Bank of Italy Warns ETH Price Crash Could Disrupt Ethereum Network

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-01-13Last updated on 2026-01-13

Abstract

A Bank of Italy study warns that a severe crash in Ethereum's price could cause the entire network to fail, potentially freezing over $800 billion in assets, including stablecoins and tokenized bonds. The risk stems from Ethereum’s validator-based economy: if ETH’s value drops too low, validators may stop processing transactions due to unprofitable operations, halting the network’s ability to finalize transactions. This would render all on-chain assets immovable, even if they are inherently trustworthy. Additionally, a lower ETH price makes the network cheaper to attack, as the cost to manipulate transactions decreases significantly. In such a crisis, moving assets off-chain would be difficult due to fragile bridges and locked DeFi apps, with no central authority to intervene. The report emphasizes that since real financial assets are built on Ethereum, a crypto crash could spill over into traditional finance, and may lead regulators to require backup systems and external record-keeping.

A Bank of Italy study warns that if Ethereum prices crash badly, then the entire Ethereum network could stop working, freezing more than $800 billion worth of assets. Even assets that are supposed to be safe, like stablecoins and tokenized bonds, will be at risk. This warning comes from the research paper by the Bank of Italy, which is not just the traders’ take; it is a central bank risk analysis.

How an ETH Price Crash Could Break Ethereum’s Validator Economy

The reason behind this warning is that Ethereum runs because of the validators that process transactions. In return, they get paid in ETH. If the ETH price crashes and becomes very low, then the validators start to quit validating, as they have very high expenses in validating. Then their earnings become worthless. If this continues and many validators start quitting, then the network can’t finalize transactions. At this point, transactions can be submitted, but nothing settles, and assets will be immovable.

If this happens, it leads to the biggest risk. Ethereum now holds stablecoins, tokenized bonds, and other financial assets. Their value will be more than $800 billion. If Ethereum freezes, then it cannot move, sell, or redeem. Even if the assets are trustworthy.

Why a Falling ETH Price Makes Ethereum Cheaper to Attack

When the price of ETH crashes, it has a high possibility of hacking the network. Attacking the network is very expensive because the ETH is valuable. If the ETH price crashes, then it becomes cheap to attack Ethereum. Hackers could control the network, and they can start faking the transactions and steal or duplicate the assets.

During the crisis, people can’t easily move assets to another blockchain. Bridges may be fragile, and mass exits could break them. DeFi apps may lock the funds, and no authority can pause or fix Ethereum. There is no central bank to save it. So this is the reason the Bank of Italy is saying that if real financial assets are built on Ethereum, then the crypto crash could damage real financial assets too. So the regulators may soon require the backup system, emergency plans, and copies of ownership records outside Ethereum.

Highlighted Crypto News:

VanEck Says Policy Clarity Sets Up a Risk-On Q1 for Investors

TagsCryptocurrencyETHETHEREUM

Trending Cryptos

ctr
CitreaCTR
wstusdt
wrapped stUSDTWSTUSDT
apr
aPrioriAPR
ctx
Cryptex FinanceCTX
audio
AudiusAUDIO
mantra
MantraMANTRA
waxl
AxelarWAXL
bill
Billions NetworkBILL
pyth
PYTH (Pyth)PYTH
rune
THORChainRUNE
velodrome
Velodrome FinanceVELODROME
brev
BrevisBREV
zrx
ZRX（0X）ZRX
cake
PancakeSwapCAKE
jst
JUSTJST

Related Questions

QWhat is the main warning issued by the Bank of Italy regarding Ethereum?

AThe Bank of Italy warns that a severe crash in the price of ETH could cause the entire Ethereum network to stop working, freezing over $800 billion worth of assets, including stablecoins and tokenized bonds.

QHow could a crash in ETH's price lead to the Ethereum network failing to finalize transactions?

AValidators are paid in ETH to process transactions. If the ETH price crashes, their earnings become worthless compared to their high operating expenses, causing them to quit. If enough validators leave, the network loses the capacity to finalize transactions, meaning assets become immovable even if transactions can be submitted.

QWhy does a falling ETH price make the network cheaper to attack?

AAttacking the Ethereum network requires acquiring a large amount of ETH, which is expensive when the price is high. If the ETH price crashes, the cost to acquire enough ETH to attack the network becomes significantly cheaper, making it easier for hackers to potentially control it and fake transactions.

QWhat types of assets, valued at over $800 billion, are at risk if the Ethereum network freezes?

AThe assets at risk include stablecoins, tokenized bonds, and other financial assets built on the Ethereum blockchain.

QWhat solutions does the article suggest regulators might require to mitigate this risk?

