Ether Outshines Bitcoin as Major Upgrade Approaches.

Ethereum's ether has surged to a nine-month high ahead of a major network upgrade called "Shapella," which will allow owners of ether to withdraw their assets. The upgrade is expected to make the digital currency a more profitable long-term investment. The recent rally has followed a similar pattern to past bouts of enthusiasm surrounding network upgrades. In September, ethereum ran up ahead of a historic transition to a more energy-efficient way of securing the network, called proof-of-stake.