- Ethereum’s price action for 2024-2025 is structurally resembling 2016-2017 in its rally phase, and it looks to be entering a vertical breakout phase.
- Strategic Ethereum Reserves have jumped from $3B to $10B in six weeks and have amassed 2.45% of the total supply, demonstrating growing institutional accumulation.
- This cycle has greater liquidity, deeper adoption, and institutional entry, all of which set Ethereum apart from its 2017 retail-based rally.
Ethereum appears to be mirroring its 2016–2017 breakout phase, according to multiple chart comparisons and expert observations. The structure, momentum, and market environment now resemble the early stages of Ethereum’s historic 40x surge.
Chart Structure Echoes Past Cycle
A comparative chart analysis posted by MerlijnTrader shows Ethereum’s 2024–2025 cycle replicating the pattern of its 2016–2017 run. The chart indicates a similar structure: prolonged consolidation, followed by a breakout. In 2017, ETH moved from below $10 to nearly $400 within a year.
In 2025, Ethereum’s price structure is forming what analysts call a “fractal similarity” to the past. Price candles now show a vertical momentum shift, a trait common in early-stage parabolic rallies. The pattern includes an accumulation range, a correction, and a current upswing that closely reflects 2017’s ignition phase.
The analyst notes that Ethereum recently bounced off the $2,000 level and is challenging the $4,000 mark. If the chart continues to play out, the projected path could see Ethereum crossing into the $20,000–$30,000 range.
Market Conditions Strengthen Ethereum’s Position
Unlike the prior cycle in 2017, today’s environment provides more liquidity, improved fundamentals, and stronger institutional participation. Ethereum is now central to DeFi, NFT infrastructure, and Layer 2 scaling. This gives it a more ingrained resilience and position to grow well into the future.
MerlijnTrader pointed out that today’s ETH is no longer speculative. It serves as foundational infrastructure for numerous blockchain applications. The presence of spot ETF interest and improved regulatory clarity further strengthens this cycle’s trajectory.
Price action alone isn’t the only signal. Market participants now include institutional investors and strategic buyers with large reserves. This is a major shift from the retail-driven momentum that characterized 2017. As a result, the current cycle has stronger support behind the price rally.
Ethereum Reserves See Accelerated Growth
Cas Abbé added to the narrative by sharing data on the Strategic Ethereum Reserve (SER). According to Abbé, the SER has grown from under $3 billion to over $10 billion in just six weeks. It now controls 2.45% of Ethereum’s total supply.
This rapid growth signals growing long-term confidence in Ethereum’s value proposition. Institutional entities appear to be accumulating ETH, viewing it as a high-value digital asset. Abbé predicts ETH could reach $6,000–$8,000 by Q4 2025.
The SER’s rapid expansion now surpasses even Bitcoin’s accumulation rate in certain periods. This trend supports the broader argument that Ethereum is transitioning into a preferred asset for strategic holders. The level of accumulation indicates ETH is no longer viewed as a short-term trade.
As the fractal structure aligns and institutional support rises, Ethereum’s market dynamics reflect a cycle with deeper momentum and broader adoption.
