shift more capital into Ethereum.

In short, despite current market dips, Ethereum is showing strong signs of long-term strength. With rising network activity, increased institutional interest, potential regulatory clarity, and favorable economic conditions ahead, many believe ETH could be one of the best-performing assets by 2026.