Standard Chartered lowered its long-term outlook for Bitcoin (BTC) for the second time in less than three months as the cryptocurrency market appears to have entered a new bearish cycle. With the leading cryptocurrency currently consolidating below the key $70,000 level, the bank now warns that the asset could fall as low as $50,000 before staging a recovery. Standard Chartered Cuts Bitcoin Target to $100,000 In a note published Thursday, Geoff Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s head of digital assets research, said the bank now expects Bitcoin to reach $100,000 by the end of 2026. The latest figure marks a significant reduction from its previous $150,000 projection for BTC. The revision follows an earlier downgrade in December, when the bank cut its target from an ambitious $300,000. Related Reading: Is Bitcoin Already Pricing A US Recession? Analyst Sees Major Risk‑Reward Setup According to Bloomberg’s report on the matter, the bank’s more cautious stance reflects a combination of weakening macroeconomic conditions and shifting investor behavior, especially over the past month’s downtrend. The leading cryptocurrency has declined more than 40% from its October peak toward current trading prices of around $67,160, while the US spot Bitcoin exchange‑traded funds (ETFs) sector has seen nearly $8 billion in net outflows. Kendrick noted that slowing US economic momentum and reduced expectations for Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts have weighed heavily on digital assets. In particular, declining ETF holdings have removed what had been a critical source of demand during previous rallies. The interest‑rate environment remains a central concern. Markets have pushed back expectations for Federal Reserve easing, with investors now anticipating that the first rate cut may come later in the year than previously thought. Kendrick also pointed to uncertainty surrounding future Federal Reserve leadership as an additional factor contributing to Bitcoin caution. The bank warned that deteriorating macro conditions and the risk of further investor capitulation could continue to pressure prices in the near term. Ethereum Could Drop To $1,400 Despite the more conservative Bitcoin forecasts, Standard Chartered emphasized that the current downturn appears more orderly than previous crypto market collapses. Kendrick highlighted that on‑chain activity data continues to show improvement, suggesting that underlying network usage remains healthy. Related Reading: UNI Rallies 10% As BlackRock Brings Treasury‑Backed BUIDL Token To Uniswap Moreover, the bank’s head of research highlighted that the market has not experienced the type of high‑profile platform failures that defined the 2022 cycle, when the collapses of Terra/Luna and FTX triggered widespread contagion. The bank also revised its outlook for Ethereum (ETH). Its 2026 price target for the second‑largest cryptocurrency was reduced to $4,000 from $7,500. Before reaching that level, analysts expect Ether could fall to around $1,400. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Ethereum continues to trade below the critical $2,000 level, reflecting persistent market pressure as traders await a clearer directional catalyst. The inability to reclaim this psychological threshold has kept sentiment cautious, with volatility elevated and liquidity conditions still uncertain. While price action has stabilized somewhat after recent declines, the broader structure suggests the market is preparing for a decisive move that could define Ethereum’s short-term trajectory. Related Reading: Bitcoin Realized Losses Hit Luna Crash Levels — But Price Context Points To A Different Market Phase A recent CryptoQuant report provides important context, indicating that the Ethereum market has undergone one of its most prolonged periods of stress since mid-2021. According to the data, the 7-day simple moving average of long liquidations on Binance climbed to roughly 9,000 ETH on February 6, 2026. Because this figure represents a smoothed weekly average rather than a single-day spike, it signals sustained pressure rather than a brief liquidation cascade. This pattern implies that leveraged long positions have been unwound gradually over several days. Pointing to persistent deleveraging rather than a sudden capitulation event. Historically, extended liquidation phases can reset market leverage and reduce speculative excess, though they also tend to coincide with fragile sentiment. Whether this process ultimately stabilizes Ethereum or leads to further downside remains dependent on liquidity conditions and broader market demand. Sustained Liquidations Signal Derivatives Market Reset The CryptoQuant report further notes that Ethereum’s decline from the $3,000 region to the $2,000 range did not trigger any capitulation events. Instead, the market experienced a prolonged sequence of margin calls, with leveraged long positions gradually unwound over several consecutive days. This pattern reflects persistent stress in the derivatives market rather than a short-lived liquidation cascade. Indicating that traders faced sustained pressure as the price trended lower. From a historical standpoint, the intensity and duration of this liquidation phase appear to exceed those recorded during major capitulation periods of the 2022 bear market. Such extended liquidation activity typically signals a broad deleveraging cycle, where excessive speculative positioning is systematically cleared. This process often reshapes market structure by reducing leverage-driven volatility and restoring a more balanced risk environment. The implication is that Ethereum may have already undergone a significant leverage reset in recent weeks. Persistently elevated liquidation averages can sometimes precede seller exhaustion. Weaker market participants exit positions, and forced selling pressure gradually subsides. The durability of any recovery will likely depend on renewed spot demand and macro liquidity conditions. Also, investor confidence must return following this extended period of derivatives-driven stress. Related Reading: Long-Term Ethereum Holders Expand Positions While Market Faces Pressure: Rare Signal Emerges Ethereum Tests Long-Term Support: Weekly Structure Weakens Ethereum’s weekly chart shows increasing structural pressure after the loss of the $2,000 level, a threshold that previously acted as both psychological support and a key technical pivot. The recent breakdown places ETH below major trend-defining moving averages, suggesting weakening bullish momentum and a shift toward a more defensive market environment. Price action reflects a clear rejection from the $3,000 region earlier in the cycle. Followed by a sequence of lower highs that typically characterizes transitional or corrective phases. The latest decline also coincides with rising trading volume, often associated with distribution or leveraged position unwinding rather than organic accumulation. This dynamic reinforces the perception of ongoing market stress rather than stabilization. Related Reading: Bitcoin Drop Wipes Billions From Recent Buyers: New Whale Cost Basis Falls Toward $90K From a structural standpoint, the next meaningful support area appears around the mid-$1,500 to $1,700 zone, where previous consolidation and demand emerged in earlier phases. Holding above this range would help preserve the broader long-term bullish framework, even amid current weakness. A sustained break below it, however, could shift sentiment toward a deeper corrective cycle. Ethereum remains sensitive to macro liquidity conditions, derivatives positioning, and overall crypto market sentiment, with recovery dependent on renewed spot demand and stabilization above key technical levels. