Where to Buy Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum is much more than just a digital currency. Ethereum runs a robust blockchain that allows developers to deploy distributed apps that users can interact with.

If you’re new to Ethereum, chances are that you want to learn how it works and the best places to buy Ethereum and turn a profit. There are numerous platforms where new traders can buy and sell Ethereum. Picking a platform is complicated. Platforms are differentiated based on their services, features, fees, etc.

In this Where to Buy Ethereum guide, we will show you how to buy Ethereum online and the best platforms to work with.

How to Buy Ethereum – Quick Guide

Best Places to Buy ETH in December 2024

These online brokers were carefully chosen and reviewed as the best brokers to buy Ethereum (as well as Bitcoin):

• Kraken
• MEXC
• eToro
• Uphold
• OKX
• Binance
• Bybit
• PrimeXBT
• Margex
• KuCoin
• Coinbase

These platforms provide a healthy combination of low fees, quick transactions, and a broad selection of payment methods. They make it easy for investors to buy Ethereum and have high liquidity, so buying cryptocurrency and selling it is never a problem.

They also have high security to safeguard your digital assets. Their crypto wallets are secure, and they conduct proper checks to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) policies.

Where to Buy Ethereum

Cryptocurrencies were available on just a few trading platforms a couple of years ago, but since the recent crypto boom, many investment companies have started offering crypto trades. Although there are so many exchanges you can quickly gain exposure to Ethereum crypto, only a few can be trusted. We review ten of the best platforms you can quickly get some Ether.

1. Kraken – Excellent Crypto Exchange with a Good Reputation

Kraken can be an excellent option for investors looking to buy Ethereum or trade the token on a safe exchange. It is one of the most reputed platforms available at the moment and has not just Ethereum but over 120 top cryptocurrencies to choose from.

Created in 2011, the exchange was officially launched in 2013. It has been a highly sought-after platform since its inception due to its various products and services.

Kraken offers seven major fiat currencies and three stablecoins, including USDC, DAI, and USDT. Currently, it is the third-largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world in terms of volume traded. Regulated by FinCEN and FinTRAC in the US and Canada, Kraken is available in several countries. It caters to over 8 million users worldwide, with some of the most secure crypto-storing methods.

Kraken Pro is the advanced version of Kraken, which experienced traders or investors can use to participate with a lesser fee.

2. MEXC – Reputable Crypto Trading Platform

Seychelles-based MEXC began operations in 2018, entering into the crypto market with a distinctive low platform commission for buying cryptocurrencies. The exchange is distinguished for its fee structure, charging 0% fees for both ‘maker’ and ‘taker’ spot trades.

The fee structure of the exchange makes it an ideal option for traders seeking the right spot to buy and trade Ethereum cheaply. In addition, MEXC allows leverage up to 10x on margin trading, providing a supporting environment for investors to net huge gains. 

Alongside Ethereum, MEXC provides access to more than 1,700 cryptocurrencies. While benefiting from potential market gains that come with trading crypto, users can also take advantage of MEXC’s staking program to earn more yields.

Contributing to its market appeal is the efficiency of its trading engine which has the capacity to execute more than 1.4 million transactions within a second. While diving into the various crypto markets on MEXC, users can rest assured that their financial and personal data are safe. 

3. eToro – All-in-One Crypto Trading Platform

eToro is a user-friendly exchange that allows seamless buying of Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies. The exchange is an ideal platform for investors who are aiming to acquire stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), indices, forex, commodities, and many other assets in one spot.

Since diving into the crypto market, eToro has been checking all the right boxes to provide investors across more than 200 countries of the world with excellent trading services. At press time, eToro has established its presence in countries like the US, the UK, Cyprus, and Australia. 

One of the most popular features of the platform is its social copy trading option that permits users to imitate the trading strategies of leading investors. Also, eToro provides accurate price charts so that traders can track their portfolios with real-time data and make informed decisions. 

