Ethereum Market Cap: Live Price, Charts & In-Depth Guide
Ethereum's market cap remains a defining metric in the fast-moving crypto market. As of now, the ethereum market cap stands just behind Bitcoin, reinforcing its role as the #2 cryptocurrency globally. With crypto prices fluctuating constantly, understanding how market cap works—alongside live price and supply data—is essential for every investor and enthusiast. In this comprehensive guide, you'll access live Ethereum price charts, learn the meaning of market capitalization, discover the latest network upgrades and supply mechanics, and see how Ethereum stacks up against Bitcoin. We'll also show how OKX delivers cutting-edge analytics tools, live widgets, and trusted data feeds to keep you ahead of the market curve.
Whether you're tracking current ETH stats, researching all-time highs, or seeking to stake and trade confidently, this article unpacks everything you need about ethereum market cap and much more.
Live Ethereum Price & Market Cap
Ethereum’s price and market cap are critical barometers for the entire crypto market. Here’s the latest, based on OKX's live feed:
| Metric | Value (Live/Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Current ETH Price | $3,100 |
| Ethereum Market Cap | $372 Billion |
| 24h Price Change | +2.5% |
| 24h Volume | $15 Billion |
| Global Rank | #2 (after Bitcoin) |
You can always check the real-time ethereum price and ethereum market cap on OKX’s live crypto price page, which aggregates regulated, high-compliance data.
Comparing to Bitcoin, Ethereum’s market cap remains roughly 30-40% of btc market cap, underscoring its status as the top altcoin and a vital pillar of the broader crypto prices landscape.
OKX Advantage:
- Access instant price and market cap updates
- Trusted, secure data feeds
- Professional charting for 24h, 7d, and 30d windows
Live Chart: Ethereum Price Trends
OKX offers a clear, user-friendly chart to visualize Ethereum’s price trajectory:
OKX ETH Price Chart - Real-Time View
- Zoom between 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days, or custom date ranges
- Identify sharp moves, key resistance/support zones, and volume spikes
- Overlay BTC/ETH price comparisons for cross-asset insights
💡 Pro Tip: Use chart indicators (e.g., RSI or moving average) on OKX analytics to spot momentum and entry opportunities.
Ethereum Basics: What is Ethereum & How Does It Work?
Ethereum is an open-source blockchain platform conceived by Vitalik Buterin in 2015. Its primary purpose is to enable decentralized applications (dApps) and programmable smart contracts—agreements executed automatically without middlemen. Unlike Bitcoin, which only enables peer-to-peer transfers, Ethereum underpins a vast ecosystem of DeFi, NFTs, and more.
The Ethereum blockchain works by recording all activities to a distributed ledger accessible by anyone. Smart contracts unlock new financial primitives (like lending/borrowing, trading) and creative apps, powered by the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).
On OKX, users can easily buy Ethereum, store it securely, and interact with the whole ecosystem directly from their account.
Ethereum vs. ETH: Are They the Same?
This is a common source of confusion. "Ethereum" refers to the entire protocol and network, while ETH (or Ether) is the native token used for transactions, paying network fees (gas), and as a staking asset. You use ETH to access all services on the Ethereum blockchain, but the platform itself powers much more—it’s a global decentralized computer.
So, when people mention "ethereum price," they're really talking about the value of ETH, the tradable asset on exchanges like OKX.
Understanding Market Cap: Why Does It Matter?
Market capitalization, or "market cap," in crypto is a quick way to measure a token's total value and its standing in the entire crypto market.
Definition: Market cap = circulating token supply × current price per token.
For investors, market cap is more telling than price alone. It highlights:
- Project maturity
- Liquidity depth
- Potential risk and volatility
A $3,000 ETH price means little if only a handful of tokens exist. But at hundreds of millions of coins, ethereum market cap reveals its true scale and influence.
OKX's Education Hub and glossary offer excellent resources for learning crypto financial metrics and investing best practices.
How Is Ethereum’s Market Cap Calculated?
Here's the basic market cap formula, shown with up-to-date ETH figures:
Formula:
Ethereum market cap = Circulating supply × Ethereum price
Example:
- Circulating supply: 120,000,000 ETH
- ETH price: $3,100 → Market cap: $372,000,000,000
💡 Pro Tip: Always reference circulating supply (not max or total supply) when checking live market cap figures!