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Ethereum is attempting to stabilize after its recent pullback, but the recovery so far lacks convincing strength. With price rejecting key levels and higher-timeframe risks still looming, ETH finds itself at a critical decision point where the next structural move could define the short-term trend. No 5-Wave Breakout, No Confirmation For Ethereum Yet Ethereum continues to trade in a technically vulnerable zone. According to More Crypto Online, until the market prints a clear five-wave impulsive structure to the upside, or at a minimum breaks decisively above the weekend high, the probability of further downside under the outlined “orange scenario” remains elevated. Without that confirmation, the broader risk profile has not materially improved. Related Reading: Ethereum Libra Formation In Play: ETH’s Next Big Move Could Be Loading The bounce from last week’s low, while noticeable, still carries a weak and corrective appearance. Momentum has not expanded in a way that would typically signal the start of a sustainable bullish reversal. Instead, the structure so far suggests a potential counter-trend move within a larger bearish or sideways framework. That said, the current area on the chart is technically significant. Following the recent liquidation-driven decline, the price has reached a zone where markets often attempt to stabilize. Sharp flushes can sometimes mark exhaustion points, making it reasonable to stay alert for early reversal signals, particularly if sentiment has become overly pessimistic. However, as More Crypto Online emphasizes, anticipation is not confirmation. The micro-structure now becomes critical. Only a shift toward impulsive upside behavior or a clear break of key resistance levels would validate a meaningful low. $2,100 Rejection Signals Resistance Flip Charting the daily timeframe for Ethereum, Luca, a market expert and investor, noted that while price has managed to bounce on the lower timeframes, the recovery has already faced rejection at a key former support zone around $2,100, highlighted in purple. This level previously acted as support but was lost during the recent decline, turning it into resistance on the way back up. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Closes Sub-$2,000 Support As Crypto Rout Intensifies The inability to reclaim that range signals that upside momentum remains fragile. Until Ethereum can decisively flip the $2,100 area back into support, Luca believes the structure continues to favor caution rather than calling for a confirmed bottom. As a result, the more probable path in his view is a continuation lower toward the higher-timeframe support zone marked in green. That area aligns with the early-April bottoming formation and could provide a stronger foundation for a more sustainable bullish reversal attempt. Given this outlook, Luca explained that he is maintaining hedges on lower timeframes to manage downside exposure. Until clear strength emerges and key levels are reclaimed, protecting capital remains the priority. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
Ethereum is increasingly positioning itself at the intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI), with growing discussions around its potential to become the default network for AI development. As AI systems demand secure data verification, ETH’s programmable smart contracts and robust ecosystem offer a compelling foundation. Its ability to provide trustless execution, decentralized data markets, and verifiable computation could address some of the biggest challenges facing modern AI. Why Ethereum’s Cryptographic Advantage In AI Development Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has outlined a clear vision for positioning ETH as the leading platform for artificial intelligence development. According to BSCN’s recent post, Vitalik has argued on X that ETH should lead AI innovation rather than copying others by focusing on zero-knowledge (ZK) privacy payments and reputation systems. Related Reading: Vitalik Reframes Ethereum L2 Strategy as ETF Inflows Return and Mainnet Scaling Accelerates In response to comments from ETH’s AI leadership post, Vitalik urged developers to consider building a fundamentally better solution rather than merely rebranding existing concepts. Vitalik emphasized that developers should do something fundamentally better by combining technology improvement in ZK, a privacy-preserving payments system, and on-chain reputation. If executed correctly, this approach could position ETH as the default platform for next-generation AI development with meaningful technology improvements. Ethereum has taken a major step toward building the foundation for autonomous AI systems, with 13,000 AI agents registered on the network in a single day, followed by the launch of ERC-8004, which went live on mainnet. Crypto analyst Teng Yan noted that the new standard allows AI agents to establish portable on-chain identities and build verifiable trust layers. However, the surge was mostly coordinated bulk onboarding, and most of the newly registered AI agents have claimed identities but are not yet active, which is normal for early infrastructure development. The real signal will emerge as reputation updates that are climbing. Recursion As Both A Scaling Tool And A Security Risk The Ethereum Foundation is releasing detailed requirements for the zero-knowledge virtual machine (zkVM) architecture whitepaper, a document to be delivered in three milestones. The Founder of ABDK Consulting, Dmitry Khovratovich, emphasized that modern zkVMs are not monolithic circuits. Instead, they consist of multiple interconnected components, including segmentation, buses, memory structures, and recursion. Related Reading: SEAL and Ethereum Foundation Partner to Combat Wallet Drainers: Security-First Investors Switch to $BMIC Each component may be secure on its own, but the overall reliability of this system-level security depends on how they interact and function together. As a result, the whitepaper will address both architectural details and the broader security arguments supporting the recursive proof structure. The Ethereum Foundation expects the final version of the documentation to be completed by December 2026 alongside the release of zkVM proofs, which are projected to be approximately 300 kilobytes (KB) in size while maintaining a 128-bit provable security level. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
Ethereum whales have continued to accumulate despite the current downtrend in the ETH price, providing a bullish outlook for the second-largest crypto by market cap. Notably, ETH withdrawals from exchanges recently reached their highest level since October last year, totaling over $400 million. Ethereum Whales Accelerate Withdrawals From Exchanges Crypto analyst Arab Chain noted in a CryptoQuant analysis that rising Ethereum withdrawals from exchanges have reached their highest level since October. The analyst noted that the exchange netflow data over the past few days indicates a clear acceleration in withdrawal activity. This signals a shift in Ethereum whales’ behavior as demand outpaces supply. Related Reading: Can Ethereum Price Still Hit $7,600 In 2026? Here Are The Odds Arab Chain revealed that across all exchanges, the net Ethereum outflows have exceeded 220,000 ETH, marking the highest level of withdrawals since October last year. This suggests that Ethereum whales are moving their coins to private wallets or long-term storage protocols, a move that the analyst noted is often associated with accumulation phases or risk-reduction behavior. Notably, daily net outflows on Binance reached nearly 158,000 ETH on February 5, the largest since August last year. Arab Chain stated that this confirms that a substantial portion of the recent outflows has been concentrated on the exchange with the deepest liquidity. From a price perspective, the analyst noted that the Ethereum whale accumulation coincided with ETH trading near the $1,800 to $2,000 range. Therefore, these Ethereum whales may see these levels as attractive zones for holding or repositioning amid this crypto market downtrend. Arab Chain added that the continued outflow of ETH from exchanges at this scale reduces immediate selling pressure and could provide near-term support for the ETH price, especially if the market gains momentum again. Ethereum Staking Hits New High According to Token Terminal, Ethereum staking has surpassed 30% of the total supply, marking a new all-time high (ATH) in terms of staking ratio. Market commentator The Milk Road noted that this means that 36.8 million ETH, around $72 billion, is now locked up, with almost 1 million validators securing the network. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Set To Break Out Against Bitcoin, But How High Can It Go? The Milk Road further described this development as a sign of conviction in the Ethereum ecosystem, noting that these whales are willing to lock up $74 billion during a market downtrend. Notably, the staking exit queue is around 4.1 million ETH, which the market commentator remarked is nothing compared to what is currently staked. Interestingly, it also takes about 72 days to stake ETH at the moment, with staking demand at a new high. Meanwhile, the Milk Road also noted that the obvious impact is a significant supply restriction, which is a bullish catalyst for the ETH price. At the time of writing, the Ethereum price is trading at around $1,965, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
ETHZilla unveiled a tokenized aviation asset, Eurus Aero Token I, offering accredited investors access to lease income from two commercial jet engines.
