Ethereium is one of the best known cryptocurrencies globally at the moment. It is not only a coin such as Bitcoin, but it is also a place where thousands of apps are developed. Ethereium is often referred to as world computer since developers can create apps, tokens and games or even financial systems on top of it.

Ethereium has experienced various upgrades over the years in an attempt to make it faster, cheaper and more reliable. Today, everyone is mentioning a new significant stage of its development, Etherium 3.0. This has raised a very crucial question: will you buy Ethereum before this upgrade or wait after the upgrade to have better chances?

To answer this question we need to first know what the upgrade entails. In what was termed the Merge in 2022, Ethereum has already transitioned off proof of work and to proof of stake. This upgrade resulted in Ethereum being more responsible and secure. Subsequently, further upgrades such as the Dencun became available to cut down on transaction cost on Layer-2 blockchains.

The next major release, however, is what people refer to as Ethereum 3.0, which will help to enhance speed and lessen gas charges yet further and make Ethereum manage millions of users simultaneously without becoming excessive. This upgrade will lead to a stronger Ethereum as a base to decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and other Web3 applications.

Why would one want to purchase Ethereum until this ETH 3.0 upgrade, however? The former is due to expectation. Investors and traders normally purchase early when substantial improvements are imminent as they expect the price to go up after the upgrade.

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As an example, the price of Ethereum increased in 2021 ahead of the Merge in 2022, when everyone rushed to place themselves. The rumor that investors are fond of buying is that they believe that more demand will be generated after the upgrade has been made operational. Purchasing prior to upgrade would be gambling on this excitement, and locking in on long-term growth.

The other rationale to stock up in advance is the conviction in the long-term worth of Ethereum. Ether has been found to be the leading blockchain to developers. Suppose that you think that ETH will be much higher in five to ten years, then little price movements around the upgrade are unimportant. Getting in the market now will allow you time, and as it is said time in the market is better than timing the market. On a personal level, I believe that having Ethereum in your hands before significant advances are made might be a fair bet in the case you are not in a hurry.

But there are also good reasons why one may wish to buy after upgrade. Massive technology upgrades are not always problem free. Bugs, delays or other results may occur even with the careful testing. In the short-term, the price of ETH may decline drastically in case the upgrade has problems. Waiting until later, you are able to see whether the upgrade is smooth or not. Before taking the chance of sacrificing your money, you can look yourself at the results. By doing so you would not have to pay a hype price before it becomes apparent.

Another cause of waiting is opportunities. Occasionally, new projects, new use cases, and new tokens are introduced on the network following an upgrade. More developers will develop on Ethereum with lower charges and speed of transactions. By waiting, you will not only be able to buy ETH itself but also invest in some good projects that will be deployed after the upgrade. You can also purchase when there is a market correction, which also tends to occur after good news.

Then, as we know, it is better to buy before or after? The fact is that there are risks and rewards in both methods. When you buy it earlier then you can get the upside in case the market responds positively but you are also at a risk of losing some money in case something goes wrong.

Waiting till after will get you clarity and safety, but you can miss on the price growth at the beginning. Combining both methods is the safest alternative to many individuals. E.g., you can purchase a small amount of ETH today before the upgrade, and then save some of the money to purchase more ETH after the upgrade based on the market actions. By this means you strike a balance on each side.

I am a Nigerian man, and I am aware that money does not necessarily flow here. This is why I would say that it is worth not to hurry. The easiest way is dollar-cost averaging (DCA), which involves making small purchases on a policy basis, regardless of the price. You do not put all your money in a single instance even though ETH is increasing or decreasing. In the case of a person such as me, this is a sensible strategy since it helps to avoid the strain of market timing.

Besides that, one should keep in mind that the upgrades are not the only factors that dictate the prices of crypto. Ethereum is also affected by global forces such as the interest rates in the U.S., regulation, the flow of Bitcoin and the overall investor sentiment. Prices may even decline after huge upgrades because of the economic problem in the world. This is the reason why patience, research, and risk management are significant.

Finally, your risk aversion is what will determine whether you purchase Ethereum prior to ETH 3.0 or afterward. Accumulation and holding till the upgrade would be rewarding if you are a believer in Ethereum in the long term. To keep on the safer side and to not get caught by a sudden, it can be a good idea to wait until the upgrade.

A combination strategy is the most effective in most cases with small investors since you should buy little at the start and be prepared to buy more later. On my part I will begin by saving in small portions before the upgrade and then have cash in reserve in case of any opportunity that might arise thereafter. The future of Ethereum is bright, although as in every case, it is better to act wisely than fast.