Ethereum continues to attract strong interest from institutions and long-term market participants. While price swings remain common in crypto markets, the overall story around ETH has moved firmly toward long-term structure and adoption. Its growing importance in decentralized finance, stablecoin activity, and tokenized assets is shaping how investors view its future value.
At the same time, Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is entering conversations for a very different reason. Instead of short-term price action, attention is focused on its Anti-VC Launch Model, which is designed to change how presales work by removing private capital influence from early token distribution.
Analysts Suggest Ethereum’s Next Growth Phase Could Reach $40K
Ethereum’s long-term outlook gained further support after a January 12, 2026, report from Standard Chartered. The bank suggested that ETH could climb to $40,000 by 2030 and potentially outperform Bitcoin during the next major market cycle.
This outlook is built on Ethereum’s strong position across several core areas:
- •Ethereum leads tokenisation, hosting more than $10 billion in crypto and real-world assets
- •Most global stablecoins operate on Ethereum, with many backed by US Treasury holdings
- •Continued growth in DeFi and on-chain settlement strengthens Ethereum’s network effects
The report also noted similarities between current market conditions and 2021, when Ethereum significantly outperformed Bitcoin. During that period, the ETH-to-BTC ratio peaked near 0.08, compared to around 0.03 today, suggesting room for relative improvement.
From an Ethereum price prediction view, the bank adjusted short-term expectations while keeping long-term confidence intact. ETH is now projected at $7,500 in 2026, $15,000 in 2027, and $40,000 by 2030, pointing to adoption-led growth rather than hype-driven cycles.
Why $3T and $19T Matter for Ethereum’s Future
Several large-scale trends continue to support Ethereum’s positive outlook:
- •Stablecoins may expand into a $3 trillion market by 2030, based on US Treasury estimates
- •Tokenized assets could exceed $19 trillion by 2033, according to projections from Ripple and BCG
Although Ethereum ETFs have seen outflows since late 2025, analysts argue that this has less impact on ETH compared to Bitcoin. Ethereum’s demand is driven more by real usage and on-chain activity than by ETF flows alone.
Zero Knowledge Proof Gains Massive Attention in 2026
Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is addressing a major issue in the AI space, the growing privacy challenge valued at over $100 billion. By using zk-SNARKs and zk-STARKs, a form of cryptography described by Vitalik Buterin as more important than Bitcoin, ZKP allows sensitive data to remain private while still being used for computation.
Traditional blockchains make all data public, but ZKP allows AI systems to train on encrypted hospital or banking data without exposing private information. This opens access to markets worth hundreds of billions that other platforms cannot serve.
Analysts discussing potential 600x outcomes base their views on active technology rather than concepts. Early participants entering between $0.05 and $0.10 could see valuations reach $30 to $60 if ZKP secures just 5% of its addressable market. In that scenario, a $10,000 entry could grow to $6 million within three to five years, based on infrastructure already operating today.
Inside ZKP’s Anti-VC Launch Model
Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is standing out for reasons that go beyond technology or market timing. Its core difference lies in structure, known as the Anti-VC Launch Model.
Instead of following the usual crypto launch path, ZKP chose a reverse approach. Rather than raising funds first and building later, the project focused on creating infrastructure before opening distribution. The foundation of this system is the Initial Coin Auction, now referred to as a presale auction, which releases tokens in a controlled and transparent way.
Rather than allowing large investors to control early access, the presale auction uses fixed daily supply rules designed to limit concentration and reduce the impact of capital size.
Key parts of the Anti-VC model include:
- •No venture capital involvement or private rounds
- •No insider pricing or early discount access
- •Daily presale auction distribution with fixed supply every 24 hours
- •Contribution limits to reduce whale influence
This approach directly addresses common concerns around crypto presales, including unclear allocations, early dilution, and pricing driven by insiders instead of open demand.
The Bottom Line
Ethereum’s long-term case continues to strengthen as institutional research, regulatory progress, and real-world adoption align around on-chain finance. While short-term price forecasts may change, Ethereum’s role as a core settlement and execution layer remains solid.
ZKP’s Anti-VC Launch Model is challenging long-held beliefs about how crypto projects should launch. By focusing on transparent, rule-based access instead of private funding, ZKP positions the presale as a fair distribution process rather than a fundraising event.