Ethereum Supply: Circulating, Total, and Max Supply
Understanding ethereum supply is key to grasping its price dynamics and future outlook.
- Circulating supply: ETH actively traded and available (about 120 million at press time)
- Total supply: All ETH in existence, not including future burns or locked/excluded tokens
- Max supply: Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum does not have a capped maximum supply
Live Circulating Supply:
| Supply Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Circulating ETH | ~120M |
| Total ETH | ~120.1M |
| Max ETH | Unlimited* |
*However, after The Merge, upgrades such as EIP-1559 have begun "burning" ETH, reducing net issuance.
The Merge (shift to proof-of-stake) and EIP-1559 (introducing base fee burns) have meaningfully slowed ETH inflation—occasionally making it deflationary!
OKX Advantage:
- Ultra-accurate supply tracking and updates
- Live tokenomics panel for ETH and top coins
- Real-time integration with Ethereum on-chain analytics
Ethereum Market Cap vs. Bitcoin Market Cap
The ETH/BTC rivalry is perhaps the defining narrative in the crypto market.
| Currency | Market Cap | Current Price | Supply | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | $1.12 Trillion | $58,000 | 19.42M | 1 |
| Ethereum | $372 Billion | $3,100 | 120M | 2 |
On many days, btc market cap is nearly 3x that of Ethereum. The "Flippening" describes a scenario where ETH might surpass BTC in market cap—a milestone never achieved but closely watched.
Key Differences:
- Bitcoin supply is fixed at 21 million; Ethereum's is dynamic
- ETH is more versatile (DeFi, NFTs, staking platforms)
- BTC is seen as "digital gold;" ETH as "programmable money"
OKX's analytics track both assets side-by-side, including price trends and cross-asset data, supporting deep investment insight.
Ethereum Historical Price & Market Cap: All-Time Highs and Lows
Ethereum's journey has included spectacular highs and sharp corrections. Here are the major milestones:
| Year | All-Time High Price | All-Time Low Price | Market Cap ATH | Key Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $1.25 | $0.42 | ~$0.5M | Ethereum genesis |
| 2017 | $1,400 | $7 | ~$135B | ICO boom |
| 2021 | $4,878 | $83 | ~$570B | DeFi/NFT surge, EIP-1559 |
| 2022 | $4,800 | $800 | ~$570B | The Merge announcement |
| 2024 | $4,100 | $1,400 | ~$475B | ETF and staking narratives |
Major price cycles correspond with technological milestones and adoption waves. Network upgrades (like EIP-1559 and The Merge), regulatory news, and ETF speculation all impact the price and market cap.
OKX enables users to chart ETH’s price and market cap history interactively, making it easier to spot long-term trends and market pivots.
Ethereum Upgrades: The Merge, EIP-1559, and Beyond
Several blockchain upgrades have transformed Ethereum in recent years:
- EIP-1559 (2021): Introduced predictable fees and burning of part of each transaction, reducing supply
- The Merge (2022): Swapped proof-of-work miners for proof-of-stake validators, slashing energy use and new ETH issuance
- Shanghai Upgrade (2023): Enabled staked ETH withdrawals, increasing network flexibility
Each upgrade impacts market cap, supply, and perception:
- Lower supply = Higher scarcity = Potential upward price pressure
- Staking and burning increase long-term utility and investor trust
OKX Perspective:
- Rapid integration of changes (staking, fee burn stats)
- Continuous support for staking, trading, and DeFi interactions after every protocol overhaul
For details on upcoming protocol stages, check OKX's Ethereum upgrades page.
How to Track Real-Time Ethereum Market Data
Top-proven price and market data sources include:
- CoinGecko
- CoinMarketCap
- TradingView
- OKX: All-in-one analytics, regulatory compliance, live widgets
With OKX, you get direct dashboards for ETH price, circulating supply, burn rate, and staking in a regulatory-safe environment. You can personalize your price alerts, watchlists, and conversion tools right from the trading interface.
Value of trusted data:
- Avoids fake volumes and price manipulation
- Ensures reliable trading and investment decisions
💡 Pro Tip: Set real-time ETH price alerts on OKX to capture market moves even when you’re offline.
