Ethereum: Why a White House Whale Predicts a +60% Leap to $5.4K

Ethereum - Here's why this White House whale foresees +60% upside to $5.4K

Ethereum's value has bounced back by 14% in 2026, reaching $3,400 for the first time since mid-December, though it did pull back slightly at the time of this report. Much of this surge can be attributed to a softer U.S. inflation report and President Donald Trump's push for cuts in Fed interest rates, both reported on January 13.

However, there's belief that Ethereum, known as the king of altcoins, can offer even more returns. This insight comes from Garret Bullish, a prominent insider dubbed the "White House whale," who made waves by earning millions through shorting Bitcoin last October.

In his latest analysis, Bullish suggested that ETH could escalate to $5,413, referencing the Elliot Wave pattern of analysis.

"We believe ETH has re-entered the fifth wave of the ascending channel that began last April. Projected targets: target 1 is $5,413; aggressive target 2 is $7,155."

Ethereum

Source: Garret Bullish/X

Given Ethereum's current value of approximately $3,350, this represents a potential 60% increase to reach the more conservative $5.4k mark, or it could be a double move to achieve the more ambitious target.

The "White House whale" has a long ETH position worth over $600 million and is optimistic that the conflict between Fed Chair Powell and Trump is favorable for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the broader cryptocurrency space as a whole. He remarked,

"Historically, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have coincided with rises in the crypto market. According to Gemini data: the average PnL 30 days post-conflict is BTC +14%, ETH +27%; and 90 days post-conflict is BTC +20%, ETH +39%."

In simpler terms, he expects Ethereum to excel during the first quarter. But he's not the only bullish figure on Ethereum in 2026.

Will Ethereum Outshine Bitcoin?

A recent report from Standard Chartered Bank forecasted that Ethereum might hit $7,500 by 2026 and potentially double to $15,000 by 2027, with a long-term goal of reaching $40,000 by 2030.

However, quantum risk could impact Bitcoin's growth, providing Ethereum the chance to outperform it in 2026, according to DeFi analyst DeFiIgnas.

Ethereum

Source: X

Interestingly, the ETH/BTC ratio, which tracks the performance of Ethereum versus Bitcoin, also supports this prediction at the time of writing.

The 200-day Moving Average (shown as a blue line) served as crucial support after the ratio fell in the second half of 2025, indicating Bitcoin's outperformance over Ethereum during that time. However, since December, the ratio has climbed steadily—a sign of Ethereum strengthening against Bitcoin.

A continued rise in the ETH/BTC ratio could lift Ethereum above the $4,000 mark, particularly if the macro landscape and market liquidity improve in the first quarter of 2025.

Ethereum

Source: ETH/BTC, TradingView

Conclusion

Key Takeaways:

Ethereum's price increased by 14% in 2026, reaching $3,400 due to favorable economic factors.
Analyst Garret Bullish believes Ethereum could rise to $5,413, with a potential 60% upside.
Standard Chartered projects Ethereum could hit $7,500 by 2026 and $15,000 by 2027.
The ETH/BTC ratio indicates a possible strengthening of Ethereum against Bitcoin, suggesting further gains ahead.

In summary, Ethereum appears poised for potential growth and outperformance in the coming months, driven by both technical analysis and favorable market conditions.