This spike in large transactions suggests potential accumulation by whales, a pattern often viewed as a bullish signal when occurring near key support levels. Historically, significant whale buying during downturns hints at confidence in a future recovery, as these large holders tend to seek undervalued assets with high potential.

The next few days will be critical for Ethereum as investors await signs of stabilization or further decline. A solid hold above recent lows could set the stage for a rebound, while a failure to maintain support may reinforce bearish sentiment. For now, all eyes remain on Ethereum’s price movements, as well as on whale behavior, which could provide insights into Ethereum’s direction in the near term.

Ethereum Preparing For A Rally?

Despite Ethereum’s recent price retracement, sentiment among investors and analysts remains bullish for the near future. According to key data from crypto analysis platform Santiment, Ethereum’s whale activity reached a six-week high as the price declined to $2,380 on Friday. 

Historically, such a spike in activity from whales—large stakeholders with substantial capital—signals accumulation. When whales begin to accumulate, it’s often an indicator of renewed confidence, suggesting these key players see long-term value at current prices.

While an immediate price rebound isn’t guaranteed, this pattern is encouraging. Major accumulation phases typically happen in periods of price weakness or extended consolidation, laying the foundation for potential upward movement. 

Ethereum’s price action has been lackluster in recent months, with ETH struggling to break out despite occasional bullish sentiment. Some analysts suggest this may be due to heavy accumulation dynamics led by institutional or “smart money�investors who gradually increase their holdings during periods of low momentum.

As whales increase their activity, it’s a potential sign that Ethereum is gearing up for a stronger move once accumulation is completed. With support from high-cap stakeholders, Ethereum’s price may eventually reflect this renewed confidence. 

For now, investors are closely watching for consolidation near key support levels, which could provide the basis for a breakout. If whale accumulation continues in the coming weeks, it could drive upward momentum, validating the long-term bullish outlook shared by many analysts and investors.

ETH Price Action

Ethereum is currently trading at $2,466 after a pullback from the $2,550 level, indicating a struggle to maintain bullish momentum. This retracement has brought ETH closer to its recent local lows but still within a sideways pattern, preserving a slightly bullish outlook as it hovers above key support areas.

For Ethereum bulls to regain control, a push above $2,550 is critical. Breaking this level would signal renewed strength and allow ETH to target the 200-day exponential moving average (EMA) at $2,783. Achieving this would mark a new local high, potentially reinforcing bullish sentiment among investors.

However, if Ethereum’s price fails to rise in the coming days, the likelihood of prolonged consolidation or even a deeper correction increases. Such a scenario would likely introduce additional bearish pressure, with ETH potentially revisiting previous support levels as traders reassess the market’s direction. 

For now, Ethereum’s price action is delicately balanced, with the $2,550 level and the 200-day EMA representing crucial milestones for bulls aiming to sustain an uptrend in the near term.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Analyst Says Ethereum Will Outperform Bitcoin

Ethereum has mostly lagged behind Bitcoin in price performance since the current market cycle began, struggling to gain momentum above the $3,000 mark since July. Ethereum bulls have faced challenges in attracting significant inflows, which has kept the price below key levels while Bitcoin has surged. 

Bitcoin recently climbed back above $67,000 and is now approaching its yearly high of $73,737.  Solana has also found its way above $170 again and could continue on the momentum to break above its yearly high of $202.

However, despite Ethereum’s underperformance relative to these two crypto heavyweights, crypto analyst @IamCryptoWolf believes the trend is going to reverse in the second half of the cycle.

The analyst provided his Ethereum outlook in reference to its price movements on the 3-day candlestick chart. The chart shows Ethereum rebounding off the bottom trendline of an ascending triangle, indicating the potential for an upward move. Consequently, the analyst projected a full breakout of multiple price resistances when the momentum finally rolls into Ethereum.

