• Ethereum’s historical Q1 performance shows strong average returns of 93%.
• ETH faces challenges in 2024, with a 35% decline against Bitcoin so far.
• Technical indicators suggest Ethereum may experience further short-term downside.

Ethereum (ETH) has experienced a mixed year, lagging behind other major cryptocurrencies. However, Mister Crypto, an analyst, highlighted Ethereum’s historical performance in the year following Bitcoin’s halving. Data suggests Ethereum often delivers substantial gains in Q1.

And now with Q1 2025 approaching, many are wondering whether Ethereum will follow this pattern once again. Yet, with no clear bullish catalyst in sight, the future remains uncertain for both Ethereum and the broader altcoin market.

Historical Q1 Gains for Ethereum

Ethereum has consistently performed well in the first quarter, with an average return of 93%. The last significant rally occurred in early 2021, when ETH surged by over 300%, outperforming Bitcoin. In 2017, Ethereum recorded an even larger gain, skyrocketing by over 900%, driven by the ICO boom and rising interest in the network.

Read also: Ethereum Eyes a Potential Parabolic Rally in 2025 with $15K-$25K Target

Trends like the growth of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have historically fueled Ethereum’s performance. However, the absence of comparable drivers this time raises uncertainty about whether ETH can replicate its past success.

Challenges in the Current Ethereum Market

As Q1 2025 approaches, Ethereum faces several challenges. Despite its historical Q1 success, the current year has been disappointing for ETH holders.The ETH/BTC pair has lost 35% in value, signaling Ethereum’s underperformance against Bitcoin. 

Moreover, the price of Ethereum has been in a downtrend, with a current price of $3,338.03, down 2.18% in the last 24 hours. Technical indicators such as the 4-hour Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 42.37 suggest that Ethereum is currently oversold. Additionally, the 4-hour MACD trading below the signal line hints at further downward momentum in the short term.