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Ethereum native&rsquo;s token, Ether, has rallied over 12% since slumping to over $2,000 earlier this month following the crypto market&rsquo;s drawdown. However, while most altcoins have struggled to master meaningful recovery, Ethereum has received plaudits for its bullish outlook. With its sentiment turning in favor of the largest altcoin, one popular crypto analyst, Ted Pillows, believes that ETH is &ldquo;destined&rdquo; for a breakout to $10,000. Let&rsquo;s discuss some of the key reasons that he stated drive this prediction.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Data suggests new Ether&rsquo;s all-time highs could be around the corner&nbsp;
In a recent post on X, analyst Ted Pillows compared Ether&rsquo;s current price action to Bitcoin&rsquo;s movement during the previous bull market cycle, saying that they have a similar bullish pattern. Pillows highlights historical data that suggests that in the 2015-2017 bull cycle, the price of Bitcoin reached a bear market bottom at around $200. After a period of rangebound action and extreme volatility, the crypto ultimately bounced back in a parabolic rally toward a price of almost $800, representing a new historic high for the token at that time. According to his analysis, Ethereum is mirroring a similar scene, having completed its accumulation and recently breaching stubborn resistance levels. Ether has also undergone considerable volatility recently, exacerbated by broader crypto market sell-offs that pulled its price below the psychologically important $3,000 price point.&nbsp;&nbsp;While Bitcoin has risen by 90% in the last year, Ethereum has plunged by 6% during the same timeframe, in contrast. While Bitcoin hit a fresh all-time high of $108,000, Ether has yet to surpass its current record price of $4,800, which was registered back in November 2021. However, Pillows listed some factors that could buy the second cryptocurrency&rsquo;s bullish outlook.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Ethereum remains the king of decentralized finance
First, he stated that Ethereum&rsquo;s total value is locked (TVL), and stablecoin liquidity is dominant. At the current time, many in the industry still crown Ether as the &ldquo;decentralized finance king&rdquo;, successfully capturing over 52% of the total DeFi market TVL. This also emphasized the effect of growing institutional interest and accumulation, as Ether&rsquo;s holders could see many direct benefits from Ethereum gaining more exposure. He also noted that Ethereum currently boasts a lower inflation rate than Bitcoin and 99% of altcoins in the market. Based on these bullish factors, Pillows suggests that investors and traders alike should aim for the moon, indicating that a $5,000 target is too conservative while advocating for a lofty $10,000 prediction. Meanwhile, Ether holders are also hopeful that the potential approval of staking integration within spot ETH exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which are currently being reviewed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), could trigger a move back above $3,000 in the near term.
&nbsp;
Factors Influencing Ethereum&rsquo;s Price Trajectory
Besides Pillows&rsquo;s analysis of Ethereum&rsquo;s potential to reach an all-time high this year, there are some key factors that could influence Ethereum&rsquo;s price trajectory in 2025.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Layer-2 scaling solutions and network upgrades</li>
</ul>
Ethereum&rsquo;s biggest challenge has long been scalability and transaction fees. To address this, Ethereum has been integrating Layer-2 scaling solutions such as Optimistic Rollups and Zero-knowledge Rollups (Zk-Rollups). These solutions allow transactions to be processed off-chain before settling on the Ethereum mainnet, significantly reducing costs and increasing transaction speeds. The Ethereum development team has also been focusing on the next set of upgrades, known as the Ethereum Improvement Proposal, which will further optimize network efficiency and reduce gas fees. These advancements could drive higher adoption rates and institutional interest.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Institutional investment and market sentiment</li>
</ul>