Should this breakout occur, @IamCryptoWolf predicts Ethereum will surpass Bitcoin and Solana in performance during the second half of this bull cycle. He further noted a price target range for Ethereum’s surge, placing the lower boundary at $8,428, with a high-end target reaching up to $12,000. This projected breakout has sparked renewed interest in Ethereum’s ability to regain a leading position, especially among investors who are still waiting for an altcoin rally phase led by Ethereum.

What’s Next For ETH?

At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading at $2,472, having lost about 3% of its value in the past 24 hours. This sort of performance has left many ETH investors feeling uncertain about the asset’s near-term outlook. According to data from IntoTheBlock, about 51.40% of addresses that bought in between $2,106.27 and $2,855.96 are in losses, not to talk of those that bought above $2,855.96. 

Interestingly, @IamCryptoWolf addressed this trend among ETH investors in another post on social media platform X. Here, he highlighted that Ethereum is still bullish despite the underperformance. The analyst explained that Ethereum’s current price movement appears to be forming either an inverted head and shoulders or an ascending triangle pattern on the charts, both of which are traditionally seen as bullish formations in technical analysis.

ETH Triangle Breakout Targets $10,000

Trader Tardigrade has predicted Ethereum’s next price target to $10,000 based on an ascending trendline and symmetrical triangle pattern. To be more precise, the analyst has confirmed that the Ethereum price has been following a distinctive ascending trendline and is now forming a key symmetrical triangle pattern, which often indicates an imminent price breakout.

In light of these developments, Trader Tardigrade has revealed that, historically, Ethereum has experienced explosive rallies to new highs after breaking out of symmetrical triangle patterns. Sharing an Ethereum price chart confirming this observation, Trader Tardigrade revealed that from June 2022 to the present, the Ethereum price has broken out of multiple symmetrical triangle patterns while playing on an ascending trendline. 

Before April 2023, the cryptocurrency’s price broke out of a symmetrical triangle, which led to a massive 70.73% price increase to new highs. Similarly, from around October 2023 to the beginning of 2024, the cryptocurrency experienced its second breakout, triggering a massive 140.4% price rally.

Based on these historical bullish trends, Trader Tardigrade has noted that Ethereum is approaching its third breakout from its current symmetrical triangle pattern. In the last breakout, the cryptocurrency had doubled its gains, jumping 70% from the first breakout to 140%. 

With this in mind, the analyst has projected that this next breakout could result in a 280% price increase for Ethereum, doubling its 140% jump from the second breakout. Moreover, if Ethereum’s price increases by this projected 280% rally, then its price could potentially reach $10,000. 

Update On The Ethereum Price Action

Despite bullish projections suggesting that Ethereum could be gearing up to hit new all-time highs, the cryptocurrency has been under significant downward pressure, experiencing major declines and slow growth. To the dismay of Ethereum investors, the cryptocurrency has declined again by 2.20% in the last 24 hours, after experiencing a 4.1% decrease over the past week, according to CoinMarketCap. 

The ongoing decline in Ethereum has also prompted significant backlash from many crypto community members, with analysts ranking it as one of the most underperforming assets from the previous market cycle. While other crypto members emphasize how disappointing the cryptocurrency’s price performance has been lately. 

As of writing, the Ethereum price is trading at $2,517, with many predicting that the cryptocurrency could drop even lower and possibly trigger a downturn for other altcoins in the market if it fails to maintain the 0.038 BTC/ETH level.  

Ethereum Price Breaks Out Of Key Triangle Pattern

A popular crypto analyst identified as “TheMoonCarl�on X (formerly Twitter) has disclosed that the Ethereum price has finally broken out from its symmetrical triangle pattern. Sharing a chart illustration of the distinctive technical pattern, the analyst revealed to his 1.3 million followers that the symmetrical triangle pattern had begun forming in August 2024, extending through September and October to potentially reach a peak around December.

However, before Ethereum could reach this designated endpoint, its price broke through the upper trendline of the triangle, indicating a potential bullish breakout to new highs. A symmetrical triangle is a key technical pattern that often indicates a period of consolidation followed by a breakout to the downside or upside. 