Ethereum has slipped below the key $2,000 level again, reflecting renewed selling pressure across the broader crypto market. The move places ETH back in a technically fragile zone, where sentiment tends to deteriorate quickly as traders reassess risk exposure and liquidity conditions tighten. Related Reading: Bitcoin Drop Wipes Billions From Recent Buyers: New Whale Cost Basis Falls Toward $90K A recent CryptoQuant report provides additional context by analyzing so-called “accumulating addresses,” a specific class of wallets designed to isolate long-term conviction holders. These addresses show no history of outflows, have received at least 100 ETH in their latest inflow, recorded multiple inbound transactions, maintain balances above 100 ETH, and have remained active over the past seven years while excluding exchanges, miners, and smart contract wallets. According to the report, these accumulation addresses now hold roughly 27 million ETH, representing about 23% of the circulating supply. This concentration suggests that a significant share of Ethereum remains in strong hands despite recent volatility. Still, persistent selling pressure below $2,000 highlights the market’s sensitivity to macro conditions, leverage dynamics, and shifting capital flows, leaving Ethereum at a critical inflection point in the near term. Whether buyers defend this area or allow further downside will likely shape sentiment, volatility expectations, and short-term positioning across the Ethereum derivatives and spot markets. Ethereum Trades Below Accumulating Address Realized Price Ethereum’s recent price action gains additional context from the same CryptoQuant analysis. It highlights how ETH is currently trading relative to the Realized Price of accumulating addresses. This metric reflects the average acquisition cost of long-term conviction holders — wallets that consistently receive ETH without distributing it back to the market. Historically, trading below this level has been rare and often associated with periods of elevated stress. According to the report, ETH has traded below the Realized Price of these accumulating addresses only twice over the past nine years. The first occurrence happened during the 2025 cycle low. A time when broad market weakness and liquidity contraction pushed prices into deep discount territory. The second instance has been unfolding since January 2026. Suggesting that current market conditions are again testing long-term holder cost bases. From a structural standpoint, this type of deviation can carry two interpretations. It may signal capitulation and undervaluation, where weak hands exit while stronger investors accumulate. Alternatively, prolonged trading below realized cost levels can reflect persistent macro headwinds, subdued demand, or leverage unwinds delaying recovery. Related Reading: Ethereum Holders Shift To Self-Custody As Market Consolidates Near $2K Price Action Showing Weakness Ethereum’s price action continues to show structural weakness on the weekly chart, with ETH recently losing the psychological $2,000 level after failing to hold above its key moving averages. The break below this zone places the price back under the mid-cycle support area that previously acted as both accumulation and breakout territory. ETH remains below the shorter-term weekly moving average. The longer-term trend lines appear to be flattening, reflecting slowing momentum rather than clear trend continuation. Volume patterns also suggest distribution, with recent selloffs accompanied by rising activity, typically associated with risk reduction and position unwinding. Related Reading: Ethereum Supply on Exchanges Mirrors 2016 Levels: What Happens Next? Historically, similar setups have preceded either extended consolidation phases or deeper corrective moves. It usually depends largely on broader liquidity conditions and macro risk appetite. If buyers fail to reclaim the $2,000 region quickly, downside targets could shift toward previous high-volume nodes near the $1,600–$1,700 range. Where historical demand previously emerged. Conversely, a decisive recovery above that level would improve sentiment. And would also suggest the recent move was primarily a leverage-driven flush rather than the start of a broader structural downtrend for Ethereum in this cycle. Until then, price action likely remains sensitive to macro liquidity shifts and derivatives market positioning dynamics overall. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Ethereum ETF investors are sitting on a far uglier entry point than their bitcoin counterparts, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart, with spot ETH funds now absorbing a drawdown that has left many buyers deep underwater. “Ethereum ETF holders are sitting in a worse position than their Bitcoin ETF brethren,” Seyffart wrote on X late Tuesday. “The current ETH price of $2,000 is way below their average cost basis of ETF holders at about ~$3,500. It’s a painful proposition. But it’s one that Eth ETF holders have experienced already.” Seyffart added that the most recent ETH ETF trough pushed the drawdown “beyond 60%,” roughly matching the percentage decline ETH saw at its April 2025 low, framing the move as severe but not unprecedented for ether’s investor base. Related Reading: Ethereum Holders Shift To Self-Custody As Market Consolidates Near $2K Even so, he argued the investor response has been more stoic than the price action implies. “Still, the vast majority of buyers have stayed put,” he wrote, pointing to net inflows across the ETH ETF complex falling from roughly $15 billion to below $12 billion — a materially larger deterioration than bitcoin ETFs “on a relative basis,” but, in his words, “still fairly decent diamond hands in grand scheme (for now).” Fresh flow data suggests the bleeding has slowed, but not flipped decisively. SoSoValue data shows US spot ether ETFs took in about $13.82 million in net inflows on Feb. 10. That followed a week of net redemptions totaling roughly $166 million, extending a multi-week outflow streak. On a monthly basis, SoSoValue figures peg last month’s net flow at about $350 million in outflows. Cumulatively, total net assets are at $11.76 billion as of Feb.10. Goldman Sachs Is Bullish On Ethereum Against that backdrop, Goldman Sachs’ latest 13F disclosure added a different kind of signal: traditional finance’s exposure is increasingly visible, and not confined to bitcoin. On Tuesday, Goldman disclosed about $2.36 billion in crypto-related positions, including roughly $1.06 billion tied to spot bitcoin ETFs and about $1.0 billion to spot ether ETFs, alongside smaller exposures of about $153 million in XRP and $108 million in Solana — a roughly 0.33% allocation in the context of its broader holdings. Related Reading: Can Ethereum Price Still Hit $7,600 In 2026? Here Are The Odds The reactions on X leaned into the optics. Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao framed the filing as a positioning gap between crypto natives and banks: “Crypto is probably the only place you had an earlier start than the banks. But if you sold your crypto last quarter, while the banks are buying, then…” MoonRock Capital founder Simon Dedic focused on the ETH sizing itself: “Very interesting to see them holding almost as much ETH as Bitcoin. For a conservative investment bank that typically sticks to standard portfolio structures like market cap weighting, this speaks volumes on how they’re significantly more bullish on Ethereum than Bitcoin, which would normally be 4–6x larger in such portfolios. This is the institutional supercycle, and ETH is clearly the institutional darling.” At press time, ETH traded at $1,949. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
Thomas Lee, speaking on stage at Hong Kong Consensus 2026, said investors should be looking at opportunities as crypto is in the midst of a "mini winter."
The BitMine chairman said at Hong Kong Consensus 2026 that MrBeast acquiring neobank Step could win over a new generation of investors to crypto.
