#CreatorPad #### 💡 **Why is ETH rising?**

- **Institutional interest:** Analysts predict a rise to $5000 by the end of 2025 due to the potential approval of ETH-ETF and the integration of staking (locking coins to support the network).

- **Scalability:** The Pectra upgrade increased the network's throughput. Activity in Layer-2 solutions (e.g., Base) has grown by 23% over the month, reducing fees and speeding up transactions.

- **AI and DeFi:** ChatGPT is experimenting with managing finances through Ethereum smart contracts. This could increase network activity tenfold.

#### ⚠️ **Risks:**

- **Volatility:** In 2021, ETH reached $4868, but then fell to $1800. The story of a miner who sold 50 ETH just 8 days before it rose to $4200 highlights the danger of impulsive decisions.

- **Competition:** Cardano uses a scientific approach and the PoS consensus Ouroboros, but Ethereum leads in adoption (70% of the DeFi market).

#### 🌐 **Future:**

Ethereum dominates the dApps segment, processing ~1.2 million transactions daily. The Merge in 2022 reduced energy consumption by 99%, enhancing sustainability. If regulators (e.g., SEC) approve the ETH-ETF, it could attract trillions of dollars in institutional capital.