The ETH/BTC ratio climbed to 0.0313 on Wednesday, its strongest reading since January, as record Ethereum network activity and a $180 billion stablecoin milestone signal a potential shift in market momentum.
Summary
- The ETH/BTC ratio reached 0.0313, recovering from a 2026 floor of 0.028 in February, though it remains well below the January 18 peak of 0.038.
- Ethereum added 284,000 new users in Q1 2026, an 82% quarterly jump, while stablecoin supply on the network hit a record $180 billion.
- Analysts say a weekly close above 0.035 is required to confirm durable rotation into ETH rather than a short-term bounce.
The ETH/BTC ratio is making its clearest recovery move of the year. Ethereum gained 4% over the past seven days, narrowly outpacing bitcoin’s 3.9% gain over the same period, with the ratio recovering from prior lows and pushing to its best level in three months.
The move is backed by concrete on-chain data. Ethereum added 284,000 new users in Q1 2026, an 82% quarterly jump, while stablecoin supply on the network reached an all-time high of $180 billion, a 150% increase over three years.
Ethereum now holds roughly 60% of the global stablecoin market, reinforcing its position as the primary settlement layer for tokenized dollars. That concentration of real economic activity gives ETH a structural demand base that extends beyond price speculation.
The ETH/BTC ratio spent much of 2026 at depressed levels as bitcoin ETF-driven demand kept capital anchored in BTC. The current bounce suggests that rotation may be beginning, though analysts urge caution before calling it a confirmed trend. CoinMarketCap analyst CryptoAnu noted the ratio must reclaim 0.035 on a weekly closing basis to signal genuine altcoin rotation rather than a short-lived squeeze, adding that the Pectra upgrade is “finally being felt in 2026 with over 30% of supply now staked and locked away.”
The Level That Has to Break
The ETH/BTC pair peaked above 0.08 in late 2021, then entered a prolonged slide through 2024 and 2025 driven by weakened Ethereum base-layer fee revenue, the Dencun upgrade’s impact on mainnet activity, and sustained bitcoin ETF dominance. The 2026 floor of 0.028, set in February, is now being left behind.
Analyst Ledgix described the current outperformance as “a signal to observe” rather than chase, noting that when flows begin rotating in the crypto market, ETH is typically the first major recipient given its ecosystem depth, staking yield, and growing institutional footprint.
Where ETH Stands Despite the Bounce
ETH is still more than 50% below its 52-week high of $4,831. Near-term resistance sits at $2,400, with $2,500 as the next significant test above that. In ratio terms, 0.035 is the weekly close that would shift the technical picture from bounce to breakout. Until that level is reclaimed, the recovery remains fragile.
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