Ethereum ( ETH ) price prediction: bull run momentum still exists, breaking 5000 USD will challenge 10,000 USD by the end of the year.

On September 25, 2025, news reported that Ethereum ( ETH ) corrected to 4170 USD after breaking through the historical high of 4956 USD in this cycle. The Pectra upgrade and 560 million USD ETF net inflow ignited the altcoin season. Analyst Ted Pillows predicts that if it breaks through 5000 USD, it could reach 10,000 USD by the end of the year. The RSI dropping below 40 suggests Oversold conditions, while the negative MACD indicates that the pullback may be exhausted. The 3500 USD support level is crucial, and the Fed's interest rate cuts along with institutional funding support a bullish structure. Discussions on platform X are heating up as Ethereum enters a "frenzy" phase, with explosive growth expected in Q4 2025.

Pectra upgrade catalyzes new highs for Ethereum, strong ETF inflow

Ethereum has broken through its historical high of 4956 USD this cycle, currently trading at 4170 USD, with a market cap of approximately 500 billion USD and a 24-hour trading volume exceeding 20 billion USD. The Pectra upgrade significantly enhances network performance, reduces Layer-2 costs, and strengthens smart contract capabilities, igniting the recent pump. Data from DeFiLlama shows that Ethereum's TVL exceeds 60 billion USD, accounting for 70% of the DeFi market, consolidating its dominant position in the ecosystem.

Despite last week's market pullback, Ethereum ETF still attracted a net inflow of $560 million, reflecting institutional funds accelerating accumulation around $4,000. On platform X, analyst Ted Pillows, who has 200,000 followers, posted: "Ethereum has entered the next round of rise, and the frenzy phase will push ETH to $10,000." The Fed lowered interest rates by 0.25% on September 17, and is expected to cut twice more in Q4, providing tailwinds for risk assets.

Technical Analysis: Breakthrough 5000 USD Aiming for 10,000 USD

Ethereum price has pulled back from a high of 4956 USD and is currently hovering around the key level of 4000 USD, testing short-term support. If the bulls hold 4000 USD and regain momentum, breaking through 5000 USD will restart the bullish path, making the year-end sprint to the 10,000 USD target possible. Ted Pillows analyzes that the current RSI has dropped to 38, indicating Oversold conditions, while the negative MACD shows that pullback momentum is weakening, which may pave the way for the next rise.

If it falls below $4000, the next key support is at $3500, which was previously a strong accumulation zone, maintaining an overall bullish structure. CoinGlass data shows that futures open interest exceeds $15 billion, and the liquidation heatmap points to high liquidity above $4000, which could cause a short squeeze or push prices higher. In a post on X, @ETHBullRun stated: "$3500 is the last line of defense, and breaking above $5000 will ignite altcoin season."

Altcoin Season and Macroeconomic Tailwinds: Ethereum Leads DeFi

The altcoin season is officially underway, with Ethereum benefiting greatly as the core of DeFi. Protocols like Aave and Uniswap have over 500,000 daily active users, and on-chain trading volume has increased by 10% month-over-month. Pectra has upgraded and optimized EVM and gas costs, attracting developers to deploy new DApps, while RWA tokenization has reached a scale of $100 billion, enhancing the stickiness of the Ethereum ecosystem.

The Fed's interest rate cuts and Trump's GENIUS Act full reserve policy for stablecoins are injecting confidence into the crypto market, with the market size expected to exceed $5 trillion by 2025. Fundstrat analyst Tom Lee predicts Ethereum will reach $10,000–$15,000, citing its neutrality in the AI and robotic economy as attractive to Wall Street. The X community is buzzing, with @DeFiAnalyst stating: "The inflow of Ethereum ETF and the Pectra upgrade will push ETH to new highs, $10,000 is just the starting point."

Risks and Opportunities: $3500 support determines direction

Despite the bullish sentiment, Ethereum needs to be cautious of pullback risks. If it falls below $4000, the $3500 support level will be tested, and CoinGlass shows that the liquidation cluster below $3500 may exacerbate the fall. However, the alts season and ETF inflows provide a buffer, with treasury holdings like BitMine holding 2.41 million ETH (over $1 billion) indicating institutional confidence. CoinCodex predicts ETH will reach $5000 in October, while Changelly forecasts a peak of $12,000 for ETH in 2025, averaging $8000. Analysts warn that the government funding deadline on September 30 may trigger market volatility, and attention should be paid to macro and technical signals.

Conclusion

Ethereum's upgrade with Pectra and the influx of $560 million into ETFs have broken historical highs, with predictions from Ted Pillows and others suggesting it could reach $10,000 by the end of the year, as altcoin season and the Fed's rate cuts drive momentum. Currently, the $4,000 support level is crucial; breaking through $5,000 would directly target new highs, but caution is needed regarding the liquidation risk at $3,500. In Q4 2025, investors should focus on ETF funds and on-chain data to capture opportunities for Ethereum to lead DeFi.

Disclaimer: This article is for news information only and does not constitute any investment advice. The cryptocurrency market is highly volatile, and investors should make decisions with caution.