Ethereum’s Next Move: Staging a Repeat of Bitcoin’s 2021 Bull Cycle

by Team Crafmin
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Ethereum’s price action in mid-2025 is drawing attention for its striking resemblance to Bitcoin’s 2021 rally. Market watchers are eyeing the charts closely, noting key technical analysis signals, including RSI divergence, trendline breaks, and historical crypto charts patterns that suggest ETH might be on the verge of a powerful breakout. But can Ethereum truly replicate Bitcoin’s meteoric rise and reach targets like $6,000 or even $10,000?

A Familiar Chart Pattern

Crypto analyst TradingShot recently flagged how Ethereum’s current cycle mirrors Bitcoin’s 2021 performance  . Just as Bitcoin rebounded from the March 2020 COVID crash, ETH appears to have recovered from a “Trade War Crash” in 2022—both rebounding from major lows below key moving averages.

For Bitcoin, the 2020 drop from $9,000 to under $4,000 was followed by a V-shaped recovery. Similarly, Ethereum plunged from around $2,400 to below $1,500 during the trade tensions but has since rallied, testing the 1-week 50 MA—just as Bitcoin did in 2021.

The Bull Case: Targets and Catalysts

Past performance is not an indication of future results

1. Reclaiming the 1-Week 50 MA

Ethereum is now hovering around the weekly 50 MA. A decisive breakout above this level and the $4,200 resistance (lower-high trendline) might trigger a Herculean surge. In 2021, Bitcoin rallied from a similar breach to establish its all-time high of $69,000 . If ETH mirrors that move, prices above $10,000—potentially stretching to $15,000—are mathematically possible, given Ethereum’s smaller market cap  .

2. Fibonacci and Cycle Projections

Analyst CryptoPatel projects that ETH could reach between $7,000 and $10,000 by Q4 2025, using Fibonacci extensions and cyclical pattern analysis  . The logic stems from ETH being ~57% off its November 2021 high—mirroring previous cycles where such drawdowns preceded explosive rallies.

3. Broader Bullish Targets

A November 2024 chart from NewsBTC suggested Ethereum may revisit its 2017–2021 fractal, targeting $20,000 or even $23,000—a 500+% gain from current levels  . Meanwhile, InvestingHaven forecasts an ATH around $5,150 in mid-2025, rising to $7,500 by 2026  .

CoinPedia and Changelly similarly estimate a $6,700–$5,900 ETH price by late 2025  . Others argue $3,500 must be reclaimed first—a crucial level on mid-term charts .

Signals of Strength—and Caution

RSI and Momentum

While volume and price momentum turn bullish, RSI divergence warns of short-term exhaustion. Bitcoin’s 2021 false breakout above $60,000 was accompanied by overbought RSI—ETH may follow suit. Traders should monitor daily and weekly RSI close to 70 for potential reversals.

Historical Precedents

Analyses of Bitcoin’s 4-year cycles (2013, 2017, 2021) indicate ETH follows in a lagged pattern  . Ethereum’s price lows in 2022 and plateau in early 2023 mirror past BTC cycles, suggesting a cycle peak may arrive by late 2025.

Risks to the Rally

Despite the bullish framework, several risks remain:

  1. Failure to Break $4,200 – Would likely result in another consolidation phase or pullback.
  2. Macro Shocks – Bitcoin warnings of potential drops ($70K–$80K)  could reverberate across ETH.3. Regulatory and Fork Risks – Uncertainty around staking regulation and the impact of forks or hacking could unsettle sentiment.4. Altcoin Overperformance – While ETH leads on chains, heightened speculation in meme-coins may divert capital .

Also Read:Guggenheim Partners with Ripple to Launch Treasury-Backed Digital Debt on XRP Ledger

Strategic Entry Points

To align with the bullish scenario while managing risk:

  • Aggressive traders may buy when ETH convincingly breaks and holds above the 1W 50 MA and the $4,200 trendline.
  • Defensive investors should wait for a confirmation move beyond $5,150–$6,000, aligning with consensus targets.
  • Dollar-cost averaging remains viable, targeting dips to $3,000–$3,500, the major support zone in recent cycles.

Institutional inflows, ETF launches, and broader crypto market recoveries can help validate such entries.

Outlook: Bull Run or Failed Replication?

If Ethereum completes its cycle retrace and breaks key levels, the next target zone extends beyond $6,000–$10,000, and potentially toward $15,000–$20,000, mirroring BTC’s earlier parabolic trend. But failure to break resistance or renewed macro pullbacks could stall ETH growth into 2026  .

A January–April 2026 high aligns with historical bull cycle midpoints and analyst projections . Ethereum’s pace depends on its ability to clear $4,200 with conviction—and maintain momentum across multiple indicators.

Conclusion

Ethereum’s current pattern bears undeniable resemblance to Bitcoin’s 2021 cycle. If it can reclaim the 1-week 50 MA and break strong resistance, a powerful bull run could propel it above $10,000 by late 2025 or early 2026. With long-term estimates stretching to $20,000+, ETH may be poised for one of crypto’s most dramatic bull cycles yet.

However, traders should remain alert to overbought signals and macro threats. Without confirmation on key levels, ETH may enter another consolidation phase. But if history is any guide, and the bullish charts hold, this could signal a major altcoin crypto rally reminiscent of Ethereum’s 2021 resurgence.

Disclaimer

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