On November 28, 2025, Ethereum surged past $3,000, climbing to $3,034.13 with a strong +4.15% gain in 24 hours—outpacing Bitcoin’s modest +0.45% move. The rally is no coincidence: market momentum is building ahead of the Fusaka Upgrade, scheduled for December 3, 2025, a major technical evolution that promises to enhance scalability, gas efficiency, and long-term value accrual for ETH.
With a $366.21 billion market cap, $21.77 billion in trading volume, and a firm hold on its #2 crypto ranking, Ethereum is reclaiming bullish dominance after weeks of consolidation. As social media buzzes with predictions of a run to $3,500, this guide breaks down the fundamentals, technicals, and smart strategies to navigate the Fusaka-driven wave.
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Why $3,000 Matters: The Fusaka Upgrade As the True Catalyst
Ethereum’s breakout isn’t speculative—it’s upgrade-driven. The Fusaka Upgrade merges the Osaka execution layer with Fulu consensus improvements, delivering:
- A 16.7 million transaction limit per block, dramatically improving throughput
- Reduced gas costs for complex smart contracts
- Enhanced economics for Layer-2 rollups, potentially boosting TVL across the ecosystem
According to ethereum.org, these changes mark a critical step toward making Ethereum “the settlement layer for the internet’s financial rails.”
Live data snapshot (CoinMarketCap, Nov 28):
- Price: $3,034.13 (+4.15%)
- 24h range: $2,913.45 – $3,045.67
- Volume: $21.77B (+10% WoW)
- Market cap: $366.21B (11.8% dominance)
- Circulating supply: 120.72M ETH (95.8% of 126M max)
- Drawdown from ATH: -38% from $4,891 (Nov 2021)
This 38% discount from all-time highs—combined with structural upgrades—creates a compelling risk-reward setup.
Technical Outlook: Is $3,500 Realistic?
Key levels to watch:
- Immediate resistance: $3,200 (Fibonacci 0.618 retracement)
- Bull target: $3,500 (+15.4% from current)—a psychological and technical magnet
- Support: $2,900–$2,950, reinforced by pre-rally consolidation
- RSI: 65—bullish but not overbought, suggesting room to run
If daily volume sustains above $25B, a clean break of $3,200 could accelerate momentum toward $3,500 by early December.
Longer term, analysts at Bankless estimate Fusaka could help push DeFi TVL back above $200B, further supporting ETH’s valuation.
How To Trade The Fusaka Rally: A Practical Strategy
1. Buy Pullbacks, Not Pumps
Use Tapbit’s ETH/USDT pair (zero maker fees) to set limit orders in the $2,950–$2,980 zone. Avoid chasing above $3,100 without confirmation.
2. Set Tiered Profit Targets
- First target: $3,200 (take partial profits)
- Second target: $3,500 (hold core position if volume confirms breakout)
3. Hedge with Staking
Lock ETH in Tapbit Earn for 6% APY—non-custodial, secure yields that compound while you wait for the upgrade.
4. Manage Risk
Place a stop-loss near $2,850. A botched upgrade or macro sell-off could trigger a 10–15% correction.
Risks To Monitor
- Technical delays: Any postponement of the December 3 upgrade could spark volatility
- Gas cost surprises: Early reports note potential ModExp op-code cost increases—monitor post-upgrade metrics
- Bitcoin correlation: ETH’s 0.90 correlation to BTC means a drop below $85K could pull ETH toward $2,700
That said, $5B in ETF inflows and strong on-chain demand provide a robust safety net.
Final Take: A Structured Opportunity, Not Just A Pump
At $3,034, Ethereum isn’t in euphoria—it’s in pre-upgrade positioning. The Fusaka Upgrade represents one of the most significant technical milestones since the Merge, with real implications for scalability, user adoption, and fee economics.
With $3,500 within striking distance and institutional interest rising, this is a high-conviction window for strategic entry. But timing and risk management remain key.
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