As we all know that we are still in bear market, currently ethereum is at around $1495, I don't see ethereum reaching $4000 this year, the year is almost over and there is no no of bull season this year, moreover the ethereum merger as its been looked at won't affect ethereum price positively in terms of price, probably maybe $2k plus at the end of the year
Agreed, and there is also predictions stating that the merge could cause a downward movement in the market. This is based on how perfect the merge have taken place by the time. Same time we can't be conclusive, and there is more chances of some other proof of work cryptocurrency to peak by the time as a huge number of miners will look for the next thing in the market.
But let's look at the current market conditions. It's still difficult for ethereum to get the effect of the merger because, with the current price of ethereum, that means ethereum has to get a big pump so that the price can immediately go up high. Maybe at the end of the year, the price will start to rise high and break the $3000 level but I don't know because everything can happen later.