Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin vs Ethereum: Which Gets Back to Its All-Time High First?

Bitcoin and Ethereum are both racing to reclaim their all-time highs, but the gap each coin must close tells very different stories about which one gets there first.

By Sam Daodu

Published September 27, 2026, 10:57am ET · 3 min read

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A golden Ethereum coin is poised against a backdrop of market charts and a strong upward indicator, illustrating the focus on its long-term price predictions. This image reflects the optimistic outlook for Ethereum's future valuation. © Jin Odin / Shutterstock.com

As of September 27, 2026, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is trading at around $84,900, roughly 33% below its all-time high of $126,080 set in October 2025. To reclaim that record, it needs to climb about 49%. Meanwhile, Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH) is priced near $2,710, about 45% below its peak of $4,950 in August 2025. To reach its previous high, Ethereum needs to gain about 83%. In the battle between Bitcoin and Ethereum, Bitcoin appears to be closer to the finish line.

However, Ethereum has outperformed Bitcoin recently. Over the last 90 days, Ethereum has surged around 72% compared to Bitcoin’s 42% gain. This raises the question: can Ethereum’s rapid rise offset the larger distance it needs to cover?

Bitcoin Needs a 49% Climb to Retake Its $126,080 Record

A large, golden Bitcoin coin is centered against a dark blue background with various financial graphics. To the left, numerical values are displayed alongside green and red candlestick charts and a blue trend line. To the right, more green and red candlestick charts rise, accompanied by a bright flash of light and electric blue lightning bolts that emanate from behind the coin.

Bitcoin is currently about 33% from its record high, a smaller decline than many previous bear markets. It’s down about 23% from a year ago but has dropped only about 4% in 2026, indicating a strong recovery this year.

In the past two months, Bitcoin has gained around 32% in value and 42% over the last three months, crossing the $85,000 mark in September for the first time since January. Nonetheless, to reach a 49% increase from $84,900, it will need significant new buying activity.

Ethereum Needs an 83% Gain to Get Back to $4,950

A close-up shot of multiple gold Ethereum coins on a dark surface, with one large coin in the foreground showing the Ethereum logo and text. In the blurred green background, upward-trending financial graphs are visible.

Ethereum’s situation is more challenging. It is trading about 45% below its all-time high and has dropped about 33% over the past year and 9% in 2026.

Despite this, Ethereum has recovered faster, jumping about 72% over the past three months from roughly $1,570 in late June. It has also risen about 42% in the last 60 days, surpassing Bitcoin during this period.

One reason for this speed is the coin’s size. Ethereum’s market cap is about $331 billion, while Bitcoin’s is around $1.7 trillion. This means that the same amount of buying power can push Ethereum’s price higher more easily. However, it also means that when selling begins, Ethereum tends to decline more sharply.

At Their 90-Day Pace, Bitcoin and Ethereum Are Almost Even

Ethereum vs Ripple, flying golden cryptocurrency coins with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Zcoin, ripple symbol zoom in background.

Looking at their recent performance, Bitcoin and Ethereum seem neck and neck. If Bitcoin continues at its 90-day pace, it could reach $126,080 in about 100 days. Meanwhile, if Ethereum maintains its faster momentum, it could hit $4,950 in a similar timeframe.

The outcome of this race hinges on maintaining current speeds. Rallies of 72% in a short period are rare, and if Ethereum slows, it will face a tougher climb, needing to cover the larger 83% distance.

Bitcoin also benefits from a strong demand narrative. Macro investor Jordi Visser has called Bitcoin “the purest AI trade,” which could keep major investors focused on the leading coin. Furthermore, Bitcoin has weathered the crypto winter following the 2025 peak better than Ethereum, leaving it less distance to recover.

Bitcoin vs. Ethereum: Which Reaches Its All-Time High First?

Considering the current situation, Bitcoin seems more likely to hit its all-time high first. With a required gain of 49% compared to Ethereum’s 83%, and both coins nearly even in recent growth, any slowdown in Ethereum’s rally could hand the advantage to Bitcoin.

Of course, Ethereum could still take the lead if it maintains its rapid pace while Bitcoin struggles to break $100,000. However, if Ethereum’s growth falters, it may fall short of $4,950 by the time Bitcoin reaches $126,080, leaving those who chased Ethereum’s surge facing significant volatility before it gets there.

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Sam Daodu

Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst and the editor of 24/7 Wall St.'s Crypto Desk, where he covers Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum, Solana and the altcoins investors search for most. His work focuses on price levels, spot ETF flows, on-chain data and the regulatory decisions that move crypto markets, written so a first-time buyer and a seasoned trader can both use it.
Sam has written about crypto professionally since 2019 and has published more than 2,000 articles. Before joining 24/7 Wall St., he wrote for crypto media outlets and Web3 companies and ghostwrote for crypto founders and token launches. His analysis is syndicated on Yahoo Finance, MSN and AOL and has been cited by other crypto news sites. He also founded MacLabs Marketing, a content and personal branding agency for crypto founders and executives.
When he isn't reading charts, Sam is usually at the gym or watching One Piece, a series he maintains has better tokenomics than most altcoins.

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