ARegulators may soon require backup systems, emergency plans, and copies of ownership records to be maintained outside of the Ethereum blockchain to protect real financial assets built on it.

Related Reads

After Three Consecutive Quarters of Decline, Can the Crypto Market Find a Window for Stabilization in Q3?

The cryptocurrency market has just concluded its worst-performing quarter since 2022, with total capitalization dropping 12.6% to $2.1 trillion. All core metrics indicate capital is leaving the sector, not just rotating within it. Bitcoin fell 14.2% and Ethereum dropped 25.4% in Q2, breaking their previous correlation with US tech stocks. A key driver is the reversal in US spot Bitcoin ETF flows, which saw a net outflow of approximately $4.67 billion in Q2, including a record monthly outflow near $4.5 billion in June. While recent data suggests long-term holders are accumulating again, sustained ETF outflows mean continued selling pressure. Market focus is now singularly on the Federal Reserve. The upcoming July FOMC meeting is seen as the most critical event for Q3. A dovish signal could support Bitcoin reclaiming a $68,000-$84,000 range, while a hawkish stance might establish a new trading band around $50,000-$56,000. Additionally, regulatory uncertainty persists, with the progress of the crucial *CLARITY Act* stalling in the Senate, reducing its perceived 2026 passage probability to 40-45%. Despite the broad downturn, a few sectors showed growth. Prediction markets saw nominal volume surge 48.7% year-over-year to $113.8 billion, and tokenized collectibles transaction volume rose 143% quarterly to $1.4 billion. The Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization sector also continued steady growth, now representing ~$28.1 billion in on-chain value. The market's foundation for an extreme crash appears limited, with Bitcoin price hovering near its 200-week moving average. However, the trading paradigm has shifted from narrative-driven speculation to decisions based on price action, policy developments, and interest rate expectations, making a broad sentiment-driven rally unlikely in the near term.

marsbit1h ago

After Three Consecutive Quarters of Decline, Can the Crypto Market Find a Window for Stabilization in Q3?

marsbit1h ago

The SpaceX Trade, Unlocked: SPCXON Goes Live on WEEX

WEEX has launched SPCXON/USDT, a tokenized spot instrument that provides exposure to SpaceX stock (SPCXON) for traders using USDT, bypassing traditional brokerage barriers. This product, built on Ondo's framework, mirrors SpaceX's economics for eligible non-US traders, with dividends reinvested. SpaceX's high valuation post-IPO is driven by Starlink and Starship, but skeptics note its premium price and upcoming insider unlock. SPCXON offers exposure, not direct ownership or voting rights, and may trade at a premium/discount. WEEX provides a unified platform for such tokenized equities alongside crypto. The exchange, with over 6.2 million users, emphasizes security and innovative tools.

TheNewsCrypto1h ago

The SpaceX Trade, Unlocked: SPCXON Goes Live on WEEX

TheNewsCrypto1h ago

BIT Trading Moment: BTC Still Suppressed by Weekly 200 EMA, Rejection May Restart Decline; Storage and Semiconductors that Surged Last Night Begin Falling in Evening Trading

**Crypto & Stock Market Wrap: Bitcoin Tests Resistance, Stocks Retreat After AI Surge** Bitcoin consolidates around $66,000, facing key resistance near $68,000—an area seen as a major psychological and technical hurdle where previous rallies have failed. Analysts note the cryptocurrency is caught between its 200-week moving average (~$63,333) and 200-week EMA (~$68,328). A clear break above $68k is needed to signal a stronger bullish trend, while a rejection could lead to a retest of $63k support. Market sentiment remains cautious, with low futures open interest pointing to a low-liquidity rebound rather than a full bull market. Bitcoin spot ETFs saw another $203 million inflow. US stock futures pointed lower after a strong Tuesday session led by a massive rebound in semiconductors and memory stocks. The rally was fueled by renewed optimism about AI-driven hardware demand, with Micron, SanDisk, and SK Hynix surging. However, those gains reversed in pre-market trading. Super Micro Computer (SMCI) soared over 20% after hours on strong guidance and a record backlog. Other standouts included Rocket Lab and nuclear energy plays Oklo and X-Energy. Rising oil prices (Brent above $91) and climbing Treasury yields (10-year near 4.64%), however, are reigniting inflation concerns and acting as a headwind for equities. In Asia, markets were mixed. South Korea's KOSPI pared early gains to close slightly higher as semiconductor stocks like SK Hynix gave back initial surges. Japan's Nikkei edged lower as the yen hit a fresh 38-year low against the dollar, raising fears of potential market intervention. Key events to watch include the Samsung Galaxy launch, AMD's AI event, and a slew of major tech earnings from Alphabet, Tesla, and IBM after the close on Wednesday, followed by the ECB meeting and Intel's earnings on Thursday.

