Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin has proposed that ETH should be viewed as a store of value (SoV) rather than a fee-burning asset, arguing that the previous narrative was unsustainable due to declining transaction fees. From January to October 2026, median transaction fees fell from 35 cents to 3.5 cents, despite a 50% increase in daily transactions. The crypto industry faces an uncertain future following the recent US elections, with Democrats controlling both the Senate and House, potentially leading to increased scrutiny on crypto regulations.