Ethereum flirting with $3,000. Another milestone for crypto, another pop of champagne for investors, amirite? From where I’m writing, in Johannesburg, the corks popping feel a bit…empty. We all have to ask ourselves though, as Ethereum shoots up in value — is increasing the market cap really helping? And better yet, who is getting left in the dust.

Will $3,000 Fuel Inequality?

Let's be blunt. We know the typical narrative surrounding crypto, which is usually filled with investment opportunity and disruptive technology buzz. We read these stories about billionaires getting wealthier, tech bros finding a winning lottery ticket. But what about Nomusa? She’s a single mother living in Khayelitsha, and she’s hell-bent on using DeFi to obtain the microloans she needs. Her plan is to reopen as a microbrewery! Is her life going to materially get better when the price of Ethereum goes to $3,000?

The hard truth is that a tide on the upswing does not benefit everyone equally. Indeed, it can overwhelm the less ambitious. This is because higher Ethereum prices result in higher gas prices. For the average person in the US, a $10 gas reimbursement cost is a burden. For Nomusa, it could be the difference between accessing capital and staying trapped in poverty. We are discussing real people’s lives, not just data and black dots on a chart. Like crypto analysts Michael van de Poppe, we’re always keen for a breakout above some key resistance levels. What worries me more is the barriers we are putting up for those who stand to benefit from Ethereum’s promise the most. While $2,520 may represent an important support level for traders, what are the supportive infrastructures we need to create equitable access?

It's like watching a Formula 1 race. The cars are fast, the drivers exceptional, and the tech is state of the art. One sound very common at travel shows would be the roar of the engines running. It silences the men and women mechanics, cleaners, and many other invisible hands whose toil makes it possible. The constant buzz and excitement around Ethereum has a tendency to overshadow everything else. In the meantime, actual outcomes are taking a toll on real people – both for better and worse.

Forgotten Voices Need To Be Heard

Thabo Ndlovu, a community leader, from Tshetlhane, a village in Limpopo province. My colleague Rob Munro has been playing with using Ethereum-based smart contracts to track the distribution of food aid. He told me that the greatest challenge went beyond the technology, it was affordability. With rising gas fees, to continue to scale the project became nearly untenable.

We need affordable solutions, not just cutting edge solutions,” he told administration officials, his voice rising with exasperation. Otherwise, this technology will only deliver people to those who already have wealth.

Thabo’s testimony is a timely reminder that technological advancement with an apparent disregard for social implications is a high stakes gamble. We can't afford to get so caught up in the potential of Ethereum that we forget the people it's meant to serve. Is the 59.46% increase in trading volume thrilling! That doesn’t tell us anything about whether Ethereum is becoming more inclusive.

Is Ethereum for Everyone, Or Just A Few?

The RSI is a potential indicator to the upside at 57.30, indicating momentum and space for more bullish advances. What about the social RSI? The Relative Social Inclusion index? The second question is, Is Ethereum really for everybody, no matter their economic status, geographic location, or technical ability?

Consider this: the infrastructure needed to participate in the Ethereum ecosystem – reliable internet access, smartphones, and financial literacy – is still a luxury for many in the developing world. Until we confront these basic inequalities, we can’t honestly celebrate Ethereum’s success and stake its claim of “changing the world.”

We want to believe developers are doing everything they can and actively prioritizing accessibility and affordability. Layer-2 scaling solutions, like rollups, are an important step forward, but they don’t solve every problem. We should be thinking about different governance structures. By doing so we will make sure that these underrepresented communities can help shape the future of the Ethereum ecosystem. Maybe part of the transaction fees should be set aside to fund financial inclusion and digital literacy efforts.

Ethereum’s ascendance has the potential to be a incredibly positive development. On the positive side, it would empower people, enhance transparency and public engagement, and help generate new economic development opportunities. Only if we’re purposeful about distributing those benefits equitably. If not, Ethereum’s $3,000 fantasy will turn into a horror show for the people who are literally fighting to stay alive. The pullback towards $2,310 that Daan Crypto Trades is cautioning against? That's nothing compared to the pullback in social progress we risk if we don't act now.

Let’s not let the prospect of high-frequency profits blind us to the harmful and high-frequency impacts of incomplete data. Let’s work to build an Ethereum ecosystem that creates prosperous journeys for all participants—not just the privileged few. The time to get to work on that is now, well before the champagne starts popping.