Here’s How High Ethereum Price Could Go If Apple Adds Crypto Payments

Imagine opening Apple Pay on your iPhone and seeing the option to pay with Ethereum. That single update could shift how millions of people use money.

Apple already has over 785 million Apple Pay users worldwide and dominates mobile payments with more than half of the US market share. If Apple introduces crypto payments and chooses Ethereum, the impact on ETH price and adoption could be enormous.

ETH Price Chart

Apple Pay is not just a payment option. It is an ecosystem that touches almost every corner of digital commerce. As of 2024, Apple Pay processed up to $10 trillion annually, with usage across 78 markets and an acceptance rate of 85% among US retailers. That dominance is why every move Apple makes in payments sends ripples across finance.

So far, Apple has been cautious with crypto. The closest sign of interest has been Tim Cook personally revealing he owns Bitcoin and Ethereum. The company itself has avoided direct integration. Still, the idea of Apple adding Ethereum payments makes sense. It would expand Apple’s reach into a new frontier and attract both crypto users and developers into its ecosystem.

Ethereum’s Role: Why ETH?

If Apple had to pick one crypto to integrate, Ethereum looks like a front-runner. Unlike Bitcoin, which is mostly viewed as digital gold, Ethereum runs a massive smart contract ecosystem that powers decentralized apps, NFTs, and DeFi platforms. Its versatility makes it more aligned with Apple’s brand of innovation.

Compared to Solana, Ethereum offers slower but more established infrastructure. Solana may win on speed and low fees, but Ethereum holds a stronger developer base, clearer regulatory footing, and a bigger market presence. This is why ETH tokens could be Apple’s first choice over others, including stablecoins, as a global payment option.

Apple integrating Ethereum into its payment network would instantly create one of the largest crypto adoption events in history. Millions of iPhone users would suddenly gain a reason to hold and spend ETH. Merchants already using Apple Pay would have no added barrier to accepting Ethereum payments.

The ripple effect could be just as strong for institutions. A move by Apple would validate Ethereum as a mainstream payment currency, much like PayPal’s crypto integration accelerated usage and Tesla’s Bitcoin purchase sparked institutional excitement. It would not just boost adoption; it would reshape Ethereum’s role in the financial system.

Price Projections: How High Could ETH Go?

Ethereum is currently trading around $4,186, with a market cap of about $505 billion. Analysts already see ETH pushing past its old all-time high, with some predictions of $10,000 to $16,000 by 2026. Apple Pay adoption could act as a powerful catalyst in that direction.

We asked ChatGPT to weigh different scenarios:

Bullish Case: If Apple integrates Ethereum and usage surges, ETH could realistically push toward the $10,000 to $16,000 range within the next two years. The combination of new retail users, stronger institutional flows, and Ethereum’s scaling upgrades could all converge into a historic rally.

Neutral Case: Without Apple but with continued growth in DeFi, NFTs, and institutional staking, ETH might climb steadily toward $6,000 to $8,000 by 2026. This reflects organic growth without a game-changing boost.

Bearish Case: If regulations tighten or Ethereum’s gas fee challenges persist, ETH could struggle around $4,000 to $5,000, staying close to its current levels despite broader adoption trends.

The potential upside clearly outweighs the downside if Apple gets involved, but uncertainty remains.

Read Also: How Much Will 1 Bitcoin Be Worth by 2030? BTC Long-Term Price Prediction

Risks and Challenges: What Could Hold ETH Back?

Several obstacles could delay or even block Apple’s move into Ethereum payments. Regulators may push Apple toward stablecoins or central bank digital currencies, arguing they are less volatile than ETH.

Scalability also remains an issue for Ethereum, though its upgrades like sharding and rollups aim to solve that. Apple may not want to risk exposing its users to high fees or network congestion.

There is also Apple’s cautious corporate culture to consider. The company tends to move slowly into new financial technologies, testing the waters before diving in fully. That means Ethereum integration could take longer than crypto enthusiasts hope.

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