Ethereum has gained significant attention from institutional investors. Large financial firms and hedge funds have been increasing their exposure to Ethereum, especially through Ethereum-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and staking products. In recent months, several financial institutions have reported increased ETH holdings, signaling confidence in Ethereum&rsquo;s long-term viability, which could impact the demand and push the price higher.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Whale accumulation&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Whales often play a crucial role in price trends, as their accumulation suggests long-term confidence in Ethereum&rsquo;s value proposition. As more large investors enter the Ethereum ecosystem, the supply will decrease and could lead to a price increase due to supply-demand dynamics. If whale accumulation continues at the current rate, Ethereum could experience a strong upward trajectory throughout 2025.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Regulatory clarity and market adoption</li>
</ul>
One of the biggest hurdles for cryptocurrencies has been regulatory uncertainty. However, Ethereum has positioned itself better than many other cryptocurrencies due to its proof-of-stake (PoS) transition and decentralized nature. If regulators worldwide provide clear guidelines for Ethereum staking and DeFi applications, it could open doors for mass adoption by traditional financial institutions. A favorable regulatory framework could drive billions in institutional capital into Ethereum, propelling its price toward the $10,000 milestone.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The broader cryptocurrency market cycle</li>
</ul>
Historically, Ethereum price movements have been closely tied to Bitcoin&rsquo;s market cycle. During previous bull runs, Ethereum has often outperformed Bitcoin in percentage gains, reaching new all-time highs. If <a href="https://www.analyticsinsight.net/bitcoin">Bitcoin</a> enters a new bull cycle in 2025, Ethereum is expected to follow, possibly exceeding its previous all-time high of $4,878. Many analysts believe that Ethereum could reach $10,000 if Bitcoin surpasses $100,000, driven by institutional FOMO (fear of missing out) and increased adoption of blockchain-based applications.
&nbsp;
Challenges and risks for Ethereum&nbsp;
Despite its strong fundamentals, Ethereum still faces several challenges that could impact its price growth.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Market Volatility</li>
</ul>
Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and unexpected market crashes could delay Ethereum&rsquo;s price appreciation. Economic downturns, global financial instability, or crypto market corrections could cause temporary setbacks.
<ul>
<li>Competition from Other Blockchains</li>
</ul>
Ethereum has been facing increased competition from faster and cheaper alternatives such as Solana, Avalanche, and Polygon. These platforms offer lower transaction fees and higher scalability, attracting developers and users away from Ethereum.
<ul>
<li>Regulatory Risks</li>
</ul>
Although Ethereum has avoided regulatory scrutiny compared to Bitcoin, governments worldwide may tighten crypto regulations, affecting Ethereum staking, DeFi applications, and institutional investments.
<ul>
<li>Technological Challenges</li>
</ul>
While Ethereum&rsquo;s upgrades have improved its efficiency, implementing scalability solutions and maintaining network security will be crucial for long-term success. Any technical setbacks could delay Ethereum&rsquo;s growth trajectory.
&nbsp;
Can Ethereum reach $10,000 by 2025?
Ethereum&rsquo;s fundamentals remain strong, with ongoing technological advancements that can increase institutional adoption and a growing DeFi ecosystem. While short-term volatility is expected, Ethereum&rsquo;s long-term outlook is promising, and many analysts believe that the token has the potential to surpass $10,000 by 2025. However, achieving this milestone will depend on market conditions, regulatory clarity, institutional participation, and Ethereum&rsquo;s ability to maintain its dominance in the blockchain space. What do you think about this? Will Ethereum reach an all-time high this year, or will it take longer than anticipated?&nbsp;