Newbies will find it easy to use eToro due to its simple and sleek interface. Both mobile and web versions of the exchange are designed with users’ convenience in mind. Similarly, the exchange offers a demo account option with its flagship “Virtual Portfolio” feature. The virtual portfolio is designed as a practice avenue for investors, allowing them to test new trading strategies without risking their funds.

Update 2024 – Going forward, the only cryptocurrencies eToro customers in the United States will be able to trade on the platform will be Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum.

4. Uphold – One-Time Crypto Trading

Despite the fierce competition in the crypto trading world, Uphold has carved a unique niche for itself as a reliable place to buy Ethereum and many other well-established altcoins. Founded almost a decade ago, this reputable crypto exchange is home to a host of advanced features, tailored for the convenience of both newcomers and existing users.

First, setting itself apart from others in the market, Uphold has designed a “Basket” solution that caters to those aiming to expand their investment portfolio beyond ETH. This strategic solution enhances portfolio diversification and management, allowing investors to segment their assets in line with their trading objectives. Apart from Ethereum, Uphold supports Bitcoin and other top tokens like USDT, XRP, SOL, DAG, BNB, AVAX, TON, and many others.

To ensure that users maintain full control of all these assets, Uphold has adopted a self-custody posture through its Vault solution. This wallet product is directly connected to the crypto trading app, ensuring that investors gain access to maximum investment opportunities while having their assets in custody. More so, since there is an easy-to-use seed phrase recovery option, users can rest assured that their assets are within reach anytime anywhere.

Complementing its appeal are its extensive trading tools, designed to help investors optimize their wealth. All the tools embedded in the app, including take profit, trailing stop, repeat transaction, and limit orders help investors dive into the market at the lowest entry point so that they can make maximum profits at low risks.

There is also a passive earning segment on the platform – staking, interest-bearing accounts, and a referral program – each providing an avenue for every participant to earn a steady income.

When it comes to security, Uphold ticks all the right boxes. It uses a multi-layer security setup to protect users and their assets from bad actors. Likewise, the exchange has a fashionable and beginner-friendly interface, making navigation within the app seamless and pleasurable.

5. OKX – Best Way to Buy Ethereum Using DEX and CEX

OKX ranks as the fifth biggest cryptocurrency exchange in the world by market capitalization, but that doesn’t absolve it of its regulatory issues. The exchange is still in the process of getting its licenses and is unavailable in the US. However, OKX has thus implemented a DEX and CEX model.

OKX DEX allows anyone from anywhere worldwide to swap their tokens for Ethereum. The platform is powered by X Routing, which looks for the best liquidity providers and routes to minimize network fees and slippage.

But for those looking for a more traditional experience with security and a beginner-friendly UI, there is the OKX CEX. The OKX CEX is a centralized variant of the exchange, featuring over 350 cryptocurrencies and supporting spot trading, derivatives & margin trading, and P2P trading.

Other utilities like copy trading and trading highlight these trading features. Copy trading is where users can follow in the footsteps of other successful traders. With trading bots, the trading process is automated.

OKX has a maker/taker model for trading fees, which starts from $0.080%/0.1% and can be reduced by holding OKB tokens.

6. Binance – Popular Ethereum Exchange with Low Fees

Binance is a household name due to the large trading volume it boasts of. This popular Ethereum exchange has gradually become the go-to destination for global crypto transactions due to its low trading fees of just 0.1% maker and taker fees.

Binance boasts a sleek and fast trading platform and processes over $60 billion of crypto transactions daily. It has a similar build to major exchange Coinbase but with more features and listings.

Binance offers one of the largest trading pairs in the crypto market, with over 150 crypto assets currently traded on the platform. You also get margin trading for trading Ethereum along with Futures trading.

Added to this is the ease with which crypto investors can place their trade and the frequent addition of new services to their crypto portfolio. Binance also offers legacy-styled financial services like savings for crypto funds through its Binance Earn. It lets users earn crypto assets if they stake their crypto funds in upcoming projects in its Binance Launchpool platform.

It also offers synthesized versions of conventional company stocks like $TSLA and $COIN.