Ethereum is struggling to hold the $2,000 level as persistent selling pressure continues to weigh on the broader crypto market. Price action remains fragile, with volatility elevated and investor sentiment cautious following weeks of downside momentum across major digital assets. While the macro backdrop remains uncertain, recent on-chain data suggests that market positioning may be evolving beneath the surface rather than simply deteriorating. Related Reading: Ethereum Supply on Exchanges Mirrors 2016 Levels: What Happens Next? A recent CryptoQuant report highlights a notable shift in Ethereum exchange flows. Netflow data over the past several days shows a clear acceleration in withdrawals from centralized exchanges. This trend typically indicates that investors are moving assets into private wallets, staking platforms, or long-term storage solutions. Reducing the immediately available supply for spot selling. Such behavior can reflect either defensive positioning during volatility or early signs of accumulation. However, interpreting these flows requires caution. Exchange withdrawals alone do not automatically imply bullish conviction. As funds may also be repositioned within DeFi or collateralized for leveraged strategies. Still, the current pattern suggests that a portion of market participants is opting to reduce liquid exposure while Ethereum tests a critical psychological support zone, leaving the market at an important inflection point. Exchange Outflows Suggest Positioning Shift Across all major exchanges, net Ethereum outflows have surpassed 220,000 ETH, marking the largest wave of withdrawals since last October. This magnitude of movement typically reflects a meaningful shift in positioning, with investors transferring assets away from trading venues toward private wallets, custody solutions, or long-term storage protocols. Historically, such behavior has been associated either with accumulation phases or with precautionary risk reduction during periods of heightened volatility. Binance accounted for a significant portion of this activity. On February 5 alone, daily net outflows reached roughly -158,000 ETH. This is the largest withdrawal event on the platform since last August. Given Binance’s role as the deepest liquidity hub in the market, the concentration of withdrawals there suggests that institutional and high-volume participants may be actively adjusting exposure rather than retail-driven flows alone. These outflows occurred while Ethereum traded within the $1,800–$2,000 range, a zone many market participants appear to view as a potential repositioning area after the recent correction. Reduced exchange balances generally translate into lower immediately available sell-side supply, which can provide short-term structural support. However, sustained price stabilization will likely require confirmation through improving momentum, renewed capital inflows, and broader risk appetite across the crypto market. Related Reading: Ethereum Crash Below $2,000 Triggers Record Token Movement: Hinting At Capitulation Ethereum Tests Critical Support After Sharp Breakdown Ethereum is currently trading near the $2,000 level after a decisive breakdown from the $2,800–$3,000 consolidation range, confirming a shift toward a bearish market structure. The chart shows a clear rejection from the declining short-term moving average, followed by an accelerated sell-off that pushed price toward a major psychological support zone. This level has historically acted as both resistance and support, making its defense crucial for short-term stability. Volume expansion during the latest drop suggests forced selling rather than gradual distribution. This type of spike often reflects liquidation cascades, risk reduction from leveraged positions, or systematic portfolio rebalancing. However, elevated volume alone does not confirm a bottom; it only signals heightened market stress. Related Reading: Bitcoin At $65K: Market Cycle Indicator Points To Possible Bottom Zone From a trend perspective, Ethereum remains below all key moving averages, which are now sloping downward. This configuration typically indicates continuation risk unless price quickly reclaims the $2,400–$2,600 region. Failure to do so increases the probability of a deeper retracement toward the $1,600–$1,800 range, where previous accumulation occurred. Ethereum appears to be transitioning from corrective weakness into a structurally fragile phase, with market participants closely watching whether the $2,000 level holds or becomes resistance. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
The Robinhood Chain, built on Ethereum-based Arbitrum, aims to become key plumbing for around-the-clock trading and plugging tokenized stocks into DeFi.
Ethereum’s outlook for 2026 has become increasingly contested after the most recent downturn in the entire crypto market. Earlier this year, research from Standard Chartered suggested that Ethereum could end 2026 near $7,500, a target that implies significant upside from current levels. However, recent price action, with ETH languishing around $2,000 and lacking clear bullish momentum, puts such projections against a very different realistic outlook. Standard Chartered’s Ethereum Long-Term View In a January research note, Standard Chartered’s digital assets team trimmed its medium-term outlook for Ethereum while keeping a highly optimistic vision for the years ahead. The bank now sees ether closing 2026 near $7,500, down from an earlier forecast of around $12,000, and expects the asset to climb to $15,000 in 2027, $22,000 in 2028, and eventually $40,000 by the end of 2030. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Is Not Going To Keep Falling Forever, Analyst Says According to the note, the change is due to weak performance from Bitcoin dragging broader dollar-denominated crypto valuations, even as the bank pointed to Ethereum’s strengths in stablecoins, decentralized finance, and tokenized assets as positives to hold on to. In the research note, digital assets analyst Geoff Kendrick noted that 2026 is important not just for price but also for Ethereum’s performance relative to bitcoin. Therefore, the most important thing for gains is a rebound in the ETH/BTC ratio to levels last seen in 2021. The Odds – Current Price Action Against Bullish Case The path from roughly $2,000 to the mid-$7,000s looks very tough compared to what it was at the start of the year. This, in turn, has seen the odds of the Ethereum price reaching $7,500 reduce drastically. Ethereum started 2026 on a good foot, with a rally to $3,370 in the first two weeks of the year. Notably, it failed to sustain this rally and has since fallen by about 40% in the past 30 days. Related Reading: Analyst Says You’re Not Bullish Enough On Ethereum – What Does He Mean? As it stands, Ethereum is now trading around $2,000, and the price has repeatedly failed to close convincingly above the $2,100-$2,150 zone in recent sessions. Although the leading altcoin is now back to trading above $2,000 after a break below during last week’s sell-offs, bulls are yet to establish any control of price momentum. On-chain data also shows the transfer activity surrounding Ethereum is pointing to elevated stress conditions. Fortunately for bullish traders, it is still too early in the year to rule out the possibility of Ethereum trading at $7,500 in 2026. Several things would need to change for an outcome close to Standard Chartered’s 2026 estimate to become plausible. One of them is the return of demand and steady inflows into Spot Ethereum ETFs. At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading at $2,025. Right now, the cryptocurrency needs to clear the $2,150 resistance and hold above it in order to continue the steady push up. Featured image from Pxfuel, chart from Tradingview.com
In a post on X revisiting ideas he first outlined two years ago, the co-founder of Ethereum argues that the push toward artificial general intelligence often resembles the kind of unchecked speed and scale the blockchain was created to challenge.
Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, is continuing its long‑standing Bitcoin (BTC) accumulation strategy despite ongoing market weakness and growing concerns around the firm’s unrealized losses. At the same time, Bitmine Immersion Technologies, chaired by well‑known market strategist Tom Lee, has revealed a major expansion of its Ethereum (ETH) holdings, underscoring a broader trend of corporate crypto accumulation even as prices remain under pressure. Strategy Adds 1,142 BTC Despite Rising Losses In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission disclosed on Monday, Strategy reported the purchase of an additional 1,142 Bitcoin for approximately $90 million. The acquisition was made between February 2 and February 8 at an average price of $78,815 per coin, according to the company’s 8‑K filing with the regulator. The move extends Strategy’s aggressive Bitcoin buying campaign, even as the value of its massive crypto treasury remains below its total acquisition cost on paper. Related Reading: After Predicting XRP’s Drop, Analyst Says The Bottom May Be In With the latest purchase, Strategy’s total Bitcoin holdings have climbed to 714,644 BTC, a position currently valued at roughly $49 billion based on prevailing market prices. The company has spent about $54.4 billion to build its Bitcoin reserves, including fees and related expenses. Across all acquisitions, Strategy’s average purchase price now stands at $76,056 per Bitcoin, well above current trading prices. Concerns around Strategy’s balance sheet have resurfaced amid the recent Bitcoin sell‑off. As previously reported by NewsBTC, CEO Phong Le stated that Bitcoin would need to fall by roughly 90% from current levels for the value of Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings to merely match the value of its outstanding convertible debt. Even under such an extreme scenario, Le said the company would explore restructuring options if converting the debt into equity were not feasible. Bitmine’s Crypto And Cash Holdings Reach $10B On Monday, Bitmine disclosed that its combined crypto holdings, cash, and so‑called “moonshot” investments now total approximately $10 billion. As of February 8, the company’s crypto portfolio includes 4,325,738 ETH valued at $2,125 per token, alongside 193 Bitcoin. Beyond cryptocurrencies, Bitmine reported additional investments including a $200 million stake in Beast Industries, a $19 million stake in Eightco Holdings (ORBS), and total cash reserves of $595 million. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Set To Break Out Against Bitcoin, But How High Can It Go? The company noted in a Monday press release that its Ethereum holdings represent approximately 3.58% of the total ETH supply, which currently stands at around 120.7 million tokens. Thomas Lee, Executive Chairman of Bitmine, said the company acquired 40,613 ETH over the past week alone. He described the recent pullback in Ethereum prices as an attractive opportunity, arguing that the market is underestimating ETH’s long‑term utility. Bitmine also revealed that a significant portion of its Ethereum holdings is actively staked. As of February 8, 2026, the company had 2,897,459 ETH staked, valued at approximately $6.2 billion at current prices. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading near $69,495, reflecting an almost 11% decline over the past week. Strategy’s shares showed a modest rebound, rising 0.82% on Monday to trade around $136 per share. Bitmine’s stock, BMNR, also moved higher, climbing roughly 2% during Monday’s session to trade near $20.91. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Ethereum is attempting to stabilize around the $2,000 level as the broader crypto market enters a critical consolidation phase following weeks of heightened volatility. Price action remains fragile, with buyers defending key psychological support while macro uncertainty, liquidity shifts, and persistent selling pressure continue to weigh on sentiment. Analysts note that the current environment resembles previous transitional periods where market structure weakened before a clearer directional move emerged. Related Reading: Bitcoin At $65K: Market Cycle Indicator Points To Possible Bottom Zone A recent CryptoQuant report highlights an important contrast in exchange-flow dynamics between Bitcoin and Ethereum. According to the data, significant amounts of Bitcoin have recently been deposited onto exchanges, pushing exchange-held BTC supply back to levels last seen around 2019. However, a notable portion of this supply appears to belong to investors who simply custody assets on exchanges rather than actively preparing to sell, making interpretation less straightforward. Ethereum presents a different picture. Despite launching in 2015 and expanding dramatically since then, the amount of ETH held on exchanges currently mirrors levels observed around mid-2016. This unusually low exchange supply suggests a tighter liquid float, potentially reflecting increased long-term holding, staking participation, or DeFi deployment, all of which could influence future price dynamics. Exchange Supply Tightening Signals Potential Liquidity Shift The CryptoQuant report provides additional context on Ethereum’s exchange supply dynamics by highlighting a historical comparison. In the referenced chart, the red box marks the current amount of ETH held on exchanges, while the blue box reflects a similar spot supply level last seen around mid-2016. Despite Ethereum’s substantial growth in adoption, liquidity, and institutional participation since then, exchange balances remain unusually low. However, because a significant portion of this ETH still belongs to investors rather than active traders, it remains uncertain whether such constrained exchange supply can persist over time. This makes ongoing monitoring of exchange inflows and outflows particularly relevant for assessing future price stability. The report also notes that Ethereum’s over-the-counter (OTC) balances have increased recently. Even so, this liquidity pool remains relatively modest compared with exchange-held supply. Limiting its ability to fully offset sudden demand shocks or selling waves. If exchange balances were to tighten further while OTC liquidity also declined, the market could face sharper price reactions to incremental demand changes. Such a scenario raises structural questions about market dynamics. Reduced immediately available supply could amplify volatility, intensify short squeezes, or accelerate price discovery phases, depending on broader macro sentiment and capital flows. Related Reading: Bitcoin Short-Term Holders Deep In Loss: MVRV Signals Capitulation Phase Ethereum Tests Critical Support as Bearish Momentum Persists Ethereum continues to trade under sustained pressure after losing key support levels and briefly testing the $2,000 zone. A psychological threshold that now defines the short-term battlefield between buyers and sellers. The chart shows a clear deterioration in market structure since late 2025, with ETH consistently printing lower highs while repeatedly failing to reclaim its major moving averages. Price currently sits below the 50-, 100-, and 200-period averages, confirming a firmly bearish trend. The recent breakdown accelerated as volume expanded sharply, suggesting forced selling rather than orderly repositioning. This kind of volume spike often accompanies liquidation cascades or defensive portfolio adjustments, particularly in derivatives-heavy environments. Notably, the bounce from the lows remains modest, indicating limited immediate demand absorption. Related Reading: Bitcoin Short-Term Holders Deep In Loss: MVRV Signals Capitulation Phase From a technical standpoint, the $2,000–$2,100 region now acts as fragile support. Losing it decisively could expose ETH to deeper retracement levels around $1,700 or even the $1,500 zone. Where previous consolidation occurred. Conversely, stabilization above this range would be the first signal that selling pressure is easing. Momentum indicators favor caution. Until Ethereum reclaims key moving averages and establishes higher lows, the broader structure suggests continued consolidation with downside risk still present. