Emre Yumlu 
The debate around crypto market cycles has resurfaced, and this time Ethereum is at the center of attention. Optimists are floating the idea of a potential “supercycle” — a market phase that could extend beyond the familiar four-year halving rhythm. According to BitMine, Wall Street’s increasing embrace of blockchain and the rise of AI-powered protocols may act as key triggers, while traditional financial institutions are taking a more reserved stance.
Could Ethereum Break the Cycle?
Historically, crypto markets have followed a pattern tied to Bitcoin halving events, typically creating four-year boom-and-bust periods. Some analysts, however, believe this trend might be disrupted as institutional capital flows into digital assets and Web3 investment products expand access for a wider audience.
BitMine Immersion Technologies — recognized as the world’s largest corporate holder of Ether — argues that Ethereum stands to benefit the most. With Wall Street firms pushing deeper into blockchain applications, BitMine sees Ethereum’s long-term price trajectory gaining momentum.
Wall Street’s Skeptical Outlook
While Ethereum bulls highlight a bullish narrative, not everyone on Wall Street is convinced. Citigroup recently issued a year-end 2025 price target of $4,300 for Ether. That forecast falls short of ETH’s all-time high of $4,953 reached in August 2021.
In its latest note, Citi cautioned that current valuations appear to exceed on-chain activity metrics, pointing instead to buying pressure and hype around emerging use cases as the main drivers.
Despite the skepticism, Ethereum has surged 108% over the last six months, and at the time of writing, the asset was trading near $4,177 according to TradingView.
AI Agents as the Next Growth Engine
For BitMine, Ethereum’s second major catalyst may lie in the adoption of AI agents — autonomous software designed to execute tasks on behalf of users.
Venture capital veteran Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, has argued that AI systems must function as economic actors to realize their full potential. Since AI cannot use traditional tools like credit cards, he described crypto as the natural financial network for intelligent agents.
Ethereum’s smart contract infrastructure positions it as a suitable platform for AI agents to conduct activities such as trading, token swaps, portfolio management, and participation in decentralized finance (DeFi).
Fintech Giants Step Into AI
The growing interest in AI agents isn’t limited to crypto-native companies. PayPal Ventures recently led a $18 million Series A funding round for Kite AI, a decentralized AI infrastructure startup. The investment pushed Kite AI’s total funding to $33 million, underscoring how mainstream fintech firms are also betting on AI-enabled decentralized ecosystems.
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