7. Bybit – User-Friendly Platform to Buy Ethereum

Bybit is a cryptocurrency exchange that was launched in 2018. After remaining a low-cap exchange for years, Bybit is among the top 10 cryptocurrency exchanges on CoinMarketCap. And on CoinGecko, this exchange ranks #3.

Bybit supports over 100 cryptocurrencies and 300 crypto trading pairs. These assets can be traded using standard, spot, and margin trading. And since the market is volatile, Bybit also offers an overview. The platform also offers market data, highlighting the overall market sentiment using graphs.

Like OKX, Bybit also delivers copy trading. A trading bot feature is also available on Bybit. Advanced traders can use MetaTrader4 to automate trading, backtesting, and analyzing trades using advanced tools. ETHUSDT is one of the Ethereum perpetual contracts that can be traded via MetaTrader4.

8. PrimeXBT – 200x Leverage On Ethereum & Bitcoin

PrimeXBT has distinguished itself as the premier cryptocurrency exchange for advanced traders. Following its launch in 2018, PrimeXBT has continued to open its doors to a wide range of crypto investors, offering them seamless access to a vast collection of investment opportunities like cryptocurrency CFDs, commodities, indices, and forex pairs.

Aside from its extensive investment options, PrimeXBT also offers high liquidity and industry-leading trading tools. The crypto exchange has high leverage offerings, allowing traders to access more than 200x leverage on Bitcoin and Ethereum CFDs, and about 100x on other cryptocurrencies and indices.

More so, PrimeXBT has a superfast execution speed with a 7.12 milliseconds completion time. The platform leverages Amazon AWS servers and connections to numerous liquidity providers, allowing trades to be executed swiftly. 

Lastly, the exchange has a user-friendly interface that allows users to explore its tools, including its social copy trading features without hurdles. More so, PrimeXBT is customizable, meaning traders can always set up their trading interface on the platform according to their preferences. 

9. Margex – No-KYC Crypto Trading Platform

Margex has earned our recognition as one of the best locations to buy Ethereum, thanks to its industry-leading attributes. Despite making its debut in 2020, Margex has rapidly matured into a global trading platform, offering crypto derivatives services to millions of users across more than 100 countries and regions.  

As part of its efforts to deliver streamlined crypto trading experience, Margex has adopted a no-KYC policy, meaning users can get started with the platform and explore its features within a few seconds. Therefore, crypto investors willing to diversify their portfolio with Ethereum can try out Margex. 

Margex focuses more on crypto-USD pairs for leverage trading, as it supports leverage varying between 5x to 100x. This approach makes it easy for traders to regularly adjust their trading strategies in line with the situations in the crypto market. 

Margex uses an MP Shield AI setup to protect users from price manipulation. Margex has also adopted other numerous industry-standard security measures like two-factor authentication (2FA) and cold storage wallets to protect users’ funds.

10. KuCoin – People’s Crypto Exchange

KuCoin is by far one of the most recognized cryptocurrency exchanges with its presence across more than 200 countries. Presently ranked among the top 10 cryptocurrency exchanges, KuCoin enjoys an average weekly visits of more than 1.4 million users. 

The exchange allows users to buy Ethereum and more than 700 cryptocurrencies with ease. KuCoin is well known for listing some of the trending and popular cryptocurrencies, making it the ideal destination for traders seeking new opportunities in the market. 

KuCoin has a fair fee structure, with its spot trading fees sitting at just 0.1% per slide. Likewise, the exchange often gives a 20% discount and also pays commissions to holders of its native token, KCS. 

Other notable attributes of KuCoin are automated trading, lending, staking, and copy trading amongst others. Users can easily get started with the platform by downloading its mobile app which is compatible with Android and iOS devices. 

11. Coinbase – Overall Best Way to Buy Ethereum

Coinbase is the top cryptocurrency exchange in North America. The exchange is now listed on the NASDAQ exchange.

If you go to Binance and find the exchange too confusing, Coinbase is your next best option. It has a much better user interface than Binance, and the exchange provides comparable services.

