From speculation to practicality: ether.fi CEO predicts a new phase for Ethereum in 2026

ether.fi CEO Mike Silagadze recently expressed an optimistic outlook on Ethereum’s development prospects for 2026. He believes that after the turning point of massive institutional entry in 2025, Ethereum will enter a new phase driven by practical financial products rather than speculation. Currently, ETH is priced at $3,135.83, with a 6.51% increase over the past 7 days, and the market seems to have begun digesting this shift.

From Speculation to Practicality: The Turning Point

2025: The Year of Institutional Entry

Silagadze defines 2025 as Ethereum’s inflection point, marked by a surge of institutional participation. Although staking in Ethereum spot ETFs remains restricted, progress with other institutional tools like Digital Asset Vaults (DAT) is advancing more rapidly. According to him, many institutions have already begun deploying on ether.fi, and these early adopters are called “pioneers at the forefront of technology.”

More importantly, DAT has already had a positive impact on Ethereum’s price. This indicates that institutional adoption is no longer just a conceptual discussion but is actively influencing the real market.

2026: Dominance of Practical Products

Unlike the institutional influx in 2025, Silagadze expects 2026 to see the continued maturation of Ethereum’s financial ecosystem. He emphasizes that the next phase will be led by financial products familiar to ordinary users, rather than by speculation. This represents a significant mindset shift: moving from speculative pursuits of price increases to offering financial tools that provide real yields.

Crypto Banks: Key Pathways to Adoption

The Flourishing of Banking Movements

Silagadze points out that the crypto digital banking movement is thriving, with many companies entering the space. In his view, this is not a fleeting trend but one of the clear pathways to sustained Ethereum adoption.

Compared to traditional ETFs, these digital banking platforms enable users to participate more directly in on-chain activities and earn yields. This means users no longer need to navigate complex wallet operations or exchange processes but can instead access Ethereum ecosystem benefits through familiar banking interfaces.

The Global Use of Stablecoins

Silagadze emphasizes the increasing integration of stablecoins into global finance. As infrastructure for crypto banking, stablecoins allow these platforms to offer more stable financial services. This is crucial for attracting traditional finance users—they need not volatile assets but stable stores of value and income-generating tools.

Current Market Support Signals

Market data shows that Ethereum is performing steadily:

• 24-hour change: 1.00%
• 7-day change: 6.51%
• 30-day change: 0.86%
• Market cap: $37.848 billion, accounting for 12.15% of the crypto market

These figures indicate that the market recognizes the development prospects of the Ethereum ecosystem. Especially, the 7-day increase of 6.51% reflects ongoing market attention driven by institutional adoption and ecosystem maturation expectations.

Possibilities for 2026

According to Silagadze, whether Ethereum can succeed in 2026 depends on its ability to deliver practical functions at scale. This requires several key factors to advance simultaneously:

First, the real implementation of crypto banking platforms and user acquisition, rather than just fundraising and publicity. Second, the continued maturation and adoption of institutional tools like DAT to expand institutional capital. Third, the improvement of stablecoins and on-chain financial products to ensure a user experience that is sufficiently friendly.

From Silagadze’s statements, these conditions are currently being promoted, but the true test will unfold throughout 2026.

Summary

Silagadze’s outlook sketches a clear development path for Ethereum: from institutional entry in 2025 to a dominance of practical products in 2026. This is not a story about price surges but about ecosystem maturity and user base expansion.

The rise of crypto banking, progress with tools like DAT, and the global adoption of stablecoins all point in the same direction—Ethereum is transitioning from a speculative asset to a practical financial infrastructure. The current market performance and institutional adoption provide initial support for this shift.

2026 will be a critical year for Ethereum. The key is not how high the price can go but whether it can truly offer the financial products that ordinary users understand and need. This is the real foundation of long-term ecosystem value.