What is the price of ethereum today?
Ethereum, or 1 ETH, traded at $2,749.97 as of 8 a.m. ET. The highest intraday price the cryptocurrency reached in the past year was $4,088.00 on March 12, 2024.
Ethereum price chart
The return comparisons are as of 8 a.m. ET.
Although ethereum is not the first altcoin, it’s the most popular and successful. The cryptocurrency was launched in 2015. Its blockchain has generated tremendous growth and returns over the past nine years.
Ethereum price history
*The chart above is pulling data as of 8 a.m. ET daily and doesn’t display intraday highs or lows.
Ethereum’s 52-week intraday high was on March 12, 2024, trading at $4,088.00 per ETH. Its 52-week intraday low was $1,500.00 on Aug. 17, 2023.
The leading altcoin has shifted global financial markets and amassed a global market capitalization of $330.68 billion. ETH is currently up 49% year over year.
Ethereum market cap
Today, ethereum's $330.68 billion market capitalization is second to bitcoin's. Together, bitcoin and ethereum represent 72% of the entire cryptocurrency market. While ethereum is the leading altcoin, other altcoins have relatively high market capitalizations. These include solana with a market cap of $86.27 billion, XRP at $57.99 billion and everyone’s favorite “meme” coin DOGE at $15.40 billion.
Bitcoin and ethereum's combined crypto market dominance has fluctuated over the years. But it has trended steadily higher since late 2022.
Ethereum's market cap of $330.68 billion is similar to some major blue-chip stocks, such as the Coca-Cola Co. (KO) at $295 billion and Merck & Co. (MRK) at $290 billion.
What is ethereum? And how does ethereum work?
Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain-based platform. It facilitates secure financial transactions. The network’s native token is ether.
Bitcoin also uses blockchain technology. But it operates differently. Ethereum has a programmable blockchain that offers users additional utility via smart contracts. Smart contracts run automatically when certain conditions are met.
Many users prefer ethereum’s decentralized network because it doesn’t rely on Big Tech companies. The network of small, private computers doesn’t use cloud servers owned by Google or Amazon.
Ethereum’s blockchain is used for decentralized finance, gaming, socializing and gambling. Nonfungible tokens, one-of-a-kind digital collectibles, also exist on the blockchain. NFTs represent ownership of unique digital assets, such as works of art, songs and videos.
Ethereum gas price
Users pay ethereum gas fees to process transactions or use smart contracts on the network. They’re similar to highway tolls.
Gas fees are paid in gwei, a unit representing one billionth of one ETH.
A history of ethereum prices
Ethereum prices 2015-2020
Ethereum launched in July 2015. Not long after, it hit its all-time low of 42 cents in October 2015.
But that didn’t last long. Trading picked up sharply in 2017. ETH hit $1,000 for the first time in January 2018. Just two weeks later, it reached a new peak of $1,300.
CME Group’s announcement that it would offer bitcoin futures contracts drove the rally. But enthusiasm ebbed in 2018. That year saw the start of a bear market, often referred to as a “crypto winter.”
2020 brought another boom. The COVID-19 pandemic likely played a major role. The distribution of stimulus funds and low interest rates meant many Americans had money to speculate.
Ethereum prices 2021-2024
Ethereum nearly cracked $5,000 at the end of 2021, hitting $4,891.70 on Nov. 16, 2021. But interest rate increases gave investors alternatives, resulting in another cooling of the market. High-profile bankruptcies, including leading cryptocurrency exchange FTX in November 2022, also hit the industry. ETH fell under $900 that year.
But 2023 brought a new rally and more optimism from investors. That carried into 2024, with the Securities and Exchange Commission approving several bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds in January.
Ether spot ETFs started trading in the U.S. on July 23, 2024. The funds come from BlackRock, Fidelity and Grayscale, to name a few. They can be found on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and Chicago Board Options Exchange.
In early August 2024, ethereum prices plummeted after a widespread crypto sell-off hit global markets. Prices plunged from well above the $3,000 threshold on Aug. 3 to less than $2,500 on Aug. 4. Currently, ETH trades at $2,749.97.
Ethereum price vs. bitcoin price
Ethereum launched in 2015. Both ethereum and bitcoin have been spectacular investments since then.
The SEC’s approval of bitcoin spot ETFs in early 2024 has reversed the performance gap between the two cryptos. BTC is up 109% and ETH is up 49% year over year.
How to buy ethereum
One popular way to buy ETH is through crypto exchanges like Binance, Coinbase and Kraken.
You might be more comfortable using online brokerages that support cryptocurrency trading, such as Interactive Brokers, Webull, and Robinhood.
Payment apps like Venmo and PayPal have options for buying ETH. Cryptocurrency ATMs also allow for direct purchases.
How to store ethereum
To store ethereum, you must have a crypto wallet. This functions like a digital version of a physical wallet used for paper money.
You have a private key to ensure that only you can access what’s inside. The owner of a wallet’s private key controls its contents.
An ethereum wallet can be a hardware wallet resembling a USB stick. Or it can be a software wallet app storing ETH on a smartphone or another device. A wallet is considered hot if it’s connected to the internet and cold if it isn’t. A cold wallet offers more safety and security but less convenience.
Ethereum ETFs
Ethereum funds allow investors to speculate on the ethereum market without buying ethereum directly.
The first wave of ethereum futures ETFs dropped in late 2023. They hold futures contracts rather than investing in ethereum directly. Leading options include the ProShares Ether Strategy ETF (EETH), Bitwise Ethereum Strategy ETF (AETH) and VanEck Ethereum Strategy ETF (EFUT).
Ether spot ETFs debuted in July 2024. They include the Grayscale ethereum trust (ETHE).
Fidelity ethereum fund (FETH) and iShares ethereum trust (ETHA). Their approval may indicate a softening toward some cryptos in their legal fights.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Ethereum’s all-time intraday high was $4,891.70. It reached this price on Nov. 16, 2021.
Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile. That makes it difficult to predict how its price will behave. Ethereum has performed exceptionally well overall since its launch in 2015. But past performance is no guarantee of future results.
