Ethereum (ETH) experienced its most challenging year since 2018, recording losses in nine out of twelve months in 2025. The cryptocurrency saw its steepest monthly decline in February, dropping 32%, followed by significant losses of 22% in November and 18.7% in March. Despite a 48.8% gain in July and an 18.8% rise in August, the overall trend remained negative, marking 2025 as a notably weak year for Ethereum. Currently trading around $3,020, ETH is down 11.2% over the past year, though it has seen a minor 1.6% increase in early January 2026. Analysts highlight the importance of maintaining a position above the $3,000 level to regain upward momentum. Despite the price struggles, Ethereum's network activity remains robust, with a record 8.7 million smart contracts deployed in a single quarter and daily transactions reaching 2.2 million. The focus now shifts to whether Ethereum can break out of its current compressed trading range.