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Ethereum is holding above the $2,000 level as the market enters a consolidation phase following several days of intense selling pressure that forced prices sharply lower. While volatility has eased slightly, sentiment remains fragile as investors assess whether the recent decline represents a temporary correction or the early stage of a broader bearish cycle. Against this backdrop, new on-chain data is drawing attention to an unusual divergence between price behavior and network activity. Related Reading: Bitcoin At $65K: Market Cycle Indicator Points To Possible Bottom Zone A recent CryptoQuant report highlights that the Ethereum network is experiencing a substantial increase in token transfers even as prices struggle to recover. According to the analysis, as Ethereum corrected from roughly $3,000 down to the $2,000 region, on-chain activity accelerated rather than declined. Specifically, the 14-day moving average of total tokens transferred surged from about 1.6 million on January 29 to approximately 2.75 million by February 7. This represents the highest level observed since August 2025. Such a rapid rise in transfer volume during a price downturn often signals heightened stress in the market. It can reflect repositioning, forced liquidations, or large-scale portfolio adjustments. Although not a definitive capitulation signal on its own, the data suggests that underlying market dynamics remain tense, making the coming sessions particularly important for confirming Ethereum’s next directional move. Transfer Activity Signals Stress Rather Than Immediate Recovery The report indicates that the recent spike in ERC-20 token transfers reflects elevated stress conditions rather than organic network growth. During sharp price declines, increased token movement typically suggests panic-driven repositioning. Investors often rotate from volatile assets into stablecoins or move funds toward exchanges, preparing for liquidation or defensive portfolio adjustments. This behavioral shift tends to amplify short-term volatility and reinforces downward momentum. From a historical perspective, abrupt surges in transfer velocity during bearish phases frequently coincide with capitulation dynamics. Rapid increases in on-chain activity can signal that weaker market participants are exiting positions under pressure. Such “flush” phases compress selling into a short window, allowing the market to absorb excess supply more quickly than during gradual declines. Part of the current activity likely originates from decentralized finance mechanisms. Because the metric tracks token transfers broadly, a share of the increase probably reflects forced liquidations, collateral rebalancing, and automated risk management processes across DeFi lending and derivatives protocols. These cascades can intensify price swings even without new fundamental catalysts. Sentiment appears dominated by caution. Historically, when token transfer activity spikes sharply during downtrends, it sometimes precedes stabilization phases. While not a definitive bottom signal, this pattern often suggests that intense selling pressure may be approaching exhaustion. Related Reading: Binance SAFU Fund Adds 3,600 Bitcoin ($233M) As Market Faces Pressure Ethereum Tests Key Support As Momentum Weakens Ethereum’s weekly chart shows sustained downside pressure after failing to hold the $3,000 region, with price now hovering just above the $2,000 level. This zone has become a critical psychological and structural support, especially as recent candles reflect increasing volatility and sharp rejection from higher levels. The market appears to be transitioning from a corrective pullback into a broader consolidation phase, though downside risks remain evident. Technically, ETH is trading below major moving averages, with shorter-term averages trending downward and beginning to cross beneath longer-term ones. This configuration typically signals weakening momentum and suggests that buyers have not yet regained control. The 200-week moving average, currently near the mid-$2,000 range, may act as a pivotal reference level. Sustained trading below it would likely reinforce bearish sentiment. Related Reading: Bitcoin Short-Term Holders Deep In Loss: MVRV Signals Capitulation Phase Recent spikes in selling volume correspond with rapid price declines, indicating distribution rather than accumulation. Historically, such volume expansions during downtrends often precede either capitulation lows or extended sideways consolidation. From a structural standpoint, reclaiming the $2,400–$2,600 range would be necessary to stabilize momentum. Conversely, a decisive break below $2,000 could expose lower historical support zones, potentially accelerating volatility as leveraged positions unwind further. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
The project, which had pitched itself as a layer-2 “real-time blockchain" targeting more than 100,000 transactions per second, would make onchain interactions feel closer to traditional web apps than today’s crypto networks.
The firm's total ETH holdings top 4.3 million tokens worth about $8.7 billion at the current price just above $2,000.
The cryptocurrency industry went under intense pressure last week, with Bitcoin and Ethereum leading the crash and multiple cryptocurrencies hitting new multi-month lows. The crash was more pronounced with Bitcoin, though, and the imbalance in selling pressure is quietly shifting the relationship between the two assets. The interesting imbalance is relayed in Ethereum’s performance relative to Bitcoin. A technical analysis of the ETH/BTC ratio shared on the social media platform X by Jonathan Carter indicates that Ethereum may be approaching a critical breakout point against Bitcoin, following an extended period of compression on the 2-week candlestick timeframe chart. Long-Term Triangle On The Verge Of Break According to technical analysis of the ETH/BTC 2-week chart, Ethereum is nearing an important point against Bitcoin after years of consolidation beneath a descending trendline. This long-running pattern originates from a major peak in relative valuation in July 2017, when 1 ETH was worth 0.154 BTC in Bitcoin terms, and has since formed a series of lower highs to form a falling resistance trendline. The lower boundary of this pattern is a long-tested support zone around 0.02 that has repeatedly drawn buying interest for Ethereum in relation to Bitcoin. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Is Not Going To Keep Falling Forever, Analyst Says At the time of writing, the ETH/BTC ratio is trading around 0.030. However, the most recent 2-week candlestick has flipped green, and this development is important to the bullish outlook of Ethereum’s performance against Bitcoin. The bullish projection is based on a full playout of the green candlestick with a push towards the descending triangle’s resistance trendline. If the pair can convincingly break above the descending triangle’s upper trend boundary with sustained momentum, then this would allow Ethereum to enter a phase of sustained outperformance against Bitcoin. How High Could ETH/BTC Go If A Breakout Happens? Crypto analyst Jonathan Carter outlined a series of potential upside targets should the ETH/BTC pair break free from its downward trend. The first target is around 0.040 BTC, which would represent a clear departure from the compressed range seen across recent months. If momentum continues, higher potential objectives include 0.060, 0.085, 0.105, 0.124, and all the way up to the 2017 peak of 0.154. Related Reading: Here’s Why The Bitcoin And Ethereum Prices Are Still Trading Sideways Translating these ratio-based targets into absolute price levels is less straightforward, as the projections are based on Ethereum’s performance relative to Bitcoin and not standalone price moves. Such a performance can happen in two major ways: either Ethereum receives more inflows than Bitcoin, or Bitcoin could crash more than Ethereum during a market-wide correction. The former scenario would most likely translate into a sustained rotation into Ethereum and the wider altcoin market, setting the stage for an altcoin season. Nonetheless, both scenarios will see the otherwise strong Bitcoin dominance dropping massively. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
Ethereum is quietly setting up for a potentially decisive move as the Libra formation remains active on the weekly chart. While confirmation is still pending, the structure has not been invalidated, keeping the upside scenario firmly on the table. With key resistance levels overhead and momentum beginning to stabilize, ETH may be entering a critical phase where the next major directional move starts to take shape. Weekly Libra Formation Keeps The Bullish Case Alive On the X platform, Kamile Uray highlighted that Ethereum is currently forming a Libra pattern on the weekly chart. With the weekly candle yet to close and no invalidation so far, the bullish formation remains active and continues to be a valid scenario. Related Reading: Ethereum Bulls Must Conquer $3,050 Or Momentum Quickly Fades According to the update, confirmation of a reversal would open the door for a move toward the $4,956 high, but the price may face notable resistance along the way, particularly around the $3,445 level. Kamile Uray noted that a daily close above $2,475 would serve as the first technical signal that upside momentum is strengthening and that the recovery could continue. Failure to sustain movement above this area could delay further progress and keep the price vulnerable to pullbacks. Since the Libra formation is developing on the weekly timeframe, the pattern would only be considered invalid if Ethereum breaks below the $1,388 