Ethereum’s $3,000 Tug-of-War: Growing Interest Meets Stagnant Utility

Ethereum is currently caught in a paradoxical state. While the number of investors is surging, the actual usage of the network hasn't kept pace, leaving the price struggling to reclaim and hold the critical $3,000 psychological threshold.

Wallet Growth Hits Record Levels

Despite sluggish price action, investor curiosity in Ethereum is soaring. The network is currently adding an average of 163,000 new addresses daily—a significant jump from the 124,000 seen during the July peak. This influx of new wallets suggests that retail and institutional interest remains high; however, new accounts don't always translate to immediate price momentum.

The "Overheating" Warning: NVT Ratio

While the holder count grows, macro indicators suggest the price might be getting ahead of itself. Ethereum’s Network Value-to-Transactions (NVT) ratio has hit a 16-month high.

• The Risk: A high NVT indicates that the market valuation is rising much faster than actual on-chain transaction volume.
• The Reality: Without a corresponding spike in network utility (real-world usage), any price gains risk being unsustainable or "overheated."

Critical Price Levels to Watch

At a current price of roughly $2,986, Ethereum is in a consolidation phase. Its immediate future depends on whether it can flip $3,000 from resistance into support.

• The Bearish Scenario: If transaction activity stays low, ETH could face a rejection, potentially sliding back to test the $2,798 support level.
• The Bullish Scenario: If on-chain volume picks up, a successful break above $3,000 could spark a rally toward $3,131 and eventually $3,287, effectively neutralizing the current bearish outlook.

December 2025, Cryptoniteuae