In this cycle of Ethereum's upward trend, the most noteworthy aspects are the dual changes in technical and capital fundamentals.

Recently, a signal that cannot be ignored has emerged—top analysts from traditional financial research institutions are starting to bet on Ethereum. According to publicly available information, this veteran analyst, who has successfully predicted multiple market cycles, has set a clear target: Ethereum could surge to $7,000 in the first quarter of next year. This is not just community hype but an official conclusion from Wall Street's research system.

Why is this time different?

Firstly, from a technical perspective, Ethereum is advancing its privacy protocol upgrade. The significance of this upgrade goes beyond the technology itself—it means ETH transactions can achieve a higher level of privacy protection. For high-net-worth individuals and institutional capital, this addresses a long-standing concern: conducting large transactions on fully transparent public blockchains. The privacy upgrade transforms Ethereum from a purely transparent ledger into an infrastructure capable of supporting institutional-level privacy needs. This is especially critical in attracting traditional capital.

Secondly, the capital channels are opening up. The launch of spot ETFs has paved a compliant path for institutions to allocate crypto assets. Coupled with the technical moat provided by the privacy upgrade, this forms a complete institutional entry system—offering both differentiated competitive advantages at the technical level and capital channels at the compliance level. In simple terms, all obstacles for Wall Street to enter are being removed.

Looking at the broader market environment, macro liquidity is shifting, and the new narrative in the crypto market has been scarce. Against this backdrop, Ethereum’s privacy upgrade provides a truly disruptive new story—it is not just simple price speculation or conceptual description, but a tangible technological breakthrough capable of supporting large-scale capital inflows.

What might happen if these signals converge?

Based on past experience, when top traditional financial analysts start providing specific target levels, it often indicates they have already grasped capital flows and fundamental signals that retail investors have not fully recognized. Such predictions usually represent that institutions have completed preliminary validation of their views and allocation plans.

If Ethereum truly initiates a new upward cycle, the chain reaction will be significant. The valuation system of the entire crypto market will be restructured; Bitcoin will no longer be the sole leader, and altcoins will also resonate. This is no longer just about a single asset’s performance but a signal that the entire sector is entering a new phase.

Of course, all market forecasts should be viewed rationally. The key is to observe the actual progress of the privacy upgrade, the real inflow of institutional funds, and macroeconomic changes. But based on the current roadmap, policy environment, and capital signals, there are strong reasons to remain attentive to Ethereum’s medium-term prospects.

Markets often surprisingly validate seemingly overly optimistic predictions—as long as the fundamental support is genuine.