Did ETH Just Signal Alt Season?
Did ETH Just Signal Alt Season?
271 days ago1000xBlockworks
Podcast52 min 35 sec
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

Analysts are very bullish on Bitcoin (BTC), citing increased institutional adoption and price targets as high as $150,000. Ethereum (ETH) is considered a key indicator for the broader market, with analysts turning bullish and seeing potential for it to double or triple from current levels. For higher growth, Aerodrome (AERO) is a high-conviction bet due to its strong fundamentals and dominant position on the Base network, with some seeing it as a potential "three-bagger or a five-bagger." The established DeFi protocol Aave (AAVE) is viewed as a potential breakout trade, as its price has not yet reflected its recent massive growth in Total Value Locked. The overall strategy suggests holding BTC as a core asset while using ETH's performance to time entries into higher-reward opportunities like AERO and AAVE.

Detailed Analysis

Ethereum (ETH)

  • The hosts, who were previously bearish on ETH, have now turned bullish and bought in. They acknowledge they missed the absolute bottom but have still made a 20% return since buying.
  • The bullish turn was driven by improving technicals, a lack of leverage in the system, and significant buying from treasury companies.
  • The ETH/BTC ratio is a key metric they watch. They were bearish when it was around 0.06 and bought back in around 0.03. One host rotated out of ETH into BTC at a ratio of 0.055 and back into ETH at 0.03.
  • The hosts believe ETH is the harbinger of "alt season." When ETH starts to perform well, it signals that capital may begin to flow into other, riskier crypto assets (altcoins).
  • One host believes ETH could double or triple from its current price but would consider rotating back into Bitcoin if ETH's market cap breaches $1 trillion, as that valuation would require "stratospheric expectations" to be met.

Takeaways

  • The sentiment on ETH has shifted from bearish to bullish among the hosts, suggesting a potential trend change.
  • Investors should monitor the flow of capital from treasury companies buying ETH, as this is seen as a major bullish driver. As long as this buying pressure continues, the outlook for ETH and related assets is considered positive.
  • ETH's performance is seen as a key indicator for the broader altcoin market. A strong ETH could signal the start of a period where other, smaller cryptocurrencies perform very well.
  • The ETH/BTC ratio is a useful tool for traders to gauge the relative strength of Ethereum compared to Bitcoin and can inform rotation strategies between the two assets.

Bitcoin (BTC)

  • The hosts use Bitcoin's recent price action as an example of why missing the initial part of a move isn't a reason to stay out. They note it went from $50k to over $72k, and someone who didn't buy then would have missed the move to a potential $107,000.
  • There is a strong bullish sentiment, with one host's "gut tingling" that Bitcoin is going straight to $150K.
  • The hosts believe Bitcoin will continue to attract flows from institutional and retail investors, as it is now accessible in 401ks and IRAs.
  • A potential scenario over the next 6-12 months is a "crazy rally" across crypto, followed by a collapse in everything except Bitcoin. In this scenario, Bitcoin might see a 25% to 35% drawdown but would then continue its upward trend due to sustained capital inflows.

Takeaways

  • The long-term outlook for Bitcoin is very bullish due to increasing accessibility and institutional adoption.
  • Price targets of $107k and $150k were mentioned, indicating significant upside potential from the hosts' perspective.
  • Bitcoin is viewed as a more resilient asset compared to the rest of the crypto market. In a potential market-wide downturn, the hosts expect Bitcoin to correct less and recover faster than altcoins.

Aerodrome (AERO)

  • The hosts are extremely bullish on Aerodrome, with one host stating, "I freaking love that token. I think it's going to flip Uniswap."
  • Bullish fundamentals include:
    • Strong Tokenomics: The protocol uses buybacks and shares fees with stakers.
    • Team Alignment: The team's tokens are locked, and they only get paid if the protocol generates emissions, meaning they are incentivized to build a useful product rather than "dump on any rally."
    • Product Superiority: It dominates liquidity on the Base network because it's cheaper to trade there, and liquidity providers (LPs) get better rewards compared to Uniswap.
  • The recent breakout of the downward trend channel is seen as a key technical signal to buy. The hosts note that the narrative is now spreading on Crypto Twitter, which will attract more capital in a "reflexive, virtuous loop."
  • The deep integration of the Base network into Coinbase is seen as "ridiculously bullish" for Aerodrome, as it will bring mainstream retail users directly to the ecosystem where Aerodrome is the dominant player.
  • One host suggests it could be a "three-bagger or a five-bagger" but cautions that it's a "magic internet coin" and you could also lose all your money.

Takeaways

  • Aerodrome is presented as a high-conviction bet with the potential to outperform its main competitor, Uniswap (UNI).
  • The combination of strong tokenomics, a breakout technical pattern, and a powerful narrative driven by the Coinbase/Base integration makes it a compelling momentum trade.
  • Investors looking for high-growth opportunities in the DeFi space should research Aerodrome, paying attention to its market share on the Base network and the ongoing development of the Coinbase on-chain experience.

Aave (AAVE)

  • Aave is identified as a potential breakout trade that the hosts are getting bullish on.
  • The primary bullish indicator is the massive growth in its Total Value Locked (TVL), which has exploded from $25 billion to $38 billion in just the last six weeks.
  • This TVL growth has not yet been reflected in a "substantial run" in the token's price, suggesting it may be undervalued relative to its recent growth.
  • The hosts believe Aave is a prime candidate to capture flows from institutional and "TradFi" investors looking for established, blue-chip DeFi protocols.

