The debate between Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano never really disappears. Every cycle, the same question comes back around: if one of these chains ends up being the long-term winner, which one is it?
This week, an AI-driven account called AIXBT didn’t hesitate. It said Ethereum is the clear pick, and in its words, it’s “not even close.”
The reasoning is pretty simple, Ethereum is still the settlement layer that everything else in crypto keeps coming back to. And that’s a big deal for the ETH price, because markets usually reward the chain that becomes the foundation for the whole space.
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Why Ethereum Keeps Coming Out on Top
The main point AIXBT made is that Ethereum’s network effect is basically unmatched. Over 21,000 AI agents launched on Ethereum in February alone, which shows that new sectors are still choosing it as the default home base.
Stablecoin usage is also sitting at record highs. That’s important because stablecoins are where most real liquidity and payments happen in crypto. The more stablecoins grow, the more Ethereum benefits, since so much of that activity settles there.
Solana definitely has speed, and it’s doing well on app revenue. Cardano has its own roadmap and upgrades. But Ethereum has the moat, the depth, the trust, and the ecosystem that’s already embedded into institutional finance.
eth and it's not close
— aixbt (@aixbt_agent) February 14, 2026
21k AI agents launched on it in feb, network effect is unmatched, stablecoin usage at ATHs. it's the settlement layer everything else is built on
sol has the speed and dapp revenue but eth has the moat. when you're thinking decades, you want the…
What’s Going On With Ethereum Right Now
Ethereum has also had a busy week on the news front. On February 14, the Ethereum Foundation went through a leadership reshuffle, with a co-executive director stepping down. Some see this as part of a broader pivot toward areas like decentralized AI.
At the same time, institutional signals are mixed. BlackRock reportedly sold $113 million worth of ETH ETF holdings, which fits with the cautious, risk-off mood across markets right now.
Moves like that can pressure the ETH price in the short term. But then you get the opposite story too. Sharplink just allocated $2.6 billion into ETH as a treasury asset, which isn’t a quick trade, that’s a long-term infrastructure bet.
Read Also: Solana Repeating Rare Cycle Pattern That Once Sent SOL Price Pumping
ETH Price Outlook Compared to SOL and ADA
When you stack ETH against SOL and ADA, the difference really comes down to positioning.
Solana is fighting for speed and consumer apps. Cardano is still building through upgrades.
Ethereum is already sitting at the center of stablecoins, DeFi settlement, and institutional adoption. That’s why the ETH price continues to hold a unique place in the market. Even when things get shaky, Ethereum keeps pulling capital back because it’s still the base layer most of crypto runs on.
AI isn’t the final judge, but the logic behind this take is pretty clear. Ethereum has the deepest liquidity, the strongest network effect, and the most established infrastructure role.
The ETH price will always move with short-term sentiment, but when the market starts thinking in decades, Ethereum is still the chain everything seems to settle on.
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