With a $2 minimum account balance, Coinbase appeals to newbie investors and sophisticated ones alike. The exchange also provides benefits like top-notch security, broad currency pairs, and a wide array of deposit and withdrawal options.

Furthermore, Coinbase has a complex fee structure. Trading and transactions cost anywhere between 0.5 percent to 4.5 percent, depending on your currency type, platform, and transaction channel. Coinbase helps by providing an overview before you go ahead with a trade or transaction so you know what you’re paying for.

What is Ethereum?

Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain with smart contract functionality. Ethereum has become the most successful crypto protocol after Bitcoin, given its extensive use in the blockchain ecosystem. It currently sits as the second most valuable cryptocurrency on the crypto chart controlling about 19% of the entire crypto market.

Ethereum was birthed to propel further the decentralization ethos Satoshi Nakamoto espoused through Bitcoin. Through this, Buterin created a platform that performed all the same functionality as a legacy-backed financial institution without the central authority.

Ethereum has since become the home of much of the world’s decentralized projects, presently housing over 200 such protocols. Notably, most people buy Ethereum as a speculative asset. In this regard, Ethereum is more like Bitcoin. Investors buy the asset hoping that the price will increase and they can profit from it.

A Quick History of Ethereum

Ethereum was founded in July 2015 by a group of developers following a whitepaper written by Russian/Canadian programmer Vitalik Buterin. Along with Buterin, several other people who helped to design the concept of Ethereum include Gavin Wood, Charles Hoskinson, Anthony Di Iorio, Mihai Alisie, Amir Chetrit, Joseph Lubin, and Jeffrey Wilcke.
However, the development of Ethereum didn’t start until a year later, when Ethereum Switzerland GmbH – a Swiss company – started the formal software development process.

Ethereum eventually launched in 2015, as well as its native cryptocurrency and programming language. As explained, the basis of Ethereum is blockchain technology – a type of database that stores information in groups (called blocks). Information is stored in blocks, and blocks are banded together into the main chain.

When the Ethereum cryptocurrency launched, it quickly shot up the ranks and became the second most valuable cryptocurrency. This is due in no small part to the rampant adoption that the Ethereum blockchain saw.

Ethereum allows people to organize ideas, companies, money, and services and build decentralized applications (DApps) on the blockchain. This saw Ethereum initiating transactions through its set of computer codes called smart contracts. These lines of code are only executed when both transacting parties meet certain conditions.

However, this adoption surge also spelled trouble for Ethereum. The blockchain soon developed scalability issues, and transaction fees began to surge as more people preferred to build on Ethereum. To solve this, the Ethereum developers proposed Ethereum 2.0 – an upgrade that will make the blockchain easier and more effective.

The upgrade is still in progress, and there is great excitement about improving the Ethereum blockchain for users. As for the Ethereum cryptocurrency, it is still seeing a lot of adoption. Besides being an impressive investment asset, several top online platforms – including Shopify and OVerstock – also accept it as a payment method.

Why Buy Ethereum? Ethereum Analysis

Cryptocurrencies, in particular, are now widespread. But knowing which one to choose could be a burden. To help sift through this issue, we list some reasons you might want to invest in Ethereum this year.

• Financial Returns

Since its launch in 2015, Ethereum has gone through many crests and troughs, but the value of the cryptocurrency has kept growing over the years, with ETH hitting a new all-time high during each bull market. While at the beginning of its launch, ETH was worth $2; it hit $1200 during its first bull cycle. The most significant bullish cycle in the crypto market happened in 2021, during which ETH peaked at a new all-time high of $4600.

This was followed by the so-called “crypto winter” resulting in the whole market crash, with all of the major cryptocurrencies losing their value drastically. Luckily, Ether’s price remained above $1000 during the bear market and it ended 2022 with a price of $1200. From the beginning of 2023, the crypto market has shown recovery signs. In April, Ethereum even managed to go above $2100, which means over 80% YTD return rate for the investors. 