Ted Pillows, a crypto analyst, discusses the key reasons why Ethereum has received plaudits for its bullish outlook following the crypto market's drawdown, as well as how it is "destined" to break through $10,000 this cycle. 

Key reasons why Ethereum is ÃÂdestinedÃÂ to rocket past $10,000 this cycle

Key reasons why Ethereum is "destined" to rocket past $10,000 this cycle

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin recently announced that the legislation institute would establish new regulations called the &ldquo;Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act&rdquo; for the United States&rsquo; crypto ATM industry. This bill was created as many crypto ATM machines have come under increasing scrutiny as many of them are being used for scams where victims have lost thousands of dollars in a single visit. Let&rsquo;s discuss together what this new bill is all about.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
What are crypto ATMs?&nbsp;
Crypto ATMs are becoming increasingly common in today&rsquo;s digital age. Similar to the usual ATM machines, crypto ATMs offer a legitimate and easy way for people to do cryptocurrency transactions. As their popularity increased, we can now see them popping up in many crowded locations, such as gas stations, convenience stores, malls, and even grocery stores. For example, five years ago, there were roughly 1,000 crypto ATMs only in Texas. But now, there are more than 3,500 in the state and nearly 30,000 crypto ATMs across the nation.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
What is the bill all about?&nbsp;
Last year, the FBI already warned that as technology evolves, the numbers of scammers are also increasing, with many of them using these crypto ATM machines to do their dirty work. The increased number of crypto ATM scams also leads to significant money losses for victims. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumer losses in crypto ATM scams skyrocketed tenfold to around $114 million from 2020 to 2023. However, the number only includes reported losses, suggesting that the actual amount could be higher than that. It is also reported that many scammers use intimidation and manipulation to scare people outside of the crypto industry into dumping their life savings into the crypto ATMs. They usually posed as representatives from a bank or law enforcement agency and told the victims that they needed to withdraw a large amount of cash from their bank to pay (for missing jury duty, for example) and deposit it into a crypto ATM. Many victims of these types of scams are elderly people or new users who have limited knowledge and understanding of technology and the world of cryptocurrency.&nbsp;
This is why the Senate bill comes into play, as it is developed to be a solution for these kinds of problems. The proposed federal legislation includes several measures to protect consumers and reduce the chance of them being scam victims:&nbsp;
<ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Transaction limits: new users will have a transaction limit of $2,000 per day and $10,000 total over the first 14 days.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Live confirmation: transactions above $500 will require live and verbal confirmation for new users.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Refund policy: full refunds will be provided if a new user reports fraud within 30 days.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Warnings:&nbsp; crypto ATM operators must provide clear warnings about the risk of fraud.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Anti-fraud policy: operators must develop a comprehensive anti-fraud policy and appoint a chief compliance officer who will be responsible for this. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Registration and disclosure: operators must provide receipts with sufficient information to trace transactions. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Receipts: operators must provide receipts with sufficient information to trace the transaction.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</ul>
The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Durbin, stated that it is important to be aware that as technology evolves, the number of scammers is also increasing, and this bill would help curb the efficiency of these scams. Three states in the United States (Minnesota, California, and Vermont) have already set daily transaction limits for Bitcoin ATMs. The Senate bill states that it will defer to state regulations as long as they do not conflict with less stringent ones.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Response from ATM operators regarding the news
NBC News has asked three crypto ATM operators, including Bitcoin Depot, CoinFlip, and Athena Bitcoin, for comment on Durbin&rsquo;s legislation. These companies operate the most Bitcoin ATMs in the United States. A spokesperson for CoinFlip reportedly responded in a statement that thousands use the kiosks daily for legitimate transactions, calling them critical to the cryptocurrency sphere and fully in support of the legislation&rsquo;s decision to include strong and consistent protections for consumers while still preserving their right to access digital currencies at the same time. Other crypto ATM operators have also expressed support for efforts to crack down on scams in letters to Congress, with some noting that their current safeguards already go above and beyond to protect consumers.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The conclusion
Senator Durbin&rsquo;s legislation is one of the first proposals focused on crypto regulation in the 119th session of Congress, following several stablecoin-related proposals in the House and Senate. However, it remains unclear whether this legislation, backed by the Democratic Party, will gain enough support to pass in the Republican-controlled Congress and be signed into law by the current President. This legislation is potentially an important step in creating better regulations to tackle fraud in the growing crypto industry, as well as protect consumers, especially those vulnerable to fraud.&nbsp;

A new Senate bill is being introduced with the potential to limit transactions at crypto ATMs in order to combat scams in the crypto industry. 


