The majority in OKX's survey expects ETH to peak at over $5K by year-end.
Bybit and ConsenSys in March launched projects that can benefit from the upgrade.
Positive momentum is building up
for the upcoming upgrade to Ethereum, a decentralized blockchain with smart
contract functionality, a survey by OKX, a Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange, has identified.
The two-part Shanghai-Capella
event, which has been dubbed the ‘Shapella’ upgrade, is now scheduled for April 12. The upgrade is
expected to enable users on Ethereum to withdraw their staked ether (ETH), the
native cryptocurrency of the platform.
The upgrade comes eight months
after the Ethereum Merge, which was a hard fork of the blockchain that switched the
platform’s consensus mechanism from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake (PoS) system. However, investors have been participating in ETH
staking on Beacon Chain since December 2020. The Beacon Chain, which is a PoS blockchain launched on Ethereum, was later merged with the Ethereum Mainnet in September last year.
The expected Shapella upgrade, which was initially scheduled for last month, means that investors will be able to
finally withdraw their staked ETH. And, OKX’s survey found that the majority (83%)
of the Ethereum community expects that more ETH will be staked in the next
three months, suggesting a positive perception or acceptance of the development.
Price movement of ETH over the past seven days. Source: CoinMarketCap
$5K+ for ETH by End of 2023
OKX's findings
are based on a survey of 700 ETH traders, investors and network developers
between March 1-5, 2023, at the ETH Denver Conference.
CoinMarketCap’s latest data
shows that the price of ETH as of April 7, 2023, stood at over $1,850,
rising from a little over $1,800 seven days ago. However, the majority (63%) of respondents
in OKX’s survey expect ETH to peak at over USD$5,000 by year-end.
Furthermore, another majority
(79%) expects the price of ETH to react differently to the Shapella upgrade than it did to the Merge. From this majority, 59% believe the price of ETH
will keep increasing before and after the upgrade. On the other hand, under a
quarter (20%) of them expects the ETH price to move sideways.
“Thirty-three percent of
respondents think ETH will be over its current six-month high of USD2,000 in
June 2023, but still below its 12-month high of USD3,000. [Another] 34% of
those surveyed predict ETH at below $2,000, while 33% believe it will be at
least $3,100 by June 2023,” OKX explained.
Crypto Actors Prepare for
‘Shapella'
According to OKX, a total
of 17.9 million has been staked on Ethereum as of April 5, 2023. This amounts to over
USD$34 billion in ETH.
Already, digital assets companies have been preparing for the opportunities that the Shapella upgrade could avail. In late March, cryptocurrency exchange Bybit launched its new 'optimized' Web3
Staking Pool to give its users access to its
'uncomplicated ETH staking options'.
Additionally, ConsenSys, an
Ethereum and decentralized protocols software company, launched the first marketplace for institutional cryptocurrency staking. The
software firm believes that the Shapella upgrade can help boost institutional
participation in ETH staking.
Positive momentum is building up
for the upcoming upgrade to Ethereum, a decentralized blockchain with smart
contract functionality, a survey by OKX, a Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange, has identified.
The two-part Shanghai-Capella
event, which has been dubbed the ‘Shapella’ upgrade, is now scheduled for April 12. The upgrade is
expected to enable users on Ethereum to withdraw their staked ether (ETH), the
native cryptocurrency of the platform.
The upgrade comes eight months
after the Ethereum Merge, which was a hard fork of the blockchain that switched the
platform’s consensus mechanism from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake (PoS) system. However, investors have been participating in ETH
staking on Beacon Chain since December 2020. The Beacon Chain, which is a PoS blockchain launched on Ethereum, was later merged with the Ethereum Mainnet in September last year.
The expected Shapella upgrade, which was initially scheduled for last month, means that investors will be able to
finally withdraw their staked ETH. And, OKX’s survey found that the majority (83%)
of the Ethereum community expects that more ETH will be staked in the next
three months, suggesting a positive perception or acceptance of the development.
Price movement of ETH over the past seven days. Source: CoinMarketCap
$5K+ for ETH by End of 2023
OKX's findings
are based on a survey of 700 ETH traders, investors and network developers
between March 1-5, 2023, at the ETH Denver Conference.
CoinMarketCap’s latest data
shows that the price of ETH as of April 7, 2023, stood at over $1,850,
rising from a little over $1,800 seven days ago. However, the majority (63%) of respondents
in OKX’s survey expect ETH to peak at over USD$5,000 by year-end.
Furthermore, another majority
(79%) expects the price of ETH to react differently to the Shapella upgrade than it did to the Merge. From this majority, 59% believe the price of ETH
will keep increasing before and after the upgrade. On the other hand, under a
quarter (20%) of them expects the ETH price to move sideways.
“Thirty-three percent of
respondents think ETH will be over its current six-month high of USD2,000 in
June 2023, but still below its 12-month high of USD3,000. [Another] 34% of
those surveyed predict ETH at below $2,000, while 33% believe it will be at
least $3,100 by June 2023,” OKX explained.
Crypto Actors Prepare for
‘Shapella'
According to OKX, a total
of 17.9 million has been staked on Ethereum as of April 5, 2023. This amounts to over
USD$34 billion in ETH.
Already, digital assets companies have been preparing for the opportunities that the Shapella upgrade could avail. In late March, cryptocurrency exchange Bybit launched its new 'optimized' Web3
Staking Pool to give its users access to its
'uncomplicated ETH staking options'.
Additionally, ConsenSys, an
Ethereum and decentralized protocols software company, launched the first marketplace for institutional cryptocurrency staking. The
software firm believes that the Shapella upgrade can help boost institutional
participation in ETH staking.
Solomon Oladipupo is a journalist and editor from Nigeria that covers the tech, FX, fintech and cryptocurrency industries. He is a former assistant editor at AgroNigeria Magazine where he covered the agribusiness industry. Solomon holds a first-class degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of Lagos where he graduated top of his class.
How Ripple Pulled Off the Year’s Biggest Crypto Raise While XRP Tumbled 40%
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
Vitalii Bulynin Talks About Versus Trade, New Pairs, and Big Plans
Vitalii Bulynin Talks About Versus Trade, New Pairs, and Big Plans
In this interview, Versus Trade Co-Founder Vitalii Bulynin explains how the company got its license fast, why its trading pairs are fresh and fun, and what the team will build next.
He also discusses the most active pairs, the IB and MIB plans, and hiring needs for new markets.
Watch the whole talk to learn more about how Versus Trade works and where it is heading.
#financemagnates #VersusTrade #TradingPairs #BTCvsGold #goldtrading #innovation
In this interview, Versus Trade Co-Founder Vitalii Bulynin explains how the company got its license fast, why its trading pairs are fresh and fun, and what the team will build next.
He also discusses the most active pairs, the IB and MIB plans, and hiring needs for new markets.
Watch the whole talk to learn more about how Versus Trade works and where it is heading.
#financemagnates #VersusTrade #TradingPairs #BTCvsGold #goldtrading #innovation
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Fail Better Trading Tech to Tackle Industry Risks
Fail Better Trading Tech to Tackle Industry Risks
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
