The Ethereum price has been trading downward for the past few weeks, held back by significant institutional selling as well as a staff shakeup at the Ethereum Foundation. As of May 29, 2026, the ETH USD rate hovers around $2,003.44 (₹190,713.28)-down sharply from a mid-May high of $2,371 and nearly 22% lower than 12 months ago. For Indian investors, the ETH to INR rate currently stands at approximately ₹1,90,969–₹192,713.28, with the 52-week range spanning $1,388 to $4,955.
What is the current Ethereum price?
The ETH/USD price pair is testing an important level of support. ETH’s market capitalization is around $240-$242 billion and the 24-hour trading volume is around $13-$14 billion, making it the second largest cryptocurrency, but the gap with Bitcoin is widening.
The price of ETH is roughly 60% off of its all-time high of $4,946. The technical picture is shifting neutral to bearish, and the RSI is around 46.92. If the price of ETH USDT pair falls below $2,000, the price may head for $1,800 – $1,600 support zones, analysts warn.
Impact of Ethereum Foundation’s workforce cut on investor confidence
An unprecedented number of resignations from the Ethereum Foundation (EF) has had a negative effect on the Ethereum price lately. A combination of eight to nine senior contributors have already left in 2026, including five resignations in May alone, the biggest level of attrition in the organization’s history.
The key contributors on this protocol are Tim Beiko, Barnabé Monnot, Trent Van Epps, Carl Beekhuizen, and Julian Ma. The EF also conducted 19 mandatory staff reductions, in addition to the voluntary ones, in the process of its “Lean Ethereum” reorganization. Not only that:
- A 38-page Mandate released in March 2026 redefined the EF as a narrow research steward.
- The CROPS framework — Censorship Resistance, Openness, Privacy, Security — became the EF’s stated mission.
- Core developer count fell from 225 (May 2025) to 169 (May 2026), a 25% year-on-year decline.
The ETH to USDT price on major exchanges has reflected this governance uncertainty in real time, which has responded to the absence of clarity on communication coming from the Foundation.
Why are ETF outflows dragging the Ethereum Price?
The net movement of funds into or out of spot ETFs has emerged as a major negative influence on Ethereum price today. Data shows that the net outflows from spot Ethereum ETFs reached $216 million during one week in late May 2026, continuing a streak of 10 weeks of net outflows.
- In two weeks, Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF outflows totaled almost $2.7 billion.
- Polymarket data suggests a 70% chance of zero rate cuts for the full calendar year.
- In March 2026, the BlackRock ETHB staking ETF debuted, but it has thus far been unable to offset the collective withdrawals.
- As of April 2026, the cumulative inflows into Ethereum ETFs have observed a downward slope, falling to a total of $11.68 billion, down from a peak of $12.9 billion in mid-January.
However, ETH price USD continues to be extremely responsive to data on institutional flows. Any further deterioration risks accelerating the downside.
Ethereum vs Bitcoin
BTC has demonstrated more strength and endurance in the Ethereum vs Bitcoin debate. As of April 2026, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs had $102 billion in assets under management, recording a $56 billion net inflow since launch, vastly outperforming their Ethereum peers so far.
One of the major limitations of ETH ETFs is the lack of staking yield passthrough. Here, the yearly APYs of people who stake ETH directly range between 3.5% and 5%. This reduces the appeal of the ETH USD product for those institutions who are driven by income, particularly in periods of high rates. The Macro uncertainty is continuing to see some capital rotate out of ETH into Bitcoin.
What does the Ethereum price prediction look like?
Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, has been trying to give strategic clarity. He verified that only 0.16% of all ETH are in the hands of the Ethereum Foundation compared with the envious 10% to 50% that other chain foundations have. He also disclosed that 99.1% of EF treasury reserves are in ETH, while approximately 90% of his net worth is invested in ETH itself.
Buterin framed the Foundation as “one node alongside others,” not Ethereum’s command center. Based on the technical upgrades that are planned, such as Glamsterdam (H1 2026) and Hegota (H2 2026), the $4,000 forecast by end-2026 and $40,000 forecast by end-2030 for the Ethereum price prediction still hold true.
Final Thoughts
The current Ethereum price reflects a confluence of ETF outflows, governance uncertainty, and macro headwinds. With ETH to INR near ₹2,00,000 and ETH to USDT around $2,003.44, the coin is at a key support level.
Overall, the fundamentals are unchanged in the long-run. Investors who are interested to buy Ethereum should wait for stabilizing ETF inflows and firmer indications from the Foundation, before making any move.
Disclaimer: Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions.
What is the Ethereum Foundation?
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) is a Swiss non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Ethereum ecosystem. It is not a traditional tech company and does not control the Ethereum network; instead, its primary mission is to fund protocol research, empower open-source developer teams, and advocate for core values.
Why did the EF cut the workforce recently?
The recent downsizing and personnel shrinkage at the Ethereum Foundation (EF) are driven by strategic restructuring, a tightening financial budget, and an intentional push toward decentralization.
How did it impact Ethereum price?
The restructuring and personnel departures at the Ethereum Foundation had an immediate impact on the price of ETH, though the surrounding news highlighted a broader period of market weakness and stagnation.