I built an interactive dashboard that answers one of the most important questions in crypto: What is ETH actually worth based on network fundamentals?
๐ The Theory: Why Network Size = Value
Before we dive into the tool, let's understand the core concept.
Metcalfe's Law states that a network's value grows proportionally to the square of its users. Think about it:
- 10 users โ 45 possible connections
- 100 users โ 4,950 connections
- 1,000 users โ 499,500 connections
This is why Facebook, Bitcoin, and Ethereum become exponentially more valuable as adoption grows โ each new user adds value for ALL existing users. ๐
The Formula: Value = A ร nยฒ where n = active users
For Ethereum, we measure users by Daily Active Addresses (DAA) โ unique wallets transacting each day.
๐ฏ What This Tool Shows You
The dashboard calculates ETH's "fair value" using two models:
๐ 1. Metcalfe Model (Upper Bound) โ Cyan Line
Assumes ALL network connections have value. Represents the bullish case / cycle tops. Price tends to touch this during peak euphoria.
๐ 2. Odlyzko Model (Lower Bound) โ Green Line
More conservative formula: Value = B ร n ร log(n). Accounts for human attention limits. Represents the floor / bear market bottoms.
โ๏ธ 3. Fair Value (Geometric Mean) โ Purple Dashed Line
The mathematical midpoint between both models. Where price "should" hover over full market cycles. Think of this as the equilibrium.
๐๏ธ 4. Blended Value (Your Custom Target) โ Yellow Dashed Line
You control this with the Blend Weight slider:
- 0% = Pure Odlyzko (bearish stance) ๐ป
- 100% = Pure Metcalfe (bullish stance) ๐
- 50% = Equal weight (neutral) ๐
๐ Key Metrics Explained
๐ฐ ETH PriceCurrent market price (live from CoinGecko)
๐ Metcalfe ValueModel-derived "ceiling" price based on nยฒ
๐ก๏ธ Odlyzko FloorModel-derived "floor" price based on nรlog(n)
โ๏ธ Fair ValueGeometric mean of both models โ the neutral target
๐ฏ Blended ValueYour custom weighted valuation based on the slider
๐ Price vs ModelPercentage deviation from Metcalfe value (negative = undervalued)
๐ข NVM RatioNetwork Value to Metcalfe โ think of it like a P/E ratio for crypto networks
๐ Z-ScoreHow many standard deviations current valuation is from historical normal
๐ฆ The Buy/Sell Signal System
The Z-Score is your primary trading signal:
๐ข EXTREME BUY (Z-Score below -2.0)
Generational accumulation zone. Historically rare. ๐
๐ข BUY SIGNAL (Z-Score below -1.0)
Network is undervalued relative to user growth. โ
๐ก NEUTRAL (Z-Score between -1.0 and +2.0)
Price is within fair value range. โธ๏ธ
๐ด SELL SIGNAL (Z-Score above +2.0)
Price has outpaced fundamentals significantly. โ ๏ธ
๐ด EXTREME SELL (Z-Score above +3.0)
Cycle top territory. Major warning sign. ๐จ
๐ Historical accuracy:
- Buy signals (Z < -1): ~75% accuracy
- Sell signals (Z > +2): ~82% accuracy
๐ฎ How to Use the Controls
๐ง Network Metrics (Left Panel)
โ๏ธ L1 DAAEthereum mainnet daily users (~400K typical)
๐ L2 DAACombined Arbitrum/Optimism/Base users (~2.5M typical)
โ๏ธ L2 WeightHow much to value L2 users (1.0 = equal to L1)
๐ก Pro Tip: Increase L2 DAA to model future L2 adoption growth
โ๏ธ Model Coefficients
๐ Coeff AMetcalfe scaling (higher = higher ceiling)
๐ Coeff BOdlyzko scaling (higher = higher floor)
๐๏ธ Blend WeightYour personal bull/bear bias
๐ฎ Scenario Analysis
Switch between Bull (+50% DAA), Base (+20%), and Bear (-10%) to see target prices under different growth assumptions.
๐ง Practical Trading Application
Example 1: Current Price is Below Fair Value ๐
Purple line (Fair Value) is above white line (Current Price). Z-Score is negative.
โ Interpretation: Accumulate โ you're buying at a discount to fundamentals. โ
Example 2: Price Touches Metcalfe Ceiling ๐
Current price near or above cyan line. Z-Score above +2.
โ Interpretation: Consider taking profits โ price exceeds network value. ๐ฐ
Example 3: Confidence Band Trading ๐
The gray shaded area shows where price spends ~70% of the time.
โ Below the band = strong buy ๐ขโ Above the band = strong sell ๐ด
โ FAQ
Q: Where does the DAA data come from?A: The tool uses research estimates. For production-grade data, you'd integrate Dune Analytics or Glassnode. ๐
Q: Why is the Odlyzko floor so low?A: The coefficients are calibrated for the current model. You can adjust Coeff B higher to raise the floor if you believe the base utility value is higher. ๐ง
Q: How often does price data update?A: Every 60 seconds from CoinGecko. โฑ๏ธ
Q: Can I use this for other assets?A: The model specifically applies to network-effect assets. Works for ETH, BTC, SOL โ not for yield-bearing or governance tokens. โ๏ธ
๐ฏ TL;DR โ Your Cheat Sheet
โ
Z-Score below -1 = Strong buy signal
โ Z-Score above +2 = Strong sell signal
๐ Price below purple line = Undervalued
๐๏ธ Use Blend Weight to set your personal target
๐ Confidence band = Where price "should" trade
Bookmark it. Check it weekly. Let the fundamentals guide your conviction. ๐ช
๐ฌ Questions? Drop them in the comments below and I'll answer them.