As Bitcoin continues its meteoric rise and closes in on elite billionaire territory, a new wave of crypto speculation is building—this time around Ethereum. With BTC inching closer to turning its anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, into the richest individual on the planet, Ethereum fans are wondering: If Bitcoin hits $378,000, just how high can ETH go?
Let’s break it down.
Ethereum Finds Momentum as Bitcoin Dominates Headlines
On May 21, 2025, Ethereum (ETH) was trading around $2,511—a modest gain of 0.4% on the day and 3.4% on the week. Bitcoin, on the other hand, had just notched a new all-time high at $109,570, pushing the crypto market back into full-blown bull mode. While Ethereum hasn’t mirrored Bitcoin’s explosive rally yet, it remains up over 59% in the past month, riding the coattails of increasing institutional demand, ETF excitement, and macro-driven inflows into digital assets.
Despite ETH lagging in percentage gains, derivatives data show traders positioning for a breakout. Futures markets are heating up again, and sentiment is shifting toward bullish, even if ETH is yet to reclaim the $2,800 zone that many see as its next big resistance.
Satoshi’s Silent Billions: Why $378K BTC Matters
According to blockchain analytics firm Arkham, Satoshi Nakamoto—Bitcoin’s mysterious creator—controls about 1.1 million BTC. These coins, untouched since the early days of the network, have now ballooned in value to nearly $120 billion at current prices.
To surpass Elon Musk, whose net worth is currently estimated at $416 billion thanks to Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, and X (formerly Twitter), Satoshi’s Bitcoin stash would need to be worth more than that. Crunch the numbers, and you get a BTC price target of roughly $378,000.
While that number may seem astronomical today, the current wave of institutional momentum—fueled by Bitcoin ETFs and even proposals like Texas’ crypto reserve legislation—suggests the long-term path is still pointing up. And that’s where Ethereum enters the conversation again.
ETH Price Forecast: $8,742 — or Even $11,340?
At the present ETH/BTC ratio of 0.02312, Ethereum would be worth around $8,742 if Bitcoin reached $378,000. But if Ethereum regains its previous market strength relative to Bitcoin—say, revisiting its 2021–2022 average of 0.03—ETH could target as high as $11,340. That would represent a staggering 350% surge from today’s prices.
The idea isn’t purely speculative. There are concrete catalysts that could propel ETH toward those levels. Texas’ crypto reserve initiative is one—showing that public institutions are beginning to treat crypto as a legitimate store of value. Add to that the over $6 billion that has flowed into U.S.-based Bitcoin ETFs over the past month, and it’s not far-fetched to think Ethereum could be next in line.
Ethereum as the Next Big ETF Play?
Many market participants believe that once Bitcoin completes its current phase of ETF-driven price discovery, the spotlight will naturally shift to Ethereum. After all, it’s the second-largest crypto asset by market cap, and unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum powers a massive on-chain economy—from DeFi to NFTs to enterprise-level smart contracts.
There’s also anticipation building around potential altcoin ETF approvals, particularly for ETH, with key regulatory decisions expected by June 16. If Ethereum ETF approval becomes reality, it could serve as the trigger for the next leg of the rally, driving ETH closer to that five-figure target.
Final Thoughts
While it may sound like fantasy for Ethereum to trade above $10K and for Bitcoin to turn its anonymous creator into the world’s richest person, crypto has never followed traditional rules. As BTC climbs toward $378,000 and institutional sentiment grows stronger, ETH appears primed for its own breakout moment.
So whether you’re here for the tech, the charts, or just the fun of speculating on Satoshi dethroning Musk, one thing is clear—Ethereum’s story is far from over.
