ETH is down 0.35% today and is trading at $2,627.61

What is the price of Ethereum today?

The price of Ethereum, or 1 ETH, was $2,627.61 at 8 a.m. ET. The cryptocurrency's highest intraday price in the past year was $4,088.00 on March 12, 2024.

Ethereum price chart

*Yield comparison is as of 8:00 a.m. ET.

Although Ethereum is not the first altcoin, it is the most popular and successful one. The cryptocurrency was launched in 2015. Its blockchain has seen tremendous growth and returns over the past nine years.

Ethereum price history

The chart retrieves data daily as of 8:00 a.m. ET and does not show intraday highs or lows.

Ethereum's 52-week intraday high was $4,088.00 on March 12, 2024. Its 52-week intraday low was $1,520.00 on October 12, 2023.

The leading altcoin has shaken up the global financial markets, amassing a market capitalization of $316.53 billion, up 61% year-on-year.

Ethereum market cap

Ethereum's market cap is second only to Bitcoin at $316.53 billion. It is comparable to some major blue-chip stocks, including Coca-Cola Co. (KO) at $307 billion and Merck & Co. (MRK) at $291 billion.

ETH is a popular choice among crypto investors. Together with Bitcoin, it makes up 70% of the crypto market.

What is Ethereum?

Ethereum is a blockchain-based network that enables secure, decentralized financial transactions. The network's native cryptocurrency is Ether.

Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum's programmable blockchain allows users to securely verify and execute code, including smart contracts and decentralized applications. Smart contracts on the Ethereum network are software applications that automatically execute on the blockchain when certain predetermined conditions are met.

The decentralized nature of the Ethereum network allows developers to run programs without relying on large technology companies or other third parties. Instead of running software on cloud servers in massive Google data centers, Ethereum users can run applications by leveraging Ethereum's vast network of small, private computers.

Applications on the Ethereum blockchain include gaming, socializing, gambling, and decentralized finance options. The Ethereum blockchain is also home to the world's most significant non-fungible tokens. NFTs are unique digital creations that represent ownership of digital property, such as a piece of art, a song, or a video.

Ethereum Gas Price

Ethereum gas is the fee that network users pay to conduct transactions or use smart contracts on the network. Gas fees are comparable to highway fees. Users pay these fees to use the Ethereum blockchain.

The unit of measurement for gas fees is Gwei. One Gwei is equal to one billionth of one ETH.

Ethereum price history

Ethereum Prices 2015-2020

Ethereum was launched in July 2015 and reached its all-time low shortly thereafter. In October 2015, ETH was trading for just 42 cents.

Cryptocurrencies became increasingly popular in 2017. In January 2018, ETH reached $1,000 for the first time. A few weeks later, it reached a high of around $1,300.

The announcement of Bitcoin futures contracts by CME Group helped fuel this surge in 2017. But as the excitement faded in 2018, prices fell, leading to a crypto winter.

In 2020, prices rose again. This time, the lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic probably gave Ethereum a boost. Thanks to government stimulus and low interest rates, many Americans invested their money in cryptocurrencies.

Ethereum Prices 2021-2024

The price of Ethereum approached the $5,000 mark at the end of 2021, reaching $4,891.70 on November 16, 2021. However, rising interest rates cooled the crypto markets in 2022. Spectacular bankruptcies also hit the industry, most notably the crypto exchange FTX in November 2022. The price of ETH fell below $900 this year.

But the cryptocurrency recovered. Prices rose in 2023 and 2024. The Securities and Exchange Commission approved several Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds in January 2024.

The first U.S. Ether spot ETFs began trading on July 23, 2024. The funds come from Grayscale, Fidelity, BlackRock, and others. They are listed on the Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange, and Chicago Board Options Exchange.

In early August 2024, Ethereum prices plummeted after a widespread crypto sell-off rocked global markets. Prices fell from well above the $3,000 threshold on August 3 to less than $2,500 on August 4. Currently, ETH is trading at $2,627.61.

Bitcoin Price vs Ethereum Price

Since Ethereum's launch in 2015, Ethereum and Bitcoin have experienced massive growth.

The performance gap between the two has shifted with the launch of Bitcoin spot ETFs. Ethereum is up 61% year-on-year, while Bitcoin is up 141%.

How to buy Ethereum online

You can buy Ethereum on popular cryptocurrency exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken. Ethereum is traded under the symbol ETH. There are also online brokers that support cryptocurrency trading, such as Robinhood, Interactive Brokers, and Webull.

Additionally, you can buy Ethereum through leading payment apps Venmo and PayPal. Finally, you can also buy Ethereum directly by looking for a physical cryptocurrency ATM that sells Ether.

How to store Ethereum

To store Ethereum, you need a crypto wallet. This works like a digital version of a physical wallet used for paper money.

You have a private key that ensures only you can access the contents. The owner of a wallet's private key controls its contents.

An Ethereum wallet can be a hardware wallet that resembles a USB stick. Or it can be a software wallet app that stores ETH on a smartphone or other device. A wallet is considered “hot” when it is connected to the internet and “cold” when it is not. A “cold” wallet offers more security but less convenience.

Ethereum ETFs

Ethereum funds allow investors to speculate on the Ethereum market without purchasing Ethereum directly.

The first wave of Ethereum futures ETFs dropped in late 2023. They hold futures contracts rather than investing directly in Ethereum. Leading options include the ProShares Ether Strategy ETF (EETH), the Bitwise Ethereum Strategy ETF (AETH), and the VanEck Ethereum Strategy ETF (EFUT).

Ether spot ETFs debuted in July 2024. These include the Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE).

Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH) and iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA). Their approval could be a sign that they are softening their legal battles against some cryptocurrencies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)