Ethereum Metrics Signal Resilience Amid Price Pressure and Quantum Security Push

Ethereum fees drop, usage surges

Ethereum’s network activity has remained robust even as the broader crypto market faces persistent weakness. Over the past week, Ethereum processed 16.

Alongside record transaction counts, daily active user numbers have climbed to new highs. The network’s ability to handle surging activity without pricing out users has been attributed in part to the December 2025 Fusaka upgrade, which increased data capacity and introduced more efficient transaction batching. As a result, Ethereum’s fee environment now sits at a nine-year low, creating a more accessible landscape for both retail users and developers.

Weekly decentralized exchange volume on Ethereum reached $13 billion, rising from $8.15 billion just four weeks earlier.

On paper, these metrics signal strength; yet, the price of Ether (ETH) has not reflected the underlying growth.

Bullish bets liquidated as ETH dips

Despite positive network fundamentals, Ether experienced a sharp 15.9% correction over the seven days ending Sunday, falling 14% from its 2026 high above $3,200. This downturn triggered $910 million in liquidations for leveraged bullish positions—traders who had bet on rising prices were forced out as markets moved against them. The sell-off left ETH trading 41% below its all-time high of $4,950 set in August 2025.

In response to the correction, Ethereum’s network fees actually jumped by 19% over the same week—a sign that transactional demand remains sticky even during price volatility. Market analysts point to this technical correction as a retest of key support levels rather than a fundamental breakdown.

Layer-2s eclipse rivals in volume

Aggregate weekly transactions on Ethereum’s layer-2 networks surged to 128 million, overtaking both BNB Chain and Tron by volume.

This growth highlights how scaling solutions are absorbing much of Ethereum’s transactional load while keeping costs low for end users. Decentralized exchange (DEX) activity further underscores this trend: DEX volumes across the Ethereum ecosystem hit $26.8 billion last week, with $13 billion coming directly from mainnet-based protocols—up from just $8.15 billion four weeks prior.

However, not every project is thriving in this environment. Forgotten Runiverse, an MMORPG built on Ethereum’s Ronin scaling network and backed by investors like Alexis Ohanian, announced it will go offline less than a year after launch due to financial infeasibility. All player data will be preserved while the team considers next steps.

Traders eye $10K despite correction

While ETH remains well below its previous peak, some traders continue to set ambitious targets for this cycle. Technical analysis using methods such as Wyckoff patterns and liquidity cycles points to potential price levels between $10,000 and $15,000 if key supports are reclaimed. Annie, a crypto analyst cited by cointelegraph.com, highlighted that these models suggest a breakout above $10K is still possible for ETH this cycle.

Bitcoinsensus also shared a bullish outlook based on recurring cycle patterns seen in previous years. However, until ETH reclaims critical support zones lost during the recent correction—and with nearly a billion dollars already liquidated from long positions—the path higher remains uncertain.

Why it matters: Practical impact beyond price

Ethereum’s technical roadmap extends far beyond short-term price action. On January 24th, the Ethereum Foundation announced the formation of a dedicated Post Quantum team led by Thomas Coratger to address future cryptographic threats posed by quantum computers. According to Antonio Sanso of the Foundation, Ethereum is “probably 20%” of the way toward full quantum resilience—a process expected to take years as multi-client test networks come online and new standards are developed.

The median expectation for quantum computers capable of breaking current cryptography is set at 2040; however, there is a one-in-five chance happen by 2030. With post-quantum security now declared a top strategic priority and biweekly core developer calls underway since February 4th, Ethereum is positioning itself proactively for long-term stability—even as near-term market sentiment remains volatile.

Next milestones

A post-quantum (PQ) roadmap for Ethereum will be released soon, and if the Ethereum Foundation provides a concrete timeline or technical targets in this document, it would immediately clarify the next steps for the network’s quantum resilience efforts; however, the exact release date remains unclear.