This new Senate bill would limit transactions at crypto ATMs in 2025

Recently, the controversial figure Elon Musk has continued to push his startup, xAI,&nbsp; to keep pace with the advanced reasoning and search capabilities of competitors&rsquo; AI models. If you thought ChatGPT and Gemini were advanced, Grok 3 is claimed to raise the stakes and bring more intelligence, wit, and a little bit of Musk-style chaos into the mix.
&nbsp;
What is Grok 3, and why should we care?&nbsp;
Elon Musk recently unveiled a new AI model that serves as an updated version of Grok 2 and is called Grok 3. Grok itself is named after a sci-fi term that means &ldquo;to understand deeply&rdquo; and is considered to be Musk&rsquo;s answer to mainstream AI chatbots. While Grok 1 and Grok 2 made waves with their X-integrated features and edgy personalities, Grok 3 is taking things up to the next level with enhanced reasoning, a broader knowledge base, and an even more human-like conversation style.&nbsp;
What sets Grok apart from the crowd? Unlike other AI models that tend to play it safe, Grok 3 is believed to be embracing humor, sarcasm, and a more dynamic personality. It&rsquo;s designed not just to inform people but also to engage with them as well, making interactions feel more natural and entertaining. In an event live-streamed on his X account, leaders at the Musk-led startup claimed that Grok 3 could perform better across a variety of fields, including math, science, and coding benchmarks, compared to top AI models in the industry nowadays such as Google&rsquo;s Gemini, OpenAI&rsquo;s ChatGPT, and the DeepSeek AI model. The company also described the model&rsquo;s new features that Grok 2 didn&rsquo;t have, such as advanced web searching with &ldquo;deep search," the ability to code online games, and a new &ldquo;big brain&rdquo; mode to reason through various complex problems and situations. Musk believes that the new Grok 3 is the answer to these questions and stated that the Grok 3 is built with 10 times the computer power compared to the Grok 2 after the company opened a new data center location to experiment with the model last year. Additionally, xAI is also reportedly using an enormous data center containing around 200,000 GPUs to train the Grok 3 AI model. It is reported that Grok 3 will be immediately available to members of X&rsquo;s $40 per month subscription plans or users who have subscribed directly on Grok&rsquo;s stand-alone app or website.
&nbsp;
How Does Grok 3 Compare to the Competition?&nbsp;
With OpenAI&rsquo;s ChatGPT, Google&rsquo;s Gemini, and China&rsquo;s DeepSeek all vying for AI dominance, where does Grok 3 fit in? As we all know, Elon Musk has always pushed for AI to be more engaging and less censored, and Grok 3 doubles down on that philosophy. It offers fewer content restrictions, meaning that it&rsquo;s less likely to avoid controversial topics or give vague, generic answers. Additionally, Grok&rsquo;s direct link to X gives it an edge when it comes to real-time news and cultural trends, something that other AI chatbots often struggle with.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
How does the announcement affect the AI industry?&nbsp;
The recent announcement comes as competition in the AI industry continues to ramp up, with big tech companies around the world racing and competing to invest more in strong data centers to fuel more powerful AI models. Many tech giants in 2025 have already believed that AI is on the way to revolutionizing how people work, communicate, and navigate the internet, including by replacing traditional search engines and coding processes. The new Grok 3 AI model has also gained many people&rsquo;s attention, especially since Elon Musk has also taken on a key role in reshaping the federal government as a special government employee under the current U.S. President Donald Trump, making him have a huge influence not only in the political space but also in the AI field. One example of his influence is how he led a group of investors to buy OpenAI for $97 billion, the latest move in his ongoing rivalry with the ChatGPT parent company&rsquo;s CEO, Sam Altman. Musk has accused OpenAI of abandoning its mission to help humanity because of the company&rsquo;s plans to transition away from its non-profit structure and encourage the company to open source more of its technology. Talking about the same topic, Musk also highlights that he will make the code behind its previous Grok 2 model publicly available when Grok 2 is mature and stable in the coming months.&nbsp;
While the new AI model is considered a kind of beta test now, Musk highlights that people can expect rapid improvements as the model is being used in the market. He also teased a voice mode for Grok 3 that will act similarly to the natural conversation feature on competitor apps, which is planned to be rolled out in the coming days.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Final Thoughts: What can we expect from Grok 3?&nbsp;
When Grok was announced 2 years ago, Musk pitched the AI model as edgy, unfiltered, and willing to answer controversial questions other AI systems don&rsquo;t, which led to many people calling the model too vulgar and wild. However, Grok 3 stated that the model hedged on political subjects and wouldn&rsquo;t cross certain boundaries. A study reported by Wired explained that the previous Grok 2 AI model leaned to the &ldquo;political left&rdquo; on topics like transgender rights, diversity programs, and inequality. Musk has blamed the behavior on the previous Grok&rsquo;s training data and pledged to make the Grok 3 closer to politically neutral in the future
Elon Musk has never been one to play it safe, and Grok 3 is proof of that. It&rsquo;s an AI that is designed to be smarter, funnier, and more in tune with the chaotic energy of the internet culture. Whether it&rsquo;s the future of AI or just another step in the race for artificial intelligence supremacy, one thing is clear: Grok 3 is claimed to have the ability to shake things up.
In the end, what do you think about the new Grok 3 AI model? Do you think that we can believe Musk's claims that Grok 3 will outperform major AI models in the market, such as ChatGPT, or is it just simply a claim that isn&rsquo;t in line with reality and sparks controversy because of its &ldquo;funny and chaotic&rdquo; responses?&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Elon Musk recently launched a brand new AI model that serves as an elevated version of Grok 2, named Grok 3, with updated features that are claimed to outperform many AI models in the industry, such as ChatGPt and DeepSeek.    

Elon Musk launched a Âscary smartÂ AI model: can it outperform ChatGPT and DeepSeek?  

Elon Musk launched a "scary smart" AI model: can it outperform ChatGPT and DeepSeek?  

