The primary examine of things affecting Ethereum notion and momentum discovered that psychology performs an equally vital function as every other function.
The outcomes of “Venture Mirror,” which dives deep into the notion of Ethereum commissioned by optimism and espresso, have been shared Monday by the Ethereum Basis (EF).
We3.co researchers Valeria Salazar and Jill Gunter have found that their notion and psychology drive as a lot momentum as their technical and elementary influences.
They discovered that Ethereum is thought for its technical excellence, however lacks narrative readability, lively market involvement and builder assist.
The qualitative interviews included 60 folks from the Ethereum ecosystem and the broader crypto group that ran from March to June 2025.
The researchers traded between $1,600 and $2,500 on the naked market degree, reaching its three-year low in April, so that they sought a snapshot of how the group noticed Ethereum within the meantime.
The purpose was to “perceive how completely different audiences view Ethereum, determine challenges and strengths, and replicate them within the ecosystem in order that they may study from them,” EF mentioned.

Researchers tapped the group to determine tensions and tales. sauce: Ethereum Basis
5 core tensions
This examine recognized 5 core points that influenced Ethereum notion. Many of those have been associated to the so-called Ethereum story and the way the Ethereum Basis publicly communicated.
“With out worth momentum and easy tales, Ethereum’s refined imaginative and prescient feels good however unreadable,” the researcher mentioned, including that the id disaster will probably be revealed because the function of Layer-1 is unknown on condition that Layer-2 captures customers and actions.
Though the researchers didn’t suggest an answer, they proposed to start discussions on how Ethereum’s management will be redefineed or how the ecosystem can measure success past the value of ETH.
These embrace assist for builders and builders, lead confidently with out sacrificing neutrality, and convey a transparent and compelling imaginative and prescient with out wandering into the know-how.
Worth stays a significant factor within the story
Even when Ethereum is shipped on a long-term roadmap, “Flat costs for Eth ship one other message,” the researchers discovered.
“Within the code, costs are a narrative, and flatlines are interpreted as stagnant.”
The brand new ecosystem surged tokens will achieve momentum, generate momentum, appeal to capital, expertise and a spotlight, they mentioned earlier than reaching a conclusion.
“Ethereum’s fundamentals could also be wholesome, however with out worth motion, its power will disappear into the background.”
Momentum has lately modified, with Ether (ETH) reaching a brand new all-time excessive of $4,950 on August twenty fourth, so a few of these unfavourable perceptions might have been improved.