Ethereum is grabbing attention from institutional analysts and long-range participants. While quick volatility stays part of the market scene, the wider ETH story has moved clearly toward structural expansion, pushed by its central position in on-chain finance, stablecoins, and asset digitization.
At the same time, Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is getting discussed more not for price gambling, but for its Anti-VC Launch System, a framework built to challenge traditional presales and eliminate the power of private money in early-stage distribution.
Analysts Predict Ethereum’s Next Big Cycle Could Hit $40,000
Ethereum’s long-range outlook got support from a January 12, 2026, research report from Standard Chartered, which predicted that ETH could hit $40,000 by 2030 and beat Bitcoin over the coming cycle.
The argument focuses on Ethereum’s structural control:
- •Ethereum is the biggest blockchain for digitization, holding over $10 billion in crypto and real-world assets
- •Most global stablecoins run on Ethereum, many supported by US Treasury bonds
- •Growing DeFi and on-chain settlement keep deepening Ethereum’s network effects
The research mentioned that 2026 could mirror 2021, when Ethereum strongly beat Bitcoin. At that top, the ETH-to-BTC ratio hit around 0.08, compared with roughly 0.03 today, showing space for relative recovery. This makes people wonder about the best crypto to buy now.
From an Ethereum price prediction angle, the bank dropped near-term goals while keeping long-range belief. ETH is now predicted at $7,500 in 2026, $15,000 in 2027, and $40,000 by 2030, showing adoption-pushed growth rather than speculative excess.
$3 Trillion and $19 Trillion: Why Ethereum Sits in Perfect Position
Multiple macro and regulatory changes strengthen Ethereum’s positive case:
- •Stablecoins could expand into a $3 trillion market by 2030, following US Treasury estimates
- •Digitized assets may surpass $19 trillion by 2033, based on Ripple and BCG predictions
While Ethereum ETFs have seen outflows since late 2025, analysts mention that ETF flows matter less for Ethereum than for Bitcoin, due to ETH’s deeper utility-pushed demand. These factors make ETH a contender for the best crypto to buy now.
Zero-Knowledge Proof is Spreading Fast in 2026
Zero Knowledge Proof fixes the $100+ billion AI privacy problem using zk-SNARKs and zk-STARKs—cryptography Vitalik Buterin named “more crucial than Bitcoin.” While regular blockchains show all data publicly, ZKP lets AI train on encrypted hospital records and banking data without showing sensitive details.
This opens markets worth hundreds of billions that rivals can’t reach. Analysts predicting 600x gains base their math on working technology confirmed by the Miami Dolphins partnership, not empty promises.
Early participants joining at $0.05-$0.10 could witness $30-$60 prices if ZKP grabs 5% of its market, changing $10,000 into $6 million within 3-5 years through proven infrastructure fixing trillion-dollar problems today. The testnet runs live, Proof Pods are delivering, and enterprise adoption happens now. Many see this as the best crypto to buy now.
ZKP’s Anti-VC Launch System
Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is pulling attention for a reason that extends beyond technology or timing. Its main feature is structural: the Anti-VC Launch System.
ZKP purposely skips the traditional crypto launch sequence. Rather than raising money first and building later, ZKP flipped the system by designing its launch mechanics around distribution, not fundraising. At the center of this method is the Initial Coin Auction (ICA), a rule-based framework that drops supply in a gradual and clear manner.
Instead of letting large funds control early entry, ZKP uses fixed daily distribution mechanics built to limit concentration and cut the power of capital size.
Main parts of ZKP’s Anti-VC structure include:
- •No venture capital or private rounds
- •No insider discounts or early pricing benefits
- •Daily auction-based distribution with fixed supply per 24-hour cycle
- •Minimum and maximum contribution caps, cutting whale control
- •Whitelist-based entry, putting participation over capital
This system directly tackles some of the most continuing complaints of crypto presales: hidden distributions, heavy early dilution, and price finding pushed by insiders rather than the market. This approach makes ZKP stand out among discussions of the best crypto to buy now.
Where Money Is Dividing in 2026
Ethereum’s long-range outlook keeps getting stronger as institutional research, regulatory push, and real-world adoption converge around on-chain finance. While near-term price goals shift, Ethereum’s position as a foundational settlement and execution layer stays solid.
ZKP’s Anti-VC Launch System challenges long-standing beliefs about how crypto projects should be funded and distributed. By putting transparent, rule-based entry over private capital, ZKP reshapes the presale as a distribution tool rather than a fundraising event. For many, this makes it the best crypto to buy now.
FAQs
- Why is Ethereum predicted to hit $40,000 long term?
- Analysts point to Ethereum’s control in stablecoins, digitization, and on-chain finance.
- What is ZKP’s Anti-VC Launch System?
- It removes private rounds and insider distributions, using rule-based public distribution instead.
- Is the ZKP infrastructure already constructed?
- ZKP’s launch system is built around infrastructure readiness rather than speculative fundraising.
- Why is ZKP talked about among the best crypto to buy now?
- Its Anti-VC structure, lowered dilution risk, and focus on fair distribution separate it from typical presales.