In Ethereum’s case, its price has been on a major consolidation trend, failing to experience similar price surges seen in Bitcoin and other altcoins.  With the now broken triangle pattern, TheMoonCarl is setting new bullish price targets at around $3,400 for Ethereum. 

At the time of the symmetrical triangle breakout, Ethereum was trading at around $2,707. However, as of writing, the cryptocurrency has declined by 3.15%, pushing its current price to $2,629, according to CoinMarketCap. While the analyst is highly optimistic about his $3,400 Ethereum price projection, the cryptocurrency will still have to see a 29.91% increase to achieve this feat.

TH Whales Are On The Move

Amidst analysts’ bullish predictions for Ethereum and its recent breakout from a key symmetrical triangle pattern, reports have revealed that large-scale investors, typically referred to as “Whalesâ€?are now back in action. 

Whale Alert, a blockchain tracker and analytics system revealed a series of substantial whale transactions involving the Ethereum token. In the last 24 hours, an Ethereum whale had moved a whopping 12,590 ETH tokens, worth approximately $33.8 million from an unknown wallet to Coinbase. 

Additionally, in the past few hours, another Ethereum whale had transferred 8,452 ETH tokens valued at $22.4 million from an unknown wallet to Binance. Typically, when whales move coins from their private wallets to a centralized exchange, it often indicates that they may be selling off their tokens. 

While a full-blown sell-off could cast a shadow on Ethereum’s already slow price momentum, it appears that whales are not only moving ETH to exchanges but also potentially accumulating tokens. Whale Alert has reported that an anonymous whale recently moved 8,811 ETH from Binance to an unknown wallet. 

These multiple transactions create uncertainty about whether whales are selling more than they are buying. However, with Ethereum’s recent breakout from its symmetrical triangle pattern, bullish momentum could push prices higher, potentially encouraging more buying activity. 

Top analyst and investor Carl Runefelt recently shared a technical analysis, highlighting that Ethereum has broken out of a bullish pattern that began forming in early August. According to Runefelt, once ETH confirms solid demand around its current level, it’s only a matter of days before the next rally kicks off.

With the broader crypto market gaining momentum, Ethereum is positioned to continue climbing, and investors are closely watching for confirmation of support at this key level. If ETH holds, the next leg up could be targeting higher price zones, adding to the bullish sentiment. The coming days will determine whether Ethereum can resume its upward trend and capitalize on the ongoing market strength.

Ethereum Pushing Above $2,600

Ethereum has underperformed compared to Bitcoin this year, leaving many investors concerned as the next bull run approaches. While Bitcoin has surged, Ethereum has struggled to rally with the same strength. This has sparked worry among ETH holders, who expected the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap to lead the charge.

Top analyst Carl Runefelt recently shared a compelling analysis on X. The analysis features a price chart that reveals Ethereum breaking out of a symmetrical triangle on the daily timeframe—a classic bullish pattern. 

If price action holds, it could send ETH to $3,400, according to Runefelt’s analysis. This breakout is a key signal for Ethereum, but its sustainability depends on whether the price can successfully retest the upper triangle line, which had previously acted as resistance.

Currently, Ethereum is testing support at this critical level, with $2,600 being the line in the sand. A close below $2,600 would invalidate the symmetrical triangle’s bullish thesis and could lead to further downside, putting a dent in the optimism surrounding ETH’s future price action. 

However, if Ethereum holds above this level, it could signify that the breakout is intact, setting the stage for a strong rally as the broader market prepares for a bull run. The next few days will be crucial for ETH’s trajectory.

Price Action: Technical Levels To Watch 

Ethereum is at $2,620 after failing to reclaim the 200-day exponential moving average (EMA) at $2,795. The price is testing support around the crucial $2,600 level, which will determine the direction of ETH’s price action in the coming days.

If Ethereum holds above this level, the next target would be back above the 1D 200 EMA at $2,800. This is a crucial price zone as it aligns with ETH’s local high set in late August at $2,820.

A successful breakout above $2,800 would signal a strong bullish continuation, making a push toward higher levels imminent. However, if ETH fails to consolidate above $2,600, the risk of a retracement to lower demand zones becomes increasingly likely. 

