$ETH

Although he is critical of Ethereum, Hoskinson still appreciates the proposal to transition from EVM to RISC-V, a more modern software architecture recently suggested by Vitalik Buterin. He believes this is a step in the right direction, optimizing the execution layer while still retaining familiar programming languages like Solidity and Vyper.

Additionally, two major upgrades, Pectra and Fusaka, expected to launch this year, are anticipated to help Ethereum "revitalize" as it has shown in the past with Dencun 2024 and The Merge 2022 - meaning the protocol's token, ETH, could return to the value the community expects.

However, Hoskinson emphasizes that merely upgrading the technology is not enough. Ethereum needs to reform both its governance model and tokenomics system if it wants to survive and thrive. Otherwise, this platform risks being overtaken by networks that adapt more quickly, especially in the context of diminishing investor interest in Ethereum.

After a not-so-promising start to 2025, ETH has surged from the 1,500 USD range to 1,815 USD before slightly decreasing to around 1,750 USD currently. This still represents a 9.3% increase over the past 7 days, a general market recovery in crypto due to the Trump administration's change of heart regarding the Fed and China. Nevertheless, this upward momentum is still not enough to alleviate the long-term concerns raised by experts like Hoskinson.