Ethereum's recent performance has been steady. Since the beginning of the year, it has gained 14%, currently testing the $3,300 level repeatedly. The $3,280 mark is a key support; a break below warrants caution. Resistance is seen in the $3,385-$3,450 range. From the chart, the upward trend line remains intact. Although the hourly MACD shows some weakening, the bullish pattern has not changed, and there is a higher probability of rebounding after testing support.

Institutional signals should not be ignored. Standard Chartered Bank has issued an aggressive forecast—targeting $7,500 by the end of 2026, and aiming for $40,000 by 2030, which suggests the ETH/BTC ratio could return to its all-time high in 2021. The White House analysis team’s baseline target is $5,413, implying about 60% upside potential. On the practical side, Europe has approved fully staked ETH exchange-traded products, US regulatory frameworks are gradually becoming clearer, and leading institutions like Bitmine are continuously increasing their staking positions. Additionally, with the RWA track heating up, DeFi ecosystem active, and network throughput improvements imminent, the long-term fundamentals are indeed strong.

Operational suggestions are layered: short-term traders can gradually position themselves between $3,280 and $3,310, with stop-loss set below $3,240, and take profits at $3,370-$3,400 in stages; medium- and long-term investors can build positions gradually between $3,100 and $3,200, and consider adding more after breaking through $3,400. Remember one thing—technical indicators may show short-term pullbacks, so maintaining rationality is key.