Don't want to trade it yourself?
Our desk runs DEX portfolios on profit share.
ByMuhammad Zeshan Sarwar
PublishedSeptember 12, 20269:44 PM EDT
9 minute read
Reviewed by Omer SheikhFact-checked by Nouman S. Ghumman
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Frequently asked questions
What is Ethereum?
Ethereum is a blockchain that runs programs called smart contracts, which power lending markets, exchanges, <a href="https://xpertsstudio.com/solana-news-tradfi-confidence-wobbles-despite-stablecoin-rwa-surge/” title=”Solana News: TradFi Confidence Wobbles Despite Stablecoin, RWA Surge”>stablecoins and tokenised assets without a company in the middle. Ether (ETH) is its native currency and pays for every transaction and computation on the network. Since 2022 Ethereum has been secured by staking, where holders lock up ETH to validate transactions and earn a yield.
What is an ETH future?
An ETH future is a contract to buy or sell ether at a fixed price on a set date, letting traders gain or hedge exposure without holding the coin. Perpetual futures have no expiry and stay near the spot price through funding payments, where the more crowded side of the trade pays the other every few hours.
Does the ETH futures price predict where Ethereum is going?
No. A futures price mostly reflects the cost of carrying the position — roughly the interest you give up by holding ether instead of cash — rather than a forecast. In September 2026 Deribit’s ETH futures from October 2026 to June 2027 carried annualised premiums of 3.8% to 4.1%, close to the 4.00% three-month Treasury yield, meaning traders were paying almost nothing extra for upside.
Why is ETH funding so much lower than in past rallies?
Because the premium is now arbitraged. Binance ETH perpetual funding averaged about 66% annualised in April 2021 and 38% in March 2024, but only 6.3% in August 2025, when ether hit its record high, and about 5.6% over the 30 days to September 13, 2026. Spot ETFs, regulated futures and large desks running the basis trade buy ether and sell futures whenever the gap widens, pulling it back toward interest rates.
When is Ethereum’s Glamsterdam upgrade?
Glamsterdam has no confirmed mainnet date. It was first targeted for June 2026 and has slipped twice. Developers agreed on September 3, 2026 to aim for activation on the Sepolia test network on October 6, with another test network to follow; a December mainnet launch has been discussed but depends on testing.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Market data, tax rules, and prices can change after the article date. TECHi and its authors may hold positions in securities or digital assets mentioned. Always conduct your own research and consult a licensed financial, tax, or legal professional before making decisions.
Muhammad Zeshan Sarwar
@zeshanEditor-in-Chief, TECHi | Markets, AI infrastructure and crypto
Muhammad Zeshan Sarwar is Editor-in-Chief of TECHi. His reporting follows balance sheets and blockchains: Oracle’s $664 billion backlog and the stock sale that funds it, where Amazon’s quarterly profit actually came from, NRG’s PJM capacity revenue and the Zcash NU7 vote on future coin issuance.
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Source: www.techi.com