Ethereum has been struggling to regain its footing since hitting an all-time high in August 2025. The cryptocurrency's price has declined significantly, and it needs to nearly double to reach the coveted $4,000 mark.
The upcoming Glamsterdam upgrade is seen as a key catalyst for Ethereum's return to $4,000. This significant execution-layer change will cut gas fees by 78.6% and push throughput to 10,000 transactions per second. Analysts are bullish on Ethereum's prospects following the upgrade, with Citigroup predicting a price of $3,175 and Standard Chartered raising its year-end forecast to $7,500.
However, for Ethereum to reach $4,000, several conditions need to be met. The Glamsterdam upgrade needs to launch on schedule in June 2026, and ETF inflows must accelerate following the upgrade news. Additionally, Bitcoin's price needs to break above $90,000, pulling institutional capital back into altcoins.