As we know, in recent years, we have seen artificial intelligence continue to alter many people&rsquo;s lives and industries, from hospitality, education, entertainment, finance, and many more. The rise of artificial intelligence has also brought both opportunities and challenges. One of the recent cases that became a global controversy is China's groundbreaking AI advancement called DeepSeek. Designed by China, a country that is popular for its technological innovation, the AI has the ability to revolutionize stock trading with unparalleled precision. The one-year-old startup has revealed a stunning capability to the world and presented a ChatGPT-like AI model called R1, which has all the familiar abilities like OpenAI&rsquo;s, Google's, or Meta&rsquo;s popular AI models. The company also said recently that it had spent just $5.6 million on computing power for its base model, compared with the hundreds of millions or billions of dollars U.S. companies spend on their AI technologies, which has sent shockwaves to many.&nbsp;
Many people in the tech industry also praised the AI technology, including Marc Andreessen, one of the world&rsquo;s leading tech investors, that called DeepSeek as &ldquo;one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs I&rsquo;ve ever seen.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
What is DeepSeek?&nbsp;
The startup DeepSeek was founded in 2023 in Hangzhou, China, and released its first AI large language model later that year. Its CEO Liang Wenfeng previously co-founded one of China&rsquo;s top hedge funds, High-Flyer, which focuses on AI-driven quantitative trading. By 2022, the fund had amassed a cluster of 10,000 high-performance A100 graphics processor chips from California-based Nvidia, which are used to build and run AI systems. The U.S. soon after restricted sales of those chips to China. DeepSeek has said its recent models were built with Nvidia&rsquo;s lower-performing H800 chips, which are not banned in China, sending a message that the fanciest hardware might not be needed for cutting-edge AI research. DeepSeek began attracting more attention in the AI industry last month when it released a new AI model that was on par with similar models from U.S. companies, such as ChatGPT maker OpenAI, and was way more cost-effective. The chatbot became more widely accessible when it appeared on Apple and Google app stores early this year. It also became the most downloaded app on Apple&rsquo;s US App Store a couple of days ago.
&nbsp;
What makes DeepSeek groundbreaking?
DeepSeek&rsquo;s AI relies on advanced machine learning to analyze data at lightning speed. It can process market trends, global events, and even social media sentiment to guide Chinese investors. While this innovation is empowering for its users, its ability to predict market movements and exploit global inefficiencies is putting pressure on international markets. One of the &ldquo;victims&rdquo; is the U.S. stock market. The market has already experienced unexpected drops as DeepSeek's influence causes Chinese traders to shift their investments away from Western markets, exacerbating sell-offs in tech-heavy indices such as the NASDAQ. Similarly, the crypto market, already known for its volatility, has taken a hit as well as Chinese capital flows out of major coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum, spurred by DeepSeek&rsquo;s strategic reallocations.
The effects of DeepSeek are amplified by its timing. The U.S. economy, grappling with inflation and tech layoffs, was already vulnerable when the platform entered the scene. With Chinese traders using DeepSeek&rsquo;s tools to pull out of Western assets and reinvest domestically, the already fragile balance of global financial markets is being disrupted easily. One example is how Nvidia has lost nearly $600 billion in market value because of the Chinese AI, the biggest drop in the history of the US market, according to Bloomberg. Analysts have warned that the new wave of AI-driven trading may cause prolonged instability as traditional systems struggle to adapt to DeepSeek's rapid, data-driven strategies.
The AI advancement is also leading investors to question the lead that U.S. companies have, how much is being spent, and whether that spending will lead to profits or even overspending. Especially since the U.S. is known for many things driven by tech and AI.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
However, the AI has been a target of critics.
Many critics argue that the platform&rsquo;s unchecked influence underscores the risks of AI in finance. DeepSeek&rsquo;s dominance highlights how technology can skew market dynamics and even spark unintended consequences on a global scale. This led to a call for international regulations that are also growing louder, with experts suggesting that collaboration between countries is needed to address these challenges. The newly inaugurated U.S. President, Donald Trump, has also said that DeepSeek&rsquo;s release &ldquo;should be a wake-up call&rdquo; for American tech industries to laser-focus on competing to win.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Conclusion&nbsp;
While DeepSeek may be a beacon of innovation for China&rsquo;s investors, its disruptive impact on the U.S. stock and crypto markets is a stark reminder of the double-edged sword that is AI-driven finance. As AI continues to shape the future of investing, platforms like DeepSeek serve as both a warning and an opportunity. For markets worldwide, adapting to this new reality will require more than just resilience&mdash;it will demand proactive strategies and a commitment to balancing innovation with stability. Regardless, DeepSeek&rsquo;s sudden arrival is a &ldquo;flex&rdquo; by China and a &ldquo;black eye for US tech&rdquo; currently. What DeepSeek has done also could have a significant impact and spark renewed investor interest in undervalued Chinese AI companies, providing a growth story in the future.&nbsp;

A new Chinese AI advancement called DeepSeek has a disruptive impact on the U.S. stock and crypto markets and shifts investment options away from the Western markets. 

A shocking Chinese AI advancement is sending the U.S. stock market to plummet 

A new Chinese AI advancement called DeepSeek has a disruptive impact on the U.S. stock and crypto markets and shifts investment options away from the Western markets. 


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