[Analysis] "Ethereum: Social-media sentiment signals similar to the run-up to the 2025 rally"

Social-media investor sentiment around Ethereum (ETH) has deteriorated to levels similar to those seen just ahead of the 2025 bull market, and is being interpreted as a signal that could point to a medium-term rebound.

According to Cointelegraph on the 11th (local time), Santiment analyst Brian Quinlivan said in a recent YouTube video, "Social-media sentiment toward Ethereum is currently quite low, which can be seen as a sign that the room for further declines is limited." He added, "This closely resembles the mood that appeared right before Ethereum began a full-fledged upswing last year."

In fact, after Ethereum fell to its annual low of $1,472 in April 2025, it went on to reclaim $4,878—its 2021 all-time high—again in August that year, even as investor interest had cooled sharply. That amounts to a gain of nearly 70% in about four months. Quinlivan stressed, "What matters is that prices instead surged when people essentially started giving up on Ethereum."

Ethereum is currently trading about 36% below its all-time high. That is because it has remained in a correction phase since last October’s large-scale liquidation event in the broader digital-asset (cryptocurrency) market.

Still, Quinlivan assessed that "it’s not like early 2025, when people were questioning Ethereum’s very existence," adding that "the market is once again naturally recognizing Ethereum as the No. 2 asset by market capitalization." Previously, Anthony Bassili, head of Coinbase Asset Management, also said that "among investors, there is a firm view that Ethereum is a core portfolio asset after Bitcoin."

Meanwhile, Quinlivan voiced strong conviction about the growth trajectory of the Ethereum network itself. He explained that "network activity centered on staking is increasing explosively." However, overall digital-asset market sentiment remains subdued. CoinMarketCap’s Fear & Greed Index has remained in the 'Fear' zone through recently, and the Altcoin Season Index likewise shows that capital continues to concentrate in Bitcoin. In this environment, whether Ethereum can regain investor confidence is seen as a key point to watch going forward.