Ether flat for nine years, 14% below 2017 peak

Pseudonymous trader Pentoshi called ether a “cursed asset” and posted that the token has been flat for more than nine years and is roughly 14% below its 2017 peak after accounting for inflation. Ether was trading near $1,700 at the time of the post.

The token is down about 65% from its all-time high near $4,946 reached in August 2025 and has fallen roughly 44% so far in 2026. Pentoshi pointed out that ether’s price is close to the level it first reached in early 2018, around $1,400, and that inflation-adjusted comparisons place it below the 2017 high.

Critics reference the price record as evidence that years of protocol upgrades have not produced sustained gains for holders. The Ethereum Foundation has reported staff departures and there are ongoing questions about how to finance core development. Market participants report that ether has struggled to hold the $2,000 level.

Standard Chartered has maintained a long-term price target of $40,000 for ether, citing potential exchange-traded fund inflows, staking yields and increased activity on layer-2 networks as demand drivers. Supporters point to billions of dollars in decentralized finance activity, rising stablecoin settlement on Ethereum and tokenization projects running on the chain as measures of on-chain use.

Analysts identify potential catalysts that could affect price, including renewed ETF demand, successful technical upgrades and a broader market recovery. Some view part of ether’s weakness as capital rotating into competing smart-contract platforms rather than a loss of relevance for Ethereum.

Measured from its 2015 launch near $0.31, ether has produced large gains over the decade despite the decline from the 2025 peak. Market participants say they will monitor ETF flows, upgrade progress and on-chain activity for indications of a change in trend.