Traders and investors closely watch these levels as Ethereum seeks to regain momentum amid broader market uncertainty. The next few days will be critical in determining whether ETH continues its upward trend or faces further downside pressure.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

In light of the recent Ethereum price move, a crypto analyst has noted that the leading altcoin is gearing up for a massive move, and things are about to get interesting.

Things Are About To Get Interesting With The Ethereum Price

According to the analyst, known as @IamCryptoWolf on social media platform X, the current market conditions and technical setup suggest that Ethereum could be gearing up for a significant breakout, hinting that “things are about to get interesting.

The prediction is based on an analysis of Ethereum’s price action against the US dollar (ETH/USD) on a 3-day candlestick timeframe, where the analyst has identified the formation of an inverse head and shoulders pattern.

This inverse head-and-shoulders pattern is considered a powerful reversal signal in technical analysis, indicating a transition from a downtrend to an uptrend. The pattern consists of three distinct lows: the left shoulder, the head, and the right shoulder. 

The head forms the deepest low, while the two shoulders are smaller lows. The neckline, connecting the peaks between the shoulders, acts as a critical resistance level. Once price action breaks above this neckline decisevely, it often sparks a surge in bullish momentum.

In the case of Ethereum, the analyst identified this neckline at approximately $2,800. Ethereum has recently been trending upwards toward this level, suggesting that a breakout may be close. 

In terms of a breakout target, the analyst pointed to the $3,400 level as the first key price zone to watch. Breaking out of the $3,400 level would open up the path to Ethereum retesting its yearly high above $3,920 towards $4,000 and probably even creating a new one. 

The $3,400 and $3,920 price targets represent 25% and 45% increases, respectively, from the current price of Ethereum.

Ethereum And The Broader Market Context

The Ethereum price performance in 2024 has been closely tied to the overall market conditions, particularly Bitcoin’s movements. Many large market cap cryptocurrencies have started the week with gains, as many bullish traders look to continue on last week’s momentum.

The Ethereum price broke above $2,700 for the first time in October during this weekend as many addresses crossed into the long-term holding cohort, further increasing the bullish sentiment. At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading at $2,720 and is up by 2.83% in the past 24 hours. 

As things stand, the coming days could be pivotal for the rest of the year, with Ethereum potentially gearing up for a significant upward move above $2,800, making things ‘about to get interesting�indeed.

The sentiment is positive, and traders are closely watching to see if ETH will make its move soon. Top analyst and investor Carl Runefelt has shared a technical analysis highlighting an optimistic outlook for Ethereum in the coming days. He believes that a successful breakout above $2,640 could push ETH to much higher levels, aligning with the market’s overall bullish trend. 

As the market strengthens, the next week will be crucial, not just for Ethereum but for the entire crypto space, as investors prepare for what could be the start of a new rally.

With key resistance being tested and momentum building, Ethereum’s next move will likely set the tone for its performance in the short to mid-term. Investors and analysts are keeping a close watch, as the outcome of this resistance battle could determine the direction of Ethereum’s price action in the near future.

Ethereum Needs A Clean Breakout

Ethereum looks ready for a significant rally, with price action suggesting a move to new highs. The market is buzzing with excitement as greed rises and bullish momentum takes hold, pushing ETH toward a potential breakout. 

After weeks of accumulation, Ethereum is now flirting with breaking out of a bullish pattern, setting the stage for a possible surge.

Top analyst and investor Carl Runefelt has shared his technical analysis on X, highlighting that Ethereum needs a clean breakout from its current ascending triangle pattern.

According to Runefelt, the upside target is $2,800, which marks the last major resistance level from the two-month accumulation phase ETH has experienced. A successful breakout from this key structure would signal the start of a potential rally, fueling optimism across the market.

Runefelt also emphasized the importance of this lower timeframe price action, calling it crucial for Ethereum’s long-term development. Breaking above $2,800 could open the door to even higher levels, aligning ETH with the broader bullish sentiment seen across the crypto market. 