low, underscoring the broader, long-term nature of the setup. Ethereum Stretches Higher At $2,086 After A Sharp 22% Run According to Can Özsüer, Ethereum is currently trading around $2,086, marking a strong rally from the $1,730 area. From that level to the current price, ETH has surged roughly 22% without a meaningful correction, which increases the likelihood of short-term profit-taking. After such a sharp move, light selling pressure typically emerges as the market cools off. Related Reading: Analyst Says You’re Not Bullish Enough On Ethereum – What Does He Mean? Can Özsüer notes that any selling from this region is expected to remain controlled rather than aggressive. The ideal pullback zone lies between $1,950 and $2,000, where the price could reset without damaging the broader bullish structure. A dip into this range would be considered healthy and could set the stage for the next leg higher. Once that corrective move plays out, the next upside objective comes in around the $2,200 level. However, if price pushes straight toward the target without offering a pullback, the strategy would need adjustment. In that scenario, chasing a long position becomes less attractive, as a stronger selling wave could follow once the target is reached. If a correction does materialize, Can Özsüer suggests that a long position on the pullback would be the preferred approach. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
Recent on-chain data has shown that Vitalik Buterin’s withdrawal of 16,384 Ethereum has sparked renewed debate around the ETH distribution and founder intent. While large wallet movements often trigger speculation, this transfer aligns with a long-standing reality of the ETH development model, and the network is largely self-funded by its founders and ecosystem contributors. Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin’s recent withdrawal and sale of 16,384 ETH was not a market signal, but a deliberate funding decision. The Ethereum Daily revealed on X that the ETH was withdrawn to personally finance open-source initiatives aimed at building a secure, verifiable, and open full stack of software and hardware. How This Impacts ETH’s Supply And Market Perception These efforts span a wide range of critical technologies, including privacy-preserving systems. Examples are zero-knowledge proofs (ZK), fully homomorphic encryption (FHE), and differential privacy, as well as secure hardware, encrypted messaging apps, local-first software, opening systems, finance, communication, governance tools, and even biotech and public health research. Related Reading: Ethereum Active Addresses Near All-Time High Despite Price Plunge Vitalik framed this move within the broader context of the ETH Foundation’s strategy to reduce costs and refocus basics to ensure long-term stability. At the same time, they’re pushing ETH forward with improved scaling and greater decentralization, and offering users full control over their data and assets. According to Materkel, an Ethereum decentralization maxi, the statement, “the last five years were a mistake” from some former ETH maximalists, was a complete misconception. ETH is actively transitioning into a rollup-centric architecture, which means the last several years of research and development were not wasted. ETH is profiting from every second of effort invested in research and the work surrounding rollups, particularly in areas like ZKVMs, which would not be nearly where they are today without the ETH rollup-centric roadmap. As outlined in Vitalik Buterin’s early writings, this trajectory was always the intended endgame for Layer 1 scaling. The alternative approaches would have been a subpar solution. Related Reading: Ethereum Faces High-Stakes Moment at $2,200 as Whale Longs Clash With Bearish Flow Data Currently, ETH has reached the point where it can unify the rollup ecosystem through native rollups and synchronous composability. However, the rollups remain the future of scaling, and ETH is positioned to serve as their primary issuance and settlement layer and security anchor, at the heart of the robust ecosystem. Ethereum As The Operating System Of The Internet Economy The Ether Machine has noted that Ethereum functions as the operating system for a new internet-native economy. Rather than existing solely as a digital asset, ETH operates as a self-sustaining economic system where applications drive demand, network activity generates fees that capture value, and staking provides the security that powers global financial settlement. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
Ethereum has faced intense selling pressure in recent sessions, with price action struggling to stabilize as broader market weakness persists. The asset has revisited the $2,100 zone, a level now being closely monitored by traders attempting to identify potential demand. Despite occasional relief bounces, momentum remains fragile, reflecting ongoing uncertainty across both derivatives and spot markets. Related Reading: Are We Near A Bitcoin Bear Market Bottom? History Offers A Framework A recent CryptoQuant report highlights a notable shift in investor behavior, particularly among US-based participants. The Ethereum Coinbase Premium Index, measured on a 30-day moving average, has dropped to its lowest level since July 2022. This metric compares ETH pricing on Coinbase—often considered a proxy for U.S. institutional flows—against global exchange benchmarks such as Binance. Sustained negative readings typically indicate stronger selling pressure from US entities relative to the broader market. This development suggests that institutional demand may currently be subdued, with some investors reducing exposure amid volatile macro conditions and declining crypto risk appetite. Historically, such deep negative premiums have appeared during periods of market stress, sometimes preceding stabilization phases, though not consistently signaling immediate bottoms. Coinbase Premium Signals Weak Institutional Demand The report notes that the last time the Ethereum Coinbase Premium 30-day moving average reached similarly negative territory was during the deepest phase of the 2022 bear market. Such readings historically reflect a material imbalance between US and global demand, with American investors either actively reducing exposure or remaining on the sidelines. Given the importance of US institutional flows in past crypto rallies, this absence of demand could limit the probability of a sustained near-term recovery. At the same time, the signal is not purely bearish. Extreme negative premiums have often appeared during capitulation phases, when aggressive sellers exhaust available supply. Under those conditions, the market can stabilize as selling pressure fades, even before new inflows fully materialize. This dynamic makes the indicator context-dependent rather than a standalone directional signal. From a technical standpoint, the $2,100 level now carries clear psychological and structural significance. Holding this zone would suggest that demand is beginning to absorb supply despite negative sentiment. However, a durable trend reversal typically requires confirmation from spot demand metrics. A normalization—or eventual return to positive territory—in the Coinbase Premium would indicate renewed institutional participation. Related Reading: Ethereum Transfer Surge Mirrors 2018 And 2021 Peaks – What Happens Next? Ethereum Tests Critical Support As Downtrend Intensifies Ethereum price action on this daily chart reflects a clear deterioration in market structure following the rejection from the $4,000–$4,800 distribution zone seen in late 2025. Since then, ETH has transitioned into a sustained downtrend characterized by lower highs, persistent selling pressure, and repeated failures to reclaim key moving averages. The most recent breakdown below the $2,300 region accelerated bearish momentum, with price now testing the psychological $2,100 support area. This level carries technical relevance because it previously acted as a consolidation zone during earlier phases of the cycle. However, the sharp decline toward it, combined with rising sell-side volume, suggests that market participants are still in risk-reduction mode rather than accumulation. Related Reading: Bitcoin Unrealized Losses Reach 22% – Still No Capitulation Phase Moving averages reinforce the bearish bias. The short-term average has crossed below the medium-term line, while the price remains well under the long-term trend indicator. This confirms structural weakness. Unless ETH can quickly reclaim the $2,400–$2,600 range, rallies are likely to be viewed as relief bounces rather than trend reversals. If $2,100 fails decisively, the next meaningful support could emerge closer to the $1,800–$1,900 zone, where historical demand previously stabilized price action. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Despite its mounting losses and plunging share price, the ether treasury firm says it's under no pressure to sell its holdings.