Ethereum’s current value is at $1590 with a YTD return rate of 32%. The price history of the cryptocurrency indicates that Ethereum peaks at a new high every time the general market enters the bullish cycle. According to some analyses, Ethereum can even reach up to $10,000 when the general market takes the next bullish uptrend. 

• Smart Contracts

This is one of the reasons why Ethereum is popular. Its ability to facilitate smart contract transactions is unrivaled. A smart contract is a code that allows two or more people to enter into a self-executing agreement. Once deployed into the blockchain, the contract terms cannot be amended or manipulated.

This way, many people can enter into agreements without trusting the other party. Many popular apps today are built on smart contracts, including cryptocurrency exchanges. It’s a concept revolutionizing how we think and see the world and gaining ground.

• Market Capitalization

Another reason you might want to invest in Ethereum is its market cap. Ethereum is the second largest cryptocurrency, and with a market cap of $192,037,491,279, it is included in the list of large-cap cryptocurrencies. 

This is worth more than most New York Stock Exchange companies. However, looking at the problems the Ethereum Network is trying to solve and its market reach, you’ll realize that the valuation is still relatively small. If you buy Ethereum now, you’re still getting a good deal.

• Technology

Most cryptocurrencies in the market today are built on the Ethereum blockchain. This means they do not have proprietary technology–but instead, they depend on the Ethereum network.

Many of these cryptocurrencies are ‘ERC-20’ tokens that require the Ethereum network to function, and many projects go this route because, unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum’s network makes it easy for anyone to create cryptocurrencies. Once these tokens are built, demand for the Ethereum coin drives up, as users need the digital asset to function on the network.

Choosing the Right Broker When Buying Ethereum

Everyone is getting into crypto these days, and it’s understandable if you also want to. However, like investing in anything else, you must be careful when selecting brokers. These factors should help you make the right choice:

1. Fees

You want to check the sees that a broker charges. Ensure they are competitive and see that you don’t end up paying too much for the service.
Exchanges and brokers take different fees. These include deposit and withdrawal fees, trading commissions, inactivity fees, etc. You should also ensure your broker doesn’t impose hidden fees on you.

2. Payment Options

The best brokers allow you to pay using different options. From bank transfers and cards to payment processors, you want to ensure flexibility regarding payment options.

3. Safety

Look into the broker’s safety precautions. You don’t want to suffer any surprising hacks. You can also check the broker’s history with hacks and security breaches to get more confidence.

4. Customer Support

A broker should be able to support you and should be available when you need them. No one wants emergencies, but you want to be able to call on them when these situations arise.

5. Regulatory Approval

Ensure that your country’s financial regulator approves your chosen broker. This way, you get to avoid any surprising crackdowns.

6. Available Platforms

A broker should have web, mobile, and desktop platforms so you can always access your funds, regardless of your device.

Warning: Reasonable Investment is Key in Crypto

It’s important to note that cryptocurrencies can be very volatile. Ethereum is no different. Before you invest, take time out to study and be confident about what you’re buying. Cryptocurrencies are like every other investment – subject to price swings and trends. You want to ensure you have your eye on the ball and do your proper research before committing to an asset.

You should also set aside a budget for your investment. This way, you only spend funds allotted for investments without running into debt. Also, try not to put all your money in one investment and be careful to hedge your bets.

Take advantage of online sources when investing too. Many review sites like ours provide valuable information on cryptocurrencies, and you can use those to check and ascertain your stance before investing. Many of these sites also have dedicated experts who work round the clock to monitor the market and make recommendations. Take their recommendations and compare them with your research. The more confident you are, the better for you.

Automated Trading: The Future of Crypto Trading

If you don’t have the patience and time to day trade, you might want to consider automated trading. This involves using software that can trade on your behalf and make money while you’re not even paying attention. These traders use algorithms to keep your money safe while trading. The algorithms are set based on trading parameters that let the bots function smoothly and effectively.

