Tag: ethereum price

Justin Sun Moves $100M To Binance, Stacking Ethereum?

Justin Sun, the co-founder of Tron–a smart contracting platform for deploying decentralized applications (dapps), is once again moving and shuffling millions of dollars. According to Lookonchain data on February 29, Sun reportedly transferred 100 million USDT to Binance, days after moving huge sums earlier this week.

Justin Sun moves $100 million USDT to Binance | Source: Lookonchain via X

Justin Sun Holds Millions Of ETH: Will The Co-founder Buy More?

From February 12 to 24, a wallet associated with Sun acquired 168,369 ETH for an average price of $2,894. This purchase, valued at roughly $580.5 million, currently holds an unrealized profit of around $95 million. Profitability could increase considering the sharp demand for crypto, especially top coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum, in recent days.

Ethereum price trending upward on February 29 | Source: ETHUSDT on Binance, TradingView

The Ethereum price chart shows that ETH has been on a clear uptrend, rising from around $2,200 in early February to over $3,450 when writing. At this pace, and considering the institutional interest in potent crypto assets, including ETH, the odds of the second most valuable coin stretching gains will be highly likely.

As Bitcoin inches closer to $70,000, the probability of Ethereum also tracking higher toward its all-time high of around $5,000 will be elevated.

Since ETH already owns a big stash of coins, there is speculation that the co-founder will double down, buying even more coins. The crypto community will continue watching the address until this happens and there is solid on-chain data to support the purchase.

Spot Ethereum ETFs And The Dencun Upgrade Are Key Updates

So far, optimism is high, especially among the broader altcoin community. As Bitcoin races to register new all-time highs pumped by institutional billions, eyes will be on the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). There are multiple applications for a spot Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF).

The agency has not provided a definitive timeline for approving or rejecting the derivative product. There is regulatory uncertainty around the status of ETH, a significant headwind that might delay or even prevent the timely authorization of this product.

Still, the community is looking forward to the next communication in May. If the spot Ethereum ETF is a go, the coin will likely rally to new all-time highs, following Bitcoin.

However, before then, eyes are on the expected implementation of Dencun. The upgrade addresses challenges facing Ethereum, including scalability. Through Dencun, Ethereum developers hope to lay the base for further throughput enhancements in the coming years.

With higher throughput, transaction fees drop, overly improving user experience. This upgrade might go a long way in cementing Ethereum’s role in crypto, wading off stiff competition from Solana and others, including the BNB Chain.

Feature image from DALLE, chart from TradingView

Disclaimer: The article is provided for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.

Dalmas Ngetich

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February 29, 2024
Altcoin Market Cap Break From “Wyckoff Accumulation Phase”: Will Ethereum, XRP Fly?

In a post on X, one analyst observes that the altcoin market capitalization has broken from the Wyckoff accumulation phase. With this upswing, the trader expects altcoin prices to move higher.

This refreshing breakout coincides with Bitcoin’s (BTC) stellar performance when writing on February 28. At spot rates, the coin is trading above $60,000, a psychological round number- now supported- and is closely approaching $70,000.

The Altcoin Breakout From Accumulation

The “Wyckoff accumulation pattern” is a concept developed by technical analysts to pick out potential buying opportunities, in this case, altcoins. Whenever prices are in this phase, it is widely believed that the so-called “smart money” or large institutional players are accumulating at low prices.

Altcoin market cap breaking out | Source: Analyst on X

Currently, prices consolidate at tight ranges and with low trading volumes. A signal marking the end of this accumulation is a sharp breakout, lifting prices above the defined range. Often, this upswing is with rising trading volume.

Looking at the chart, the altcoin market cap has broken above the accumulation phase. With previous resistance and support, the altcoin market cap will likely continue floating higher. As such, top altcoins, including Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP, will follow suit, posting fresh 2024 highs.

Why Spot Bitcoin ETFs Give BTC Edge In This Bull Run

So far, Bitcoin is leading the way, posting over $10,000 in less than a week. However, with the coin trading above $60,000, its demand-side drivers differ entirely from what’s influencing altcoins. The approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has seen billions of dollars flow to the world’s first cryptocurrency.

Therefore, while altcoins have historically outperformed BTC when crypto prices rally, there is an edge with spot Bitcoin ETFs. As such, this bull run will likely differ from 2017 and 2021. This forecast is because institutions will likely favor a regulated asset over altcoins whose status remains undefined.

Ethereum price trending higher on the daily chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Binance, TradingView

As of late February 2024, the United States SEC has not approved spot ETFs of any altcoin, including that of Ethereum. Additionally, the agency has labeled several top altcoins, including Cardano (ADA), unregistered securities. The agency even filed lawsuits against major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, accusing them of facilitating the trading of what the commission described as “unregistered securities.”

It is not immediately clear whether the United States SEC will change their preview of leading altcoins, especially Ethereum (ETH), which has a market of over $400 billion. Wall Street heavyweights like BlackRock and Fidelity remain interested in launching spot Ethereum ETFs.

Feature image from DALLE, chart from TradingView

Disclaimer: The article is provided for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.