Takeaways

  • Aave is seen as a "sleeping giant" whose price has not yet caught up to its fundamental growth in TVL.
  • This presents a potential opportunity to invest before a potential price breakout, driven by the narrative of institutional capital flowing into established DeFi protocols.
  • Investors should monitor Aave's TVL on platforms like DeFiLlama as a key health metric for the protocol.

Meme Coins & High-Risk Plays

  • The hosts observe that the "gambling is back" in crypto, evidenced by the resurgence of shitcoin group chats and the pumping of obscure tokens.
  • This is seen as a sign that "animal spirits" are returning to the market, which typically happens during bull runs.
  • Specific examples mentioned (which the hosts clarify they do not own and consider scams) include:
    • Keta Network (KTA): Tripled in the last two months to a $1.5 billion fully diluted valuation (FDV).
    • REI Network (REI): Rallied from a $16 million to a $200 million market cap since April.
  • The hosts believe this type of speculative frenzy will last for a limited time, perhaps "three to five weeks," before the game is "over."
  • The strategy discussed is not to believe in the projects but to recognize the short-term gambling cycle. One host suggests it might be a "reasonable strategy" to "play this roulette for the next four weeks" by trying to find these narratives early on platforms like TikTok or by rage-baiting on Twitter for information.

Takeaways

  • The return of speculative trading in low-quality meme coins is an indicator of increasing market risk appetite.
  • While the hosts do not endorse these as long-term investments, they acknowledge a short-term, high-risk trading opportunity exists for those willing to "play the game."
  • This is a very high-risk strategy. The key is knowing not only when to enter but, more importantly, when to leave the table. The hosts suggest this window of opportunity is likely short.

NFTs

  • The NFT market, particularly on Ethereum, is showing signs of life and is rallying "bigly."
  • This resurgence is seen as being directly tied to the rally in ETH. As ETH's price goes up, capital flows into the ETH-based ecosystem, including NFTs.
  • Specific collections have seen significant gains against ETH over the last 30 days:
    • CryptoPunks: Up 32% vs. ETH
    • Pudgy Penguins: Up 34% vs. ETH
    • Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC): Up 20% vs. ETH
    • Chromie Squiggles: Up 50% vs. ETH
  • The hosts note that this rally seems concentrated on Ethereum, with the Solana NFT market feeling like a "ghost town" in comparison.

Takeaways

  • The NFT market is highly correlated with the performance of its underlying blockchain, especially Ethereum.
  • Investors looking for exposure to NFTs should watch the price of ETH as a primary indicator. A continued ETH rally could lead to further gains in blue-chip NFT collections.
  • The outperformance of established collections like Punks, Pudgies, and Squiggles suggests a "flight to quality" within the NFT space during this recovery phase.

Cannabis Sector

  • The cannabis sector is highlighted as a potential investment theme driven by political events in the U.S.
  • The potential for the Trump administration to reclassify marijuana is seen as a major catalyst for the sector.
  • The Roundhill Cannabis ETF (ticker not provided, but likely WEED or a similar symbol) was mentioned as having rallied 52% over the last month on this speculation.
  • The prediction market Polymarket gives a 38% chance for weed to be rescheduled in 2025, suggesting a potential "two-bagger" opportunity if it happens.

Takeaways

  • The cannabis sector offers a high-risk, high-reward investment opportunity that is heavily dependent on a political outcome.
  • Investors interested in this theme could gain diversified exposure through a cannabis-focused ETF.
  • Monitoring political news and prediction markets like Polymarket can provide insight into the probability of the key catalyst occurring.
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Episode Description
Gm! This week we discuss the ETH rally that has spurred the return of animal spirits. We deep dive into the ETH/BTC trade, crypto's reflexive flywheel, are we heading for an alt season, are NFTs back & more. Enjoy! -- Go follow the new 1000x feed to keep up to date with all new episodes! Spotify: https://bit.ly/4676Sob Apple: https://bit.ly/4etlBMd -- Follow Avi:  https://x.com/AviFelman Follow Jonah:  https://x.com/jvb_xyz Follow 1000x:  https://x.com/1000xPod  Join the 1000x Telegram: https://t.me/+fz-2f0cwC6o0MWNh -- Kraken OTC offers discreet, 24/7 execution for large crypto orders. Built for HNWIs and institutions trading $50K+, you get access to deep liquidity, chat-based support and flexible settlement. Learn more: kraken.com/blockworks Disclaimer: Availability of products may vary by jurisdiction. Not investment advice. Crypto trading involves risk of loss and is offered to US customers through Payward Interactive, Inc. View legal disclosures at https://kraken.com/legal/disclosures. -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and real yield, by redirecting chain revenue back to active DeFi users. The 1 billion KAT campaign is live. Bridge and deposit directly into vaults in one simple click and start earning immediately on your ETH, BTC, USDC, and more. Go to app.katana.network to check it out. -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (01:01) The ETH/BTC Trade (08:50) Crypto’s Reflexive Flywheel (14:25) Ads (Kraken OTC, Katana) (15:31) Finding Breakout Trades (24:17) Alt Season? (38:27) How To Trade This Cycle (41:06) Ads (Kraken OTC, Katana) (42:13) Why ETH Needs To Pump (45:33) Are NFTs Back? (48:50) What's Happening In TradFi? -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed
About 1000x
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By Blockworks

1000x is a crypto markets podcast hosted by professional traders Avi Felman and Jonah Van Bourg. We bring on experts to dive deep into the macro and micro factors that represent the lifeblood of digital money and web3. As an increasing share of economic activity and attention migrates online, tokenomics and price action is increasingly relevant to everyone. If you’re interested in the future of markets and crypto, this show is for you.