Analysis Company Santiment Explained 7 Reasons Why Ethereum's (ETH) Price Did Not Meet Expectations!

The blockchain analytics firm Santiment published a serious and enlightening assessment highlighting Ethereum's long-standing poor performance against Bitcoin in relation to its current position in the crypto market, while also providing a nuanced perspective on the road ahead.

Ethereum (ETH) has experienced an astonishing decline of 77% against Bitcoin (BTC) since December 2021, and this statistic reflects the growing concerns among long-term holders of the world's second-largest cryptocurrency. Although ETH's performance in US dollars has not been as poor, investors who purchased in November 2021 when ETH reached its all-time high of $4,760 have yet to see profitable exit points.

Santiment acknowledged that despite maintaining its position as the second largest by market capitalization, which is 28.2% larger than Tether's (USDT), Ethereum is increasingly becoming a "subject of ridicule" compared to its highest-cap peers according to critics.

Santiment has compiled a list of key narratives and issues that could explain Ethereum's relative decline:

1. Layer-2 Competition: While Ethereum's Layer-2 scaling solutions increase transaction speeds, they have also diverted attention and capital away from ETH itself, diluting investment.
2. Investor Confusion: A complex series of upgrades including Ethereum's Merge and other protocol changes has left many investors uncertain, especially compared to Bitcoin's simple "digital gold" narrative.
3. Slow Progress and High Fees: Delays in network improvements and persistently high transaction fees have directed users towards faster and cheaper alternatives.
4. Regulatory Concerns: The ambiguous regulatory classification of Ethereum has left some investors hesitant, especially since Bitcoin has a relatively clearer legal status.
5. Rising Competitors: Blockchains like Solana and Cardano have started to attract attention by offering lower fees and greater efficiency, drawing users and developers away from Ethereum.
6. Lack of a Clear Narrative: The perception of Bitcoin as a secure store of value and new altcoins as high-risk, high-reward ventures has made it difficult for Ethereum to present its position between the two to investors.
7. Continuous Selling Pressure: The presence of staked ETH after upgrades has led to continuous selling pressure, suppressing price growth.

Despite the downward trend, Santiment urged the community not to underestimate Ethereum's achievements. The network continues to be an innovation hub led by its founder Vitalik Buterin and a dedicated developer team. With its widespread adoption in DeFi, NFTs, and institutional blockchain applications, Ethereum still has one of the most vibrant ecosystems in crypto.