With the bullish sentiment continuing to build, traders and investors are watching closely, anticipating whether ETH will finally catch up to Bitcoin’s recent rally and set a course for new highs.

Key Levels To Watch 

Ethereum is trading at $2,640 after six days of choppy price action, just below the key $2,650 resistance level. A breakout above this level is essential for bulls to regain momentum, followed by a reclaim of the 200-day exponential moving average (EMA) at $2,797. 

However, there remains a risk that ETH could fail to break through this resistance, leading to a search for liquidity in lower demand zones. If the price cannot clear $2,650, a deeper retrace might occur as the market seeks support. 

Despite this risk, as long as Ethereum holds above the $2,500 mark, the broader bullish outlook remains intact, giving hope to investors expecting an eventual rally.

In the coming days, Ethereum’s ability to break through these resistance levels will be crucial in determining whether it will continue its upward trajectory or face a temporary setback. The market remains cautiously optimistic, with traders watching closely for a decisive move above key resistance to confirm the next phase of the rally.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Recent price action for Ethereum has shown signs of strength, giving investors confidence that a potential breakout could be near. Ethereum is currently trading within a bullish pattern that, if broken, could lead to a massive surge in the coming weeks. 

With Bitcoin leading the way and market momentum building, ETH could be poised to follow, unlocking new gains and potentially signaling the start of a powerful rally for the altcoin. 

Investors are closely watching for signs that Ethereum will break free from its consolidation and begin to climb, as it remains one of the most closely monitored assets in the market.

Ethereum Flirting With A Surge

Over the past few weeks, Bitcoin has surged, leaving investors eagerly waiting for Ethereum to follow suit. Top analyst and investor Carl Runefelt has shared his technical analysis on X, highlighting a bullish pattern emerging on Ethereum’s 1-hour price chart.

Runefelt’s analysis points to an ascending triangle formation, which is generally a bullish indicator. According to him, if Ethereum manages to break above this pattern, a rapid surge to $2,870 could be imminent. 

This price level represents a key target for Ethereum, as it signals a strong upward move and confirms that the altcoin is catching up with Bitcoin’s recent performance.

However, there are still risks that Ethereum could continue to trade sideways if it fails to break the current resistance level. In that case, ETH could remain trapped in consolidation for a longer period, which would cause further frustration among investors hoping for a rally. 

Despite these risks, market conditions favor Ethereum’s potential breakout as bullish sentiment grows. Analysts are watching closely, anticipating that Ethereum’s moment to surge could come soon, setting the stage for significant gains.

Price Levels To Watch

Ethereum (ETH) currently trades at $2,624 after three days of uncertainty and volatility. The price recently surged by 10% from the $2,400 area, showing signs of strength, but now faces a crucial resistance level. 

For the bulls to regain momentum, Ethereum needs to push above the current price and reclaim the 200-day exponential moving average (EMA), which is $2,800. This significant level would signal that ETH is back on track for further upside, potentially catching up with Bitcoin’s recent gains.

However, if Ethereum fails to break above this key resistance and reclaim the 200-day EMA, it risks entering a sideways consolidation phase. A failure to hold current levels could lead to a retrace, with support likely around the $2,450 mark. 

Traders and investors are closely watching the price action as Ethereum’s next move will determine whether it can break free from its current uncertainty or continue to face resistance in the coming days. As the broader crypto market remains volatile, Ethereum’s ability to hold key levels will be critical for its near-term outlook.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

After several days of anxiety and uncertainty, yesterday’s market surge has reignited optimism across the crypto space. Investors and traders are closely watching Ethereum’s price action, as a break above this crucial zone could signal the start of a significant upward trend, potentially setting the stage for an Altseason.

Top analysts and investors await confirmation that ETH is poised to rally soon. Carl Runefelt, a well-known analyst and investor, has shared his technical analysis on Ethereum, suggesting that the long-awaited rally may be just around the corner. 