In general, trading bots provide the perfect mix of safety and profitability, allowing you to maximize your returns. You also get a lot of convenience from what they do – you could be working while a bot trades for you and makes you money. No muss, no fuss.

However, you also want to ensure you do the right thing when choosing a trading bot. There are many of them out there, and you need to vet them before you decide. To help out, you can check our comprehensive and unbiased reviews here to see what our experts think. Check out their features and specifications, and conduct proper research before you choose a trading bot.

Ethereum Mining: Create New Ethereum Tokens

Most newbies try to acquire cryptocurrencies by buying or trading them directly. However, there’s a third option that tends to get left in the background a lot. That option is called crypto mining. Ethereum is no different. You can easily mine Ether.

Miners engage in Ethereum mining to contribute to the smooth functioning of a blockchain and to get tokens as rewards. They do this by contributing their computing power to help add and verify transactions on the blockchain. They get a predetermined number of tokens for their hard work.

Ethereum mining remains popular – partly because Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. However, to get started, you should know that mining requires a significant financial commitment.

To start with, mining requires an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). These are specialized rigs built and designed to run the high-level calculations that mining entails. You could conduct the operation with your computer in the early mining days. However, blockchain networks have become too congested, and you will need more computing power to stand a chance.

Sadly, ASICs aren’t cheap. An effective mining rig can cost you upwards of $5,000. You will also need to consider other hardware to pair it with. Let’s not forget the insane electricity costs, as mining requires a lot of power. If you don’t have the capital to start a mining operation, an alternative is to visit an exchange like Kraken to buy Ethereum crypto.

Investment Tip: Minimizing Risk With Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies’ volatility means that investors risk a lot when working with them. To protect yourself, keep the following in mind:

• Do Your Own Research: Research is always necessary when investing. Never put money into an asset if you’re not sure about it. Do your independent research, then look for expert opinions. This is another area where review sites can help out.
• Avoid FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) grips the crypto space now and then. When people start to jump into a craze for the fun of it, you don’t necessarily have to. Carry out your research to determine if the asset is safe to invest in, then go ahead. Moreover, you can always set some cash apart to invest in an asset when people start to FOMO.
• Set a target: If you’re a day trader, it helps to have a target when trading. Once you hit this target, close your positions and start again the next period. Greed leads nowhere.

Ways of Buying Ethereum

Below are the most popular methods to buy Ethereum:

Buy Ethereum With Paypal

PayPal now offers a cryptocurrency trading service that allows customers to buy, sell and hold digital assets like Ethereum. Notably, this service is only open to customers in the U.S. However, that doesn’t mean you still can’t indirectly use PayPal to buy Ethereum. Many top Bitcoin exchanges, including Coinbase, allows you to fund your trading account using your PayPal account. This way, you can quickly transfer funds from PayPal to Coinbase to buy Ethereum with PayPal.

This is the same process you would use to buy Ethereum from an exchange using a bank wire option, except that PayPal is instant and easy. You can also buy Ethereum using other payment options like Skrill and Neteller.

Buy Ethereum With Credit Card

You can also buy Ethereum with a credit card directly on several crypto exchanges and investment platforms. Using a credit card option ensures instant processing compared to a bank transfer. Most investors favor credit payments for funding their accounts as they have more excellent payment protection against fraud, encrypted payments, and it is easier to withdraw your funds when you decide to cash out.

Buy Ethereum With Debit Card

If you are using a debit card, you can use it to purchase some Ethereum coins with them. Many trusted cryptocurrency exchange platform support debit card payments.

Ethereum Price

Ethereum is one of the pioneering cryptocurrencies that started its journey with a price of $2. Due to its practicality and the value it brought to the decentralized finance sector, Ethereum’s popularity grew exponentially. In just three years, Ethereum hit $1000 and started correlation after peaking at $1290. The coin kept its price above $100 during the bearish market and hit another all-time high in 2021, this time reaching $4600. 

