TLDR
- Ethereum price climbed 8 percent, peaking at $3,374 before mild correction
- Over 327,000 Ethereum wallets were created daily in the past week
- More than half of all Ether supply is now staked on the network
- Fusaka upgrade cut fees and boosted Ethereum app and wallet activity
Ethereum surged by 8% to reach $3,374, breaking through key resistance levels and forcing bearish traders to reconsider their positions. This price movement comes as Ethereum records the fastest wallet growth in its history, with over 327,000 new wallets created daily. Combined with rising stablecoin activity, protocol upgrades, and more than half of ETH’s supply now staked, the network is showing signs of strong and growing user engagement.
Ethereum Price Rises Sharply as Bears Step Back
Ethereum’s price moved higher by 8% on January 14, 2026, touching a high of $3,374 before entering a short correction. The breakout above the $3,160 resistance reversed the previous bearish trend, with ETH/USD showing strong bullish signals on hourly charts.
The upward movement followed a break of a key bearish trend line at $3,140, with support forming around $3,300. Ethereum is now consolidating, and analysts suggest it may test the $3,250 zone before making its next move. If bulls hold this level, further gains toward $3,420 or even $3,500 could be possible.
The RSI is above 50, and ETH remains above the 100-hourly simple moving average, indicating short-term strength. Traders are watching the $3,340 and $3,380 resistance levels for signs of continued upward momentum.
Record Wallet Growth Shows Expanding Network Activity
Ethereum experienced its fastest rate of new wallet creation in history, with an average of 327,000 wallets added daily over the past week. According to Santiment, Sunday alone recorded over 393,000 new wallets, marking the largest single-day increase ever.
The number of non-empty Ethereum wallets reached a record high of 172.9 million. This suggests that growth is not just from new address creation but also from active participation in the network. Wallet activity is seen as a key indicator of user interest and engagement.
Analysts attribute this growth to a mix of protocol improvements, increased usage of stablecoins, and recovering sentiment across the crypto market. As new users interact with Ethereum-based apps, demand for wallets and transactions increases.
Protocol Upgrade Drives Lower Costs and Better Access
The recent Fusaka upgrade, launched in December, has helped improve Ethereum’s usability by reducing fees and optimizing data storage. It has made it easier for users and developers to work with layer-2 solutions and decentralized applications.
Santiment reported that lower friction encourages more people to use Ethereum, leading to the surge in wallet activity. The upgrade improved how data from rollups is posted back to the Ethereum mainnet, making interactions smoother and cheaper.
This technical improvement coincides with a noticeable shift in user sentiment since mid-December. The growing ease of use is seen as one of the reasons new participants are entering the Ethereum ecosystem.
ETH Supply in Staking Reaches Over 50 Percent
More than 50% of the total ETH supply is now staked, showing increased trust in the Ethereum network’s long-term stability. Data from Nansen shows the Beacon Deposit Contract holds over 77 million ETH, used by validators to secure the network.
Centralized exchanges like Binance and Coinbase also hold large volumes of ETH in custody, with Binance managing around 4 million ETH and Coinbase handling 2.3 million ETH.
The growth in staking reflects deeper user involvement beyond price speculation. Combined with wallet creation and increased transaction activity, this suggests users are committing ETH to support the network and earn staking rewards.
Real Usage and Sentiment Support Ethereum Price
The recent price rally comes during a period of growing transaction volume and stablecoin usage on the Ethereum network. Santiment noted that stablecoin transfers increased sharply in late 2025, reflecting more real-world usage for payments and settlements.
Shifting sentiment also played a role. Since mid-December, market sentiment for Ethereum has moved from negative to neutral and now positive. This shift historically aligns with new user onboarding and increased wallet activity.
With more users engaging in DeFi, NFTs, and Ethereum-based apps, the price action may reflect a larger trend in on-chain activity rather than only market speculation.





