JPMorgan Cautious on Cryptocurrency Markets in 2024, Expects Ether to Outperform

As we approach 2024, JPMorgan, a prominent player on Wall Street, has expressed caution regarding the cryptocurrency markets. In a recent report, the banking giant anticipates a subdued market sentiment but points to Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), as a potential outperformer.

JPMorgan emphasizes that the anticipated decision by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the approval of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is not likely to trigger significant market gains. The report highlights the potential for a “buy-the-rumor/sell-the-fact effect” once the SEC greenlights spot bitcoin ETFs in early 2024. The analysts caution against excessive optimism, noting that Bitcoin has already reached overbought levels reminiscent of the 2021 bull market. Additionally, the report suggests that the forthcoming 2024 bitcoin halving event is already factored into current market prices.

Ether’s Potential Shine with EIP-4844 Upgrade

Contrary to its cautious outlook on the overall crypto market, JPMorgan expresses optimism about Ether, the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain. The bank cites the upcoming EIP-4844 upgrade, also known as proto-danksharding, as a key factor behind Ether’s potential outperformance. This upgrade is set to enhance Ethereum’s scalability by introducing a novel transaction type called the “blob-carrying transaction.” The development involves implementing sharding, a technique that divides the network into shards to improve transaction speed, thereby expanding the network’s capacity for data groups.

The report acknowledges a degree of “reinvigoration” in venture capital (VC) funding during the fourth quarter of 2023 but characterizes it as tentative. Despite improvements in decentralized finance (DeFi) activities, JPMorgan expresses disappointment in DeFi’s inability to make significant inroads into the traditional financial system. The report suggests that such integration is crucial for the crypto ecosystem to transition from being crypto-native to having real-world applications.

In summary, JPMorgan’s cautious stance on the broader crypto market in 2024 is offset by its positive outlook on Ether, fueled by the anticipated EIP-4844 upgrade and its potential to outshine other cryptocurrencies.