Ethereum fell to the bearish traps of 2022, led by the fall of LUNA and FTX. The value of this altcoin dropped from its early 2022 highs of close to $4.5k to nearly $1k. Much like Bitcoin, Ethereum was also on the receiving end of the massive sell-off campaign that started in 2022 – the token has been in the volatile zones ever since.

But the bearishness of the broader crypto market is not the only thing to blame, as Ethereum’s failure to launch its Proof-of-Stake protocol in its initial days also dropped people’s interest in this token. And after the shift of Proof-of-stake was fully complete, the market was still bearish, which had little to no positive impact on the Ethereum price.

Things started to change for the better at the beginning of 2023 as the general market took an uptrend direction. With Bitcoin showing signs of recovery, Ethereum regained some of its value, but the prices started to drop once it reached $2100. This price increase was associated with its major upgrade on April 12, 2023, with the Shanghai/Capella hard fork, which facilitated the withdrawal of ETH funds staked for the Proof-of-Stake consensus process. 

Ethereum managed to keep its value above $1700 before the next uptrend. The latter took place in mid-July after it became known that the US Federal court gave flavor to the XRP coin in the SEC against the Ripple Labs law case. This time ETH peaked at $1900. But another decrease followed this as the general market with Bitcoin went down. Ethereum’s price is close to $1600 at the time of writing. 

Ethereum Price Prediction

After correcting to a massive degree in early 2022 and moving pretty much in the bearish zones till the end of that year, Ethereum finally started to find stable ground in mid-2023. Bitcoin’s recent support got passed on Ethereum, which pumped its price by nearly 70% since the beginning of 2023. 

Things, however, changed once Bitcoin price started to decrease again, and Ethereum dropped to $1600, which is still higher than its price at the beginning of 2022. But this utility-based crypto’s possibilities remain varied as the cryptocurrency crowd has well-received the recent Shanghai hard fork. 

Additionally, many utility-focused cryptocurrencies emerged last year and this year, many of which are based on Ethereum. Interest in those tokens will funnel into this altcoin to pump its price to even higher levels in 2023. However, as far as short-term prospects are concerned, Ethereum is still trading sideways. So, patience is for long-term investors.

Crypto analysts mostly predict that Ethereum will increase this year and can reach up to $4000. According to those predictions, its price will keep increasing and hitting new highs for the next years. However, whether Ether prices can soar or drop is also closely related to the condition of the general crypto market. 

If the market takes an uptrend, Ethereum is likely to follow, and if it enters another bearish cycle, ETH prices will drop accordingly. Ethereum is one of the most valuable crypto projects that is the backbone of the whole DeFi section. So, the interest in this crypto will keep growing, and ETH will go up once the general market recovers. 

Investing in Ethereum vs. Trading Ethereum

Ethereum has attracted so much admiration, given the number of decentralized applications it supports. And just like any hot stock, many people are considering whether to invest in it long-term or just buy low and sell high. Like any investment vehicle, Ethereum can be invested in and traded simultaneously.

For instance, you bought Ethereum crypto when it was just $700. Now that it has risen to over $3,000, such an investor would have made over 200% in five months. Trading Ethereum is also an option if you are experienced in understanding market movements. Professional traders who held till Ether reached the $4,500 mark and sold the top would have made profits if they sold. Now that it has dropped below the $4K mark, traders can easily buy Ethereum and hold it till it rises again.

Best Ethereum Wallet

Cryptocurrencies need digital wallets to store them. There are different types of Ethereum wallets that you can use to store your funds. We have desktop wallets, mobile wallets, hardware wallets, online wallets, and paper wallets. Cryptocurrency traders often prefer hardware, mobile, and desktop wallets. Hardware wallets are often suited for people investing in Ethereum long term. While for day or scalp traders, a desktop or mobile wallet should do the trick.

Two of the best digital wallets that we recommend are the Coinbase crypto wallet and the Binance Blockchain wallet. Both digital storages allow you to store, receive, and transfer crypto in just a few clicks. They are also user-friendly, support multiple crypto assets, and secure digital wallets you can trust to keep your crypto funds from theft. The cool thing about digital wallets is that they enable you to trade and swap over 500 crypto pairs seamlessly.

