Is Ethereum (ETH) Poised to Outperform Bitcoin (BTC) This Cycle?

Ethereum is trading above $3,160 with a weekly gain of 5% as analysts monitor ETH/BTC strength and key resistance that could point to outperformance.

The price briefly reached the $3,160-$3,200 zone, which several traders are identifying as an area of ​​resistance. Market participants are closely watching this level for signs of a breakout or rejection.

ETH/BTC chart shows familiar pattern

A chart shared by Sykodelic shows Ethereum’s performance against Bitcoin from 2016 to 2026. In previous cycles, ETH started gaining against BTC before major market tops. These periods are shown as green boxes on the ETH/BTC chart, starting with a breakout and ending when broader altcoins gained strength.

Sykodelic noted that Ethereum appears to be entering this phase again. She wrote,

“What we can see very clearly here is that $ETH is currently in the early stages of its outperformance against Bitcoin.”

Interestingly, the ETH/BTC ratio is now around 0.034, and the recent break above a long-term trendline has sparked new interest. They added that Ethereum tends to perform better during periods of increasing market liquidity.

“We haven’t had that yet this cycle,” they said, suggesting Ethereum may still be early in this phase. The structure of the map follows the same path as previous rotations, according to Sykodelic.

Separately, a daily chart from Ali Martinez shows Ethereum trading within a symmetrical triangle formed by lower highs and higher lows since December. The price is now near the tip of that triangle, around $3,130. According to Martinez, a breakout could lead to a 30% move in either direction.

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The resistance is at $3,300. If Ethereum breaks, it could head towards $4,000. If rejected, the downside is near $2,190. Volume remains steady and traders watch for a breakout or collapse as the price approaches the end of the pattern.

Repeat setting from previous cycle?

CryptoWZRD compared Ethereum’s recent correction to a correction that occurred in mid-2024. At that point, ETH fell 46% before entering a twelve-week consolidation, then rallying higher. The latest drop reflects that pattern. ETH is now trading between $2,800 and $3,200, close to where the last range formed.

They said:Ethereum must hold the lows or the range will be broken“, pointing to the lower end of the current structure. The zone remains intact for now and could form the basis for another leg higher up, provided it holds up.

Meanwhile, ETH is 36% below its all-time high of August 2025 (according to CoinGecko data). The number of buyers continues to increase and there are some predictions that the cycle will pass to $7,000-$10,000.