According to Runefelt, ETH’s breakout from the current supply zone could lead to a substantial price surge, attracting bullish momentum for Ethereum and a broader range of altcoins. 

The next few days are critical for Ethereum’s price action as the market awaits signals that could define the direction of this potential rally. Investors remain optimistic, anticipating that ETH could lead the market into its next major bullish phase.

Ethereum Testing Crucial Supply

Ethereum has been trading within a bullish triangle formation since early August, and the moment of truth for a potential breakout may be close. 

ETH has underperformed BTC throughout the year, causing many investors and traders to question ETH’s strength during this cycle. This trend led to a shift in confidence as Bitcoin continued to dominate, leaving Ethereum behind. 

However, during yesterday’s market pump, Ethereum showed renewed strength, outperforming Bitcoin for the first time in a while, signaling a possible shift in market dynamics.

Prominent crypto analyst Carl Runefelt recently shared a technical analysis on X, highlighting Ethereum’s imminent breakout from the bullish triangle pattern. 

According to Runefelt, Ethereum is approaching a key moment, and a breakout from this pattern could lead to a major rally. He suggests that once ETH breaks through, the next supply zone to target is around $3,400, representing a significant upward move from current levels.

This optimistic outlook comes from renewed positive sentiment across the market and Ethereum’s improved price action. Traders and investors are closely watching the next few days, as a successful breakout could mark the beginning of Ethereum’s long-awaited bullish trend and re-establish its strength relative to Bitcoin.

ETH Technical Levels To Watch

Ethereum is trading at $2,611 after a notable 7% surge yesterday. This upward momentum allowed the price to break past the $2,500 mark, a critical resistance level pushing the price down since the beginning of October.

Now, Ethereum is less than 8% away from the 200-day exponential moving average (EMA), currently at $2,806.

For bulls to gain control and establish a sustained uptrend, ETH must reclaim this 200-day EMA and close above the $2,800 level. Doing so would signal a continuation of bullish momentum and set the stage for a potential rally to higher price levels.

On the other hand, if Ethereum fails to hold above the $2,500 support level, a deeper correction may be on the horizon. In that case, the price could return to $2,300, where stronger demand may help stabilize the market.

The next few days are crucial for Ethereum, as traders and investors are watching closely to see whether the price can hold its recent gains and break through key resistance levels.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Why Is The Ethereum Price Lagging Behind?

Ebtikar began by emphasizing the importance of understanding capital flows within the crypto market. He identified three primary sources of capital flow: retail investors who engage directly through platforms like Coinbase, Binance, and Bybit; private capital from liquid and venture funds; and institutional investors who invest directly through Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and futures. However, he noted that retail investors are “hardest to quantify” and are “not fully present in the market today,” thus excluding them from his analysis.

Focusing on private capital, Ebtikar highlighted that in 2021, this segment was the largest capital base, driven by crypto euphoria that attracted more than $20 billion in net new inflows. “Fast forward to today, private capital is no longer the heavy hitter capital base as ETFs and other traditional vehicles have taken the role of the largest net new buyer of crypto,” he stated. He attributed this decline to a series of poor venture investments and overhang from prior cycles, which have “left a bad taste in the mouths of LPs.”

These venture firms and liquid funds recognized that they couldn’t wait out another cycle and needed to be more proactive. They began taking more “shots on target” for liquid plays, often through private deals involving locked tokens such as Solana (SOL), Celestia (TIA), and Toncoin (TON). “These locked deals also represented something more interesting for a lot of firms—there’s a world outside of Ethereum-based investing that is actually growing and usable and has enough market cap growth relative to ETH that could justify the underwriting of the investment,” Ebtikar explained.

He noted that investors were aware it would be increasingly difficult to raise funds for venture and liquid investments. Without the return of retail capital, institutional products became the only viable avenue for a bid for ETH. Mindshare began fragmenting as the three-year mark of the 2021 vintage approached, and products like BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) gained legitimacy as the de facto benchmark for crypto. Private capital had to make a choice: “Abandon their core portfolio hold in ETH and move down the risk curve or hold your breath for traditional players to start bailing you out.”