Ethereum vs. Other Cryptocurrencies

Ethereum isn’t the only cryptocurrency to enjoy worldwide appeal. Here’s a comparison with some other top assets:

Ethereum vs. Bitcoin

Bitcoin remains the only cryptocurrency to be more popular than Ethereum. Bitcoin is the pioneer digital asset, although Ethereum has more functionalities than the former.
Still, the comparisons have always been there. If Bitcoin is digital gold, Ethereum is digital silver.

Ethereum vs. Litecoin

Litecoin is a digital asset billed as the “lite version of Bitcoin.” It shares many similarities with the leading asset but hasn’t caught on like Ethereum. Litecoin used to be the third most valuable cryptocurrency. Today, it holds the 7th position.

Ethereum vs. Libra

Libra is a stablecoin project backed by an association that includes Facebook and PayPal. It was announced in June 2019, although it is yet to launch. Regulators worldwide have questioned the motive for Libra, especially given Facebook’s history with data privacy. Libra has now rebranded its name and structure. It’s called “Diem,” and the organization planned to roll out the stablecoin in 2021, although as of 2024, the Diem project appears to have been abandoned.

Ethereum vs Dogecoin

Dogecoin is the world’s largest meme coin by market cap. It doesn’t particularly have a use case, but it enjoys a loyal fanbase – including and especially Tesla CEO Elon Musk. These fans have banded to pump Dogecoin repeatedly, pushing the asset to over 12,000 percent gains in 2021 alone.

Ethereum Reddit – Keep Up to Date with Ethereum News

Reddit is a social media space that has become quickly associated with cryptocurrencies, given its heavy use by crypto enthusiasts. Given its role in the GameStop stock saga, Reddit has become the destination point for everything and anything investment opinions. The Ethereum crypto has also found a home on Reddit.

You can get a feel of what the subreddit is about by visiting the r/Ethereum subreddit. The social community created in 2013 has become home to over 900,000 builders. There, you will be able to get the latest news concerning its upcoming Ethereum 2.0 upgrade, learn about novel projects like NFTs, track the performance of the Ether token on the broader market, and connect to the community members. Alongside this, you will be shown how to complete transactions on the Ethereum network without spending too much on gas fees and learn about the crypto revolution’s progress.

Ethereum News – Latest Updates in December 2024

• The total value in the Ethereum (ETH) 2.0 deposit contract reached a new all-time high of 28,078,499 ETH – Glassnode Alerts
• Ether Capital announces additional 9,120 ETH staking (having a current value of almost C$19.7 million) – Yahoo Finance
• Vitalik Buterin previews a future built on Ethereum – Block Works
• Retail investor adoption of Ethereum is rising rapidly, according to an IntoTheBlock data report
• Ethereum will release its newest testnet, Holesky – Coin Deck 
• ARK Invest Files For First Ethereum Spot ETF – Bitcoinist

The Ethereum price opened in September 2023 at $1,645, based on the Binance ETH / USDT monthly chart. The Ethereum 2023 yearly open was $1200, the 2022 yearly open was $3,676, and the 2021 yearly open was $736. So while in 2022, the Ethereum price dropped 67.5%, the return on investment (ROI) of holding ETH from 2021 to the beginning of 2023 was 62.5%.

While technical analyses indicate that the crypto market can experience another bear cycle, the long-term predictions are in favor of Ethereum. Many crypto analysts predict the Ethereum price will recover and set new highs by 2030 in its next bull cycle but expect high volatility, as with all altcoins.

Kraken – The best way to Buy Ethereum

Buying Ethereum online is practically easy, convenient, and cost-effective. However, you need to use a top trading platform like Kraken.

Kraken is available in several countries, catering to over 40 million users worldwide, with some of the most secure crypto-storing methods.

Read more: 

• Buying Cryptocurrency in the UK
• What Is Wrapped Ethereum

FAQs on Buying Ethereum