ETHZilla’s shift toward tokenization comes after a sharp downturn in its core crypto holdings.
Ethereum remains under heavy pressure, struggling to hold above the $2,300 level as selling dominates across the broader crypto market. After weeks of weakening structure, price action has failed to attract sustained demand, prompting many analysts to warn that further downside may still lie ahead. With risk appetite fading and leverage being unwound, attention is increasingly shifting from short-term rebounds to signals that could define the next phase of the cycle. Related Reading: Bitcoin Unrealized Losses Reach 22% – Still No Capitulation Phase A recent report from CryptoQuant highlights a notable development on the network side. The Ethereum Transfer Count (Total), smoothed by a 14-day Simple Moving Average, surged sharply to approximately 1.17 million on January 29, 2026. This abrupt and near-vertical rise in activity stands out against recent trends and has historically coincided with periods of heightened market stress rather than organic growth. While elevated network activity is often associated with adoption, sharp spikes of this magnitude tend to emerge during moments of extreme positioning—either distribution into strength or forced movement during volatility. In past cycles, similar transfer count surges appeared near major inflection points, often preceding meaningful price corrections. As Ethereum trades near multi-month lows, this spike raises a critical question for investors: Does the surge in on-chain activity reflect defensive repositioning ahead of another leg down, or is it the final phase of a broader reset? The answer may determine whether ETH stabilizes—or extends its decline. Transfer Count Spikes Echo Prior Cycle Turning Points The report explains that a retrospective look at Ethereum’s transfer count reveals a recurring and cautionary pattern. Spikes of the magnitude seen recently have only appeared at a handful of critical turning points in the network’s history. On January 18, 2018, a sharp surge in transfers marked the cycle peak, immediately followed by the start of a prolonged bear market. A similar event occurred on May 19, 2021, when a sudden jump in network activity coincided with a major market crash and a deep price correction. From an on-chain perspective, this context matters. While analysts often associate rising network activity with growing adoption, a parabolic surge in transfer counts near price peaks typically signals an overheated market. These spikes tend to occur during moments of extreme stress or euphoria, when large volumes of assets are moving simultaneously. In practice, this can reflect distribution, as long-term holders or institutional participants move funds toward exchanges to realize profits or peak volatility, where trading activity reaches a climax before momentum reverses. The current setup closely resembles those earlier episodes. Although the broader macro environment has changed since 2018 and 2021, the behavior of network participants appears strikingly similar. If historical patterns hold, Ethereum may be entering a high-risk zone where the probability of further downside increases. Consequently, traders and investors must exercise caution and monitor confirmation signals closely before assuming stability has returned. Related Reading: Bitcoin LTH Profit-Taking Collapses: Is Smart Money Done Selling? Bearish Weekly Structure Signals Ongoing Downside Risk Ethereum’s weekly chart shows a market that has decisively shifted from expansion to distribution. The price is now struggling to stabilize after losing the $2,300–$2,400 support zone. The latest breakdown pushed ETH back toward the $2,200 area, a level that previously acted as a pivot during earlier consolidation phases in 2024 and mid-2025. The inability to hold above this zone reinforces the idea that sellers remain in control on higher timeframes. From a trend perspective, ETH is trading below its short- and medium-term moving averages. Both of which have rolled over and are beginning to slope downward. This configuration typically reflects a loss of upside momentum and signals that traders sell into rallies rather than accumulate on dips. The long-term moving average near the mid-$2,400s has flattened. This suggests that the market is transitioning from trend to range, with downside risk still present. Related Reading: Ethereum Experiences Broad Long Squeeze Across Derivatives Exchanges: Can Bulls Hold $2,300? Elevated volume accompanied the recent sell-off, signaling conviction behind the move rather than a low-liquidity drift. Historically, similar volume spikes during downswings have preceded either deeper drawdowns or prolonged consolidation phases. ETH has also printed a sequence of lower highs since the peak above $4,800, confirming a broader bearish market structure. Unless price can reclaim and hold above the $2,400–$2,500 region, the path of least resistance remains sideways to lower. With the market likely probing for demand at lower support levels before any sustainable recovery can form. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Leaders across the layer-2 space don't see this moment as an existential threat, but rather that Ethereum’s progress is forcing them to clarify their purpose.
Also: Open-source alternative for bitcoin miners, EF’s quantum-computing team and a new lending protocol for XRP
Ethereum has seen a sharp sell-off that sent the price straight into a major demand zone near $2,150, which is now acting as the market’s last line of defense. Whether buyers step in here or fail to hold the line could determine if this move becomes a temporary liquidity flush or the start of a deeper trend shift. ETH Loses Key Support As Short-Term Momentum Turns Bearish Michael Van De Poppe noted that Ethereum has slipped below a crucial support zone, signaling increased short-term pressure. On the lower timeframes, price action has turned clearly bearish. However, zooming out to the higher timeframes, the broader structure remains intact, with ETH still trading within a larger uptrend. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Recovery Runs Into A Wall, Decline Risk Returns He pointed out that Ethereum likely marked its cycle low back in April 2025, suggesting the current weakness may be corrective rather than the start of a sustained bearish phase. At this stage, ETH appears to be searching for a higher-timeframe support level that could act as a base for a renewed move to the upside. Van de Poppe highlighted the 0.025–0.0265 BTC region as a key support zone on the ETH/BTC pair. Importantly, the recent correction has already retraced more than half of the move toward this level, increasing the likelihood that demand could step in around that range. On the upside, he added that a recovery above the 0.0325 BTC level. While less likely in the near term, it would be a strong signal that bullish momentum has returned and a continuation of the broader uptrend. Despite ongoing volatility, Van de Poppe remains confident that Ethereum will significantly outperform Bitcoin over time. Thus, he will continue to accumulate ETH at these levels. Sharp Sell-Off Drives Ethereum Into Major Demand Near $2,150 In a more recent update, Dami-DeFi pointed out that Ethereum failed to hold the rising support line near the $2,800 level, which he had previously identified as critical. This breakdown was confirmed on the daily timeframe, triggering a sharp sell-off that pushed the price swiftly into the next major demand zone around $2,150. Related Reading: Analyst Says You’re Not Bullish Enough On Ethereum – What Does He Mean? If buyers manage to defend this level, the recent drop could be interpreted as a liquidity sweep followed by a market reset, rather than the start of a deeper downtrend. In that case, price action would likely shift into a choppy consolidation phase, with ETH rebuilding structure between $2,150 and $2,700. According to Dami-DeFi, a meaningful bullish shift only comes into play if Ethereum can reclaim $2,700 and then establish acceptance above $2,850. Until those levels are recovered and held, any upside attempts are likely to remain corrective, with the market still focused on whether demand can firmly step in at current levels. Featured image from Pxfuel, chart from Tradingview.com
The roadmap in place doesn't make as much sense because progress among layer-2s toward later stages of decentralization has been slower and more difficult, and Ethereum itself is now scaling directly on layer-1.