marsbit1h ago

BIT Trading Moment: BTC Still Suppressed by Weekly 200 EMA, Rejection May Restart Decline; Storage and Semiconductors that Surged Last Night Begin Falling in Evening Trading

marsbit1h ago

Former CFTC Chairman, Circle President Tarbert: Preaching Long-Termism While Cashing Out $30 Million Himself

Former CFTC Chairman and Circle President Heath Tarbert has consistently advocated for a long-term vision in public, urging patience from investors as Circle’s stock price has fallen significantly from its peak. However, it has been revealed that since Circle’s IPO, Tarbert has continuously sold his CRCL shares through pre-arranged trading plans, cashing out approximately $30 million, without making any public market purchases. This contrast between his public messaging and personal actions has drawn criticism. Tarbert joined Circle in July 2023 as Chief Legal Officer, leveraging his regulatory experience to help guide the company through its IPO and expansion. Despite promoting stablecoins as long-term infrastructure, he established a 10b5-1 trading plan just before Circle went public, leading to substantial stock sales over the following year. In March 2026, he initiated another plan to sell more shares. His career trajectory highlights a pattern of moving between high-level regulatory roles and influential positions in the financial sector. After resigning as CFTC Chairman in early 2021, he joined Citadel Securities as Chief Legal Officer just 27 days later, during a period of intense regulatory scrutiny for the firm. He later joined Circle, aiding its efforts to navigate regulatory challenges for its public listing. While Tarbert's expertise in policy and compliance is valuable to companies like Circle, his actions—advocating long-term confidence while personally divesting—raise questions about the alignment between his public statements and his private financial decisions, leaving investors who followed his advice to bear the market risks.

marsbit2h ago

Former CFTC Chairman, Circle President Tarbert: Preaching Long-Termism While Cashing Out $30 Million Himself

marsbit2h ago

Gate Research Institute: The 'Wall Street-ization' Wave of Crypto Financial Products – Competition or Integration?

The article titled "Gate Research Institute: Are Crypto Financial Products Sparking a 'Wall Street' Wave—Competition or Convergence?" explores the evolving relationship between the crypto ecosystem and traditional finance (TradFi). The piece begins by reflecting on Bitcoin's original 2009 vision of decentralization, disintermediation, and moving away from banks. It then contrasts this with the 2024 landscape, where key crypto assets like Bitcoin are increasingly held through Wall Street products like ETFs issued by giants like BlackRock. The article questions whether this signifies that TradFi is systematically taking over the rights to issue, price, custody, and distribute crypto financial assets. The core argument is that this is not a zero-sum takeover but rather a bidirectional convergence where each side addresses the other's weaknesses. Crypto offers 24/7 global markets, programmable settlement, and open access but lacks compliant channels, institutional-grade custody, deep fiat liquidity, and mainstream distribution. TradFi possesses these but is constrained by legacy systems, limited operating hours, and slow settlement. Two primary convergence paths are highlighted: * **Path A (CEX to TradFi):** Exemplified by Gate, which has progressed from offering tokenized stocks and CFDs to providing direct, real stock trading (US, Hong Kong, South Korea) within its platform, using USDT. * **Path B (TradFi to Crypto):** Exemplified by Robinhood, which has integrated crypto trading, acquired exchanges like Bitstamp, and is moving traditional assets like stocks onto the blockchain via tokenization and its own Layer 2. Both paths are ultimately competing to become the next-generation, unified financial account—a "super account" where users can seamlessly trade cryptocurrencies, stocks, ETFs, RWA (Real World Assets), and tokenized treasury products in one interface. The growth of RWA and tokenized treasuries (e.g., BlackRock's BUIDL) is presented as the asset-layer fusion, providing stable, yield-bearing assets on-chain and acting as a bridge between the two worlds. In conclusion, the "Wall Street-ization" of crypto is framed as a mutual transformation. Decentralized ideals persist in the protocol layer, while at the application layer, a more efficient, global, and accessible unified capital market is emerging from this convergence. The future competition lies not between crypto exchanges and stockbrokers, but between platforms vying to offer the most comprehensive asset coverage, liquidity, and user experience within a single account.

marsbit2h ago

Gate Research Institute: The 'Wall Street-ization' Wave of Crypto Financial Products – Competition or Integration?

marsbit2h ago

Trading

Spot

Hot Articles

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of ETH (ETH) are presented below.

活动图片

Top Questions