Why is Ethereum Going Down?

Ethereum (ETH) price dropped after the network completed a long-awaited upgrade known as "the merge". So, why is Ethereum going down even after an upgrade?

Despite a successful merger that moved the Ethereum network from an energy-intensive proof-of-work mechanism to a proof-of-stake consensus, this leading altcoin fell more than 7% below its $1,500 threshold.

Experts from the Forbes Advisor expected the price of Ethereum to drop slightly after the long-awaited merger. ETH is moving along traditional markets, especially the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite. However, crypto enthusiasts are bullish on Ethereum's post-merger prospects. As they point out, there are no fundamental changes regarding Ethereum. If anything, the combined ecosystem is better positioned in terms of decentralization, energy efficiency, and growth, further cementing its position as the dominant Layer 1 blockchain.

Why is Ethereum going down from its initial fall after the merger?

Cryptocurrencies like Ethereum are risky assets subject to volatility if inflation continues. The US Federal Reserve is attempting to keep inflation in check and has made it clear that its priorities are now on fighting inflation before attempting a soft landing.

The latest inflation rate has fueled investors to fear the rise in interest rates. By raising interest rates further, the Fed can strengthen the US dollar and extract more liquidity from the market. Reduced liquidity can drive down the prices of riskier assets, such as technology stocks, cryptocurrencies, and growth stocks, as investors curb spending.

Amidst rising inflation and falling liquidity, there has been little institutional investment in cryptocurrency markets other than Ethereum. There has been much excitement around the Ethereum merger and what it is bringing to the Web3 space. This decoupling move (from Ethereum) is expected to continue in the near term as investors process the long-term implications of the merger, including increased energy efficiency, growth of the staking economy, and the potential deflation of ETH.

When will Ethereum prices hit bottom?

Just as it is difficult to tell why Ethereum is going down, no one can tell for sure if Ethereum has bottomed out. Aside from the immediate aftermath of the merger and Fed price pressure, other factors could be driving a broader downtrend for Ethereum.

Ethereum's recent low of $880 was reached on 18 June. The cryptocurrency has been up and down since then. Its most recent high reached just over $2,000 in mid-August. However, it was down 58% from its all-time high in November 2021. Ethereum's price today stands at $1,299.

Investors once believed that cryptocurrencies could be viewed as a hedge against inflation, but this has not materialized. Cryptocurrencies are starting to move alongside riskier asset classes, such as growth stocks and the tech stocks of Nasdaq.

In other words, investors can escape cryptocurrencies for traditionally safer assets such as gold, oil, and real estate during times of high inflation. All of this does not bode well for Ethereum's near-term price potential.

Bottom Line

Like all cryptocurrencies, Ethereum is a risky investment. After hitting an all-time high of around $4,800 in November 2021, Ethereum has been down about 72.9% since then. Risky investments can experience large price swings and extreme volatility. However, it can also be compared to the Nasdaq, which is full of risky growth stocks.

As a relatively new asset class, no one knows what the future holds for cryptocurrencies as an investment vehicle, and the news about such currencies is constantly changing. Predicting their price movements is very difficult. Cryptocurrencies are also subject to cyber hacks and future regulations that can affect their overall value.

In a dynamic investment like cryptocurrency, an investor cannot just stop by thinking, "Why is ETH going down?", because it can always go up again, and then you will be in for a big windfall.