This led to the formation of two camps. The first consisted of pre-ETF ETH sellers between January and May 2024, who opted out of ETH and swapped to assets like SOL. The second group, post-ETF ETH sellers from June to September 2024, realized that ETF flows into ETH were lackluster and that it would take much more for ETH’s price to gain support. “They understood that the ETF flows were lackluster and it would take a lot more for ETH price to begin being supportive,” Ebtikar noted.

Turning his attention to institutional capital, Ebtikar observed that when spot Bitcoin ETFs like IBIT, FBTC, ARKB, and BITW entered the market, they exceeded expectations. “These products broke any realistic target investors and experts could’ve fathomed with their success,” he stated. He emphasized that Bitcoin ETFs have become some of the most successful ETF products in history. “BTC went from being a dog in the average portfolio to now the only funnel for net new capital in crypto and at a record rate too,” he said.

Despite Bitcoin’s surge, the rest of the market didn’t keep up. Ebtikar questioned why this was the case, pointing out that crypto-native investors, retail, and private capital had long since reduced their Bitcoin holdings. Instead, they were “stuck in altcoins and Ethereum as the core of their portfolio.” Consequently, when Bitcoin received its institutional bid, few in the crypto space benefited from the new wealth effect. “Few in crypto were beneficiaries of the newly made wealth effect,” he remarked.

Investors began to reassess their portfolios, struggling to decide their next moves. Historically, crypto capital would cycle from index assets like Bitcoin to Ethereum and then down the risk curve to altcoins. However, traders speculated on potential flows into Ethereum and similar assets but were “broadly wrong.” The market started to diverge, and the dispersion between asset returns intensified. Professional crypto investors and traders moved aggressively down the risk curve, and funds followed suit to generate returns.

The asset they chose to reduce exposure to was Ethereum—the largest asset in their core portfolios. “Slowly but surely ETH started losing steam to SOL and similar, and a non-trivial percentage of this flow started really moving downstream to memecoins,” Ebtikar observed. “ETH lost its moat in crypto-savvy investors, the only group of investors who were historically interested in buying.”

Even with the introduction of spot ETH ETFs, institutional capital paid little attention to Ethereum. Ebtikar described Ethereum’s predicament as suffering from “middle-child syndrome.” He elaborated, “The asset is not in vogue with institutional investors, the asset lost favor in crypto private capital circles, and retail is nowhere to be seen bidding anything at this size.” He emphasized that Ethereum is too large for native capital to support while other index assets like SOL and large caps like TIA, TAO, and SUI are capturing investor attention.

According to Ebtikar, the only way forward is to expand the universe of potentially interested investors, which can only happen at the institutional level. “ETH’s best odds of making a material comeback (short of changes to the core protocol’s trajectory) is to have institutional investors pick up the asset in the coming months,” he suggested. He acknowledged that while Ethereum faces significant challenges, it is “the only other asset with an ETF and likely will be for some time.” This unique position offers a potential avenue for recovery.

Ebtikar mentioned several factors that could influence Ethereum’s future trajectory. He cited the possibility of a Trump presidency, which could bring changes to regulatory frameworks affecting cryptocurrency. He also pointed to potential shifts in the Ethereum Foundation’s direction and core focus, suggesting that strategic changes could reinvigorate investor interest. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of marketing the ETH ETF by traditional asset managers to attract institutional capital.

“Considering the possibility of a Trump Presidency, change at the Ethereum Foundation’s direction and core focus, and marketing of the ETH ETF by traditional asset managers, there are quite a few outs for the father of smart contracting platforms,” Ebtikar remarked. He expressed cautious optimism, stating that not all hope is lost for Ethereum.

Looking ahead to 2025, Ebtikar believes it will be a critical year for cryptocurrency and especially for Ethereum. “2025 will very much be an interesting year for crypto and especially for Ethereum as so much of the damage from 2024 can be unwound or further deepened,” he concluded. “Time will tell.”

At press time, ETH traded at $2,534.