Arthur Hayes Predicts Ether Will Reach $10,000 by 2026
The investor forecast comes as spot Ether ETFs accumulate nearly $14 billion in total inflows.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Investing
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Arthur Hayes projects that Ether will reach $10,000 by the end of 2026. This forecast was shared at Korea Blockchain Week in Seoul as the cryptocurrency trades near $2,700.
Why it matters
Hayes attributes his optimistic outlook for Ether to its network security and significant capital deployment capacity. This projection stands in contrast to the asset's current performance, which remains 46% below its record high of $4,946.
Ether experienced a 70% price increase in the third quarter of 2026 following losses of 29.26% in the first quarter and 25.28% in the second quarter. Spot Ether ETFs currently hold $13.95 billion in cumulative inflows.
The players
Arthur Hayes
He is a prominent cryptocurrency investor and co-founder of the BitMEX exchange.
The details
Hayes made his bullish case for the asset while highlighting the structural strengths of the underlying network. Despite this long-term outlook, recent fund activity showed a cooling trend when a streak of daily inflows for spot ETFs ended on September 18 with a $2.8 million outflow.
Timeline
Q1 2026 saw the price of Ether decrease by 29.26%.
Q2 2026 resulted in a 25.28% decline in the price of Ether.
Q3 2026 featured a nearly 70% increase in the value of Ether.
September 18, 2026 marked the end of a daily inflow streak for Ether ETFs.
The end of 2026 is the targeted timeframe for the $10,000 price projection.
Market Dynamics
This forecast reflects the ongoing volatility in the digital asset sector as it follows cyclical trends established by institutional adoption cycles. The volatility mirrors broader historical shifts in crypto markets where quarterly gains and losses alternate significantly.
Retail investors should note that current market volatility remains high, with Ether trading significantly below its all-time high despite recent quarterly growth. The reliance on long-term projections requires careful portfolio risk assessment relative to historical price fluctuations.
The takeaway
While institutional interest represented by ETF inflows suggests a mature interest in the asset, price forecasts remain speculative and subject to rapid market changes. Investors should rely on fundamental network metrics rather than price targets alone when assessing entry points.
Further reading
For more analysis on market movements, visit our Investing section.
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