Ethereum’s Price vs Fundamentals: Why ETH’s Quiet Strength May Matter in 2026

Article with AI Analysis

Date: 15 January 2026

Source: Cointelegraph – Interview with Vivek Raman, CEO of Etherealize

Introduction

Ethereum has tested investors’ patience over the past market cycle. While other crypto assets surged quickly and captured headlines, Ether’s price moved more cautiously. For some, this raised doubts about Ethereum’s relevance. For others, it raised a more interesting question: what if the market is missing something important?

In a recent interview with Cointelegraph, Vivek Raman offers a perspective that looks beyond price charts. His view is simple but challenging Ethereum’s fundamentals are strengthening quietly, even as its price lags behind sentiment. If that gap continues, 2026 may force a re-evaluation of how ETH is valued.

Ethereum’s Fundamentals Are Growing, Not Fading

Despite slower price momentum, Ethereum remains the backbone of much of the crypto economy. The majority of global stablecoin activity still runs on the Ethereum network and its layer-2 ecosystems. This matters because stablecoins are increasingly used for payments, settlements, and on-chain finance areas that institutions actually care about.

Ethereum is also the dominant platform for tokenised real-world assets. According to industry data referenced in the interview, more than 90% of on-chain tokenisation activity currently happens on Ethereum. Bonds, funds, and real-world financial instruments are not being tested on speculative networks they are being built where reliability and neutrality already exist.

In short, Ethereum’s fundamentals are not speculative. They are infrastructural.

From Experiments to Real Financial Deployment

For years, large financial institutions experimented cautiously with blockchain. That phase appears to be ending. Firms such as JPMorgan Chase and Fidelity have already tested tokenised products using Ethereum-based infrastructure.

What held them back was not technology, but regulation. Raman argues that clearer regulatory frameworks particularly in the United States are now reducing uncertainty. This does not mean immediate mass adoption, but it does allow institutions to move from pilots to real deployments.

Ethereum’s role here is not about hype. It functions as neutral financial infrastructure something closer to rails than a speculative asset.

Why the Market May Reassess ETH in 2026

Raman avoids making direct price predictions, and that restraint matters. Instead, he frames Ethereum as a system whose value may eventually be reassessed based on usage rather than excitement.

If stablecoins continue to grow, if tokenisation expands, and if Ethereum remains the settlement layer behind these systems, then ETH’s role changes. It becomes less about short-term cycles and more about long-term financial plumbing.

In that context, Ethereum’s recent underperformance may not be weakness. It may simply be mispricing.

AI-Powered Sentiment Analysis

Our AI analysis of this article revealed:

• sentiment_score: 1.58 Indicates a cautiously optimistic tone without exaggeration.

• Financial Sentiment: Moderately Positive Reflects confidence in structural trends rather than price speculation.

• Polarity Score: 0.14 Suggests balanced language with a slight positive bias.

• Subjectivity Score: 0.36 Shows a mix of factual reporting and informed interpretation.

What This Means

The sentiment data suggests that Ethereum is increasingly discussed as infrastructure rather than a trade. Emotional language is limited, while long-term fundamentals dominate the narrative. This aligns well with institutional thinking and reduces the risk of hype-driven misinterpretation.

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👉 Read the full article on cointelegraph.com

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Disclaimer

This article was generated using AI and reviewed for accuracy. The information presented is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Always consult with a professional before making investment decisions.