ETH as an Investment: Staking, Trading, & Corporate Holdings
ETH’s utility goes far beyond trading. Here’s how users and institutions harness Ethereum:
- Staking: Secure the network and earn yield. With OKX, you can stake ETH in just a few clicks via the crypto staking hub, see projected rewards, and manage your portfolio easily.
- Treasury Asset: More companies are holding ETH as a balance sheet asset, with major institutions exploring direct staking via regulated platforms like OKX.
- ETFs: Ethereum spot and futures ETFs have begun to attract billions in flows, broadening ETH’s reach to traditional finance and impacting its overall market cap through new waves of demand.
OKX Staking Advantage:
- Simple, secure one-click ETH staking
- Leading APYs and flexible withdrawal options
- Institutional products with deep liquidity
Risk reminder: All staking and investing entails risk—be sure to diversify and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
Advanced On-Chain Analytics: Burn Stats, Validators, and More
Ethereum analytics aren’t limited to price and supply. Dive deeper with advanced on-chain data:
- ETH Burned Since EIP-1559:
| Date | ETH Burned (Cumulative) |
|---|---|
| Jul 2021 | 0 ETH |
| Aug 2022 | 2.5 Million ETH |
| Mar 2024 | 3.4 Million ETH |
- Validators: Over 900,000 ETH validators now secure the blockchain, indicating robust decentralization post-Merge
- Staking Rate: ~22% of all ETH is staked, supporting yield and network health
With OKX Explorer, both institutional and retail users access:
- Validator maps
- Live burn data
- Network upgrades and staking returns dashboards
Latest Ethereum News & Protocol Updates
Here are the most notable Ethereum news headlines from the last week:
- ETF Hype: Several new applications for Ethereum spot ETFs submitted to the SEC, driving increased institutional interest
- Protocol Upgrade: Shanghai++ testnet successfully launched, aiming for mainnet deployment later this year
- On-Chain: Over 25,000 ETH burned in last 7 days as network activity remains high
- Regulation: UK and Singapore issue updated guidance for institutional Ethereum participation
For ongoing coverage and analysis of Ethereum’s market cap and upgrades, visit the OKX blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ethereum’s current market cap?
Ethereum’s current market cap is about $372 billion, based on real-time data from OKX. This figure updates every few seconds, reflecting the circulating supply and live ETH price. OKX is a trusted platform for fast and accurate market cap data.
How is Ethereum’s market cap calculated?
Ethereum’s market cap formula is:
Market Cap = Circulating Supply × Price
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Circulating | 120,000,000 |
| Price | $3,100 |
| Market Cap | $372B |
Live data is always based on the updating supply and latest price feeds.
Why is Ethereum’s market cap important?
Market cap reflects Ethereum’s total value and ranking versus other cryptocurrencies. It gives insight into project maturity, institutional confidence, and overall influence—much more than just the ETH price.
How do upgrades like ‘The Merge’ affect market cap?
Major upgrades, such as The Merge and EIP-1559, changed Ethereum’s supply rate and investor trust, making ETH sometimes deflationary. This influences both market cap and price action over the long term.
What’s the difference between ETH supply and market cap?
ETH supply means the number of ETH in circulation (circulating or total). Market cap multiplies that number by current ETH price to gauge total value in the market.
Where can I find live ETH price and market cap data?
The best sources are CoinGecko, CoinMarketCap, and OKX. OKX offers live dashboards with instant updates, historical data, and compliance-focused analytics tools.
Conclusion
Mastering Ethereum market cap unlocks deeper insight into where ETH stands today—and where it could go tomorrow. Remember:
- Market cap measures the true scale and ranking of Ethereum in the ecosystem
- Upgrades like The Merge and EIP-1559 can change ETH’s inflation, supply, and, ultimately, market cap
- Trusted, real-time analytics ensure you’re always one step ahead
With OKX, you can track the ethereum market cap live, delve into protocol analytics, and stake or trade Ethereum confidently. Stay ahead—check ETH stats or sign up to try staking and trading on OKX today!
Crypto markets carry risk. Invest responsibly. Enable 2FA and use secure wallets when trading or staking.
