Expected in December, the Ethereum Fusaka Upgrade promises to cut costs, improve scalability, and position ETH as the financial backbone of the Web3 economy.
Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade, scheduled for December 2025, could mark one of the network’s most significant technical milestones by introducing PeerDAS (Peer Data Availability Sampling), a system designed to drastically reduce transaction costs and improve scalability for layer-2 rollups.
According to a recent VanEck analysis, the upgrade represents a strategic shift that could position Ethereum as the dominant settlement layer for decentralized finance, with some analysts projecting the improvements could drive ETH toward $15,000.
PeerDAS and rollups: The backbone of Ethereum’s new infrastructure
At the core of the Ethereum Fusaka Upgrade lies PeerDAS, a breakthrough mechanism that drastically optimizes data sampling and block verification. By allowing validators to verify transactions without processing full blocks, PeerDAS will expand blob capacity, improve rollup throughput, and lower transaction fees which is a long-standing barrier to Ethereum adoption.
Rollup networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base stand to gain the most from these improvements, as they rely on Ethereum for final settlement. With reduced data overhead, these rollups can operate more efficiently, passing cost savings directly to users.
VanEck analysts suggest this upgrade could increase Ethereum’s dominance as the base layer for decentralized applications (dApps) and DeFi protocols.
By cutting data overhead, the Ethereum Fusaka Upgrade makes Ethereum the natural settlement currency of the rollup economy, said Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck. We see ETH transitioning from a utility token to the backbone of Web3’s financial layer.
ETH’s macro correlation: A silent rally in the making
Market watchers are also tying Ethereum’s next move to global liquidity patterns. Analyst Tom Tucker noted a growing correlation between Ethereum and M2 money supply, the broad measure of global liquidity. With central banks expanding balance sheets again, ETH could emerge as a hedge against fiat depreciation.
“Doubters are gonna doubt, but this looks like a solid opportunity,” Tucker wrote on X. “As global liquidity rises, the Ethereum Fusaka Upgrade could push ETH toward a $15,000 valuation.”
Source: Chart from Tom Tucker on X
Economist and trader MikybullCrypto added that Ethereum’s trajectory mirrors that of the Russell 2000 Index, a small-cap stock benchmark known for tracking the credit cycle. The Russell recently hit an all-time high as a signal, Mikybull says, of capital rotation into higher-risk assets like Ethereum and altcoins.
This renewed capital flow could set the stage for ETH’s next rally, particularly as Fusaka makes the network cheaper and more scalable for institutional-grade applications.
Fusaka’s broader implications: From DeFi to global finance
Beyond price speculation, the Ethereum Fusaka Upgrade could redefine how blockchain integrates with traditional finance. Lower transaction costs and faster processing could attract more enterprises, fintech startups, and governments looking to deploy blockchain-based payment or settlement systems.
VanEck’s report also suggests that Fusaka strengthens Ethereum’s case as a monetary network, not just a smart contract platform. As gas fees drop, ETH’s utility and velocity as a currency increase which is a development that could anchor Ethereum as the “internet’s base money” for the decentralized era.
“Ethereum is no longer just a programmable chain; with Fusaka, it’s becoming a programmable economy,” said David Hoffman, co-founder of Bankless.
For investors, developers, and policymakers, the message is clear: the Ethereum Fusaka Upgrade represents more than a technical evolution as it’s a systemic shift that could redefine the power balance between decentralized and centralized financial systems.
Conclusion: The path ahead for Ethereum and Web3
As the December rollout approaches, anticipation is mounting across crypto markets. The Ethereum Fusaka Upgrade could finally deliver on the network’s long-promised scalability, making transactions smoother, cheaper, and more accessible worldwide.
If successful, Fusaka may not only cement Ethereum’s role as the financial infrastructure of Web3 but also propel ETH into a new macroeconomic narrative as one driven by digital value, data sovereignty, and decentralized finance at a global scale.
With major players like VanEck, Optimism, and Arbitrum preparing for the transition, the next few months could mark the beginning of Ethereum’s most transformative chapter yet.