Dalmas Ngetich

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February 28, 2024
Ethereum Outperforms Bitcoin As Institutional Investors Clamor For ETH Exposure
Reports have revealed that institutional investors are shifting their focus to Ethereum, displaying a preference compared to the largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. Despite Bitcoin’s recent rally to over $55,000, Ethereum’s unique features and potential developmental capabilities continue to capture institutional players’ interest.

Institutions Favor Ethereum Over Bitcoin

On February 24, cryptocurrency exchange, Bybit, published a research report on its users’ asset allocation. The research examined investors’ hodling and trading behaviours, covering the period from July 2023 to January 2024. Bybit’s report also provided valuable insights into investors’ asset allocation across cryptocurrencies such as altcoins, stablecoins and meme coins, shedding light on the specific coins users are currently bullish or bearish on.

According to the research report, Ethereum has unexpectedly emerged as the primary cryptocurrency choice for institutional investors. The report revealed that “institutions are betting big on Ethereum,” allocating more of their funds to ETH compared to BTC.

Bybit has disclosed that the recent rise in interest in Ethereum began in September 2023, when ETH was still trading around $2,000. Subsequently, Ethereum’s market sentiment became more bullish, experiencing a surge in investor interest to about 40% by January 2024. The crypto exchange has confirmed that, as of January 31, ETH has become the single largest cryptocurrency held by institutions.

Bybit’s report also revealed that institutional investors’ interest in Bitcoin began to wane following the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approval of Spot Bitcoin ETFs on January 10, 2024. At the time, Bitcoin had experienced massive selling pressures, resulting in investors trimming their BTC holdings to favour other cryptocurrencies.

The excessive allocation of Ethereum is reportedly attributed to investors anticipating a favourable outcome from Ethereum’s upcoming Decun Upgrade, slated to launch in March 2024.

Notably, Bybit has disclosed that it is still being determined if the recent shift to Ethereum is a short-term manoeuvre or a more prolonged move. However, the approaching Bitcoin halving in April potentially adds a layer of bearish risks, as projections indicate Bitcoin’s significant rise in value to new all-time highs during the halving phase.
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ETH price rises to $3,230 | Source: ETHUSD on Tradingview.com
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Retail Investors Think Otherwise

Bybit’s research report also examines the asset allocation trend for retail investors on the cryptocurrency exchange. The report revealed that retail investors are significantly more bullish on Bitcoin than Ethereum, allocating more funds into BTC than ETH despite Ethereum’s recent surge in value.

Over the past week, Ethereum has experienced a substantial hike in its price, jumping over 7% and outpacing Bitcoin, suggesting a potential for a more extensive upward trajectory. At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading at $3,227, reflecting a 4.05% increase in the last 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap.

While Ethereum’s massive rally has successfully elevated the sentiment among institutional investors, retail investors remain less swayed, opting to hold onto or incorporate additional Bitcoin into their diversified portfolio of digital assets.

Featured image from Cointribune, chart from Tradingview.com

Disclaimer: The article is provided for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.
Scott Matherson

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February 27, 2024
Was Solana A Q4 2023 “Bubble” That Has Popped?

The crypto market has recently been a roller coaster, especially in H2 2023. Solana, a high-throughput blockchain, emerged as one of the best performers in the top 10 coins by market cap.

In Q4 2023, Solana soared, reaching highs of around $125 before cooling off to spot rates. However, some think the uptrend is over, with SOL edging lower under increasing liquidation pressure.

The Solana Bubble Has Popped, Is This True?

Lido.eth, while taking to X on January 7, said Solana is a “Q4 2023 bubble” that has “already popped.” The analyst added that this formation doesn’t mean SOL is “worthless or won’t be used anymore.” However, based on Lido.eth’s assessment, the Solana “growth story has ended,” calling serious questions into the project’s immediate potential.

In H2 2023, Solana grew on renewed interest in the high-performance blockchain. Propelled by rising activity in decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible token (NFT) scenes, SOL reversed losses recorded in November 2022.

Moreover, as the crypto community tracked the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and whether they would approve the first spot Bitcoin ETF, altcoins, including SOL, became major beneficiaries.

Arthur Hayes, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, also believes that the Solana rally is over. In December 2023, Hayes tweeted that he had rotated funds from Solana to Ethereum, citing “divine inspiration.” The BitMEX co-founder also said ETH may rally to reach $5,000 but without giving a specific timeline as to when this lofty target will be reached.

SOL Remains In An Uptrend, Back To $125?

Despite these bearish sentiments, some Solana supporters believe the platform has a “bright future.” They point to the upcoming launch of the Firedancer client.

This validator client will make the network more robust and increase efficiency. It will aim to decentralize Solana further, making it more reliant by eliminating weak points resulting from client concentration. From a price action perspective, continuing the overall crypto uptrend could also buoy SOL prices in 2024.

Looking at the Solana price chart, the uptrend remains, but sellers dominate, at least in the short term. To quantify, SOL is down 30% from the December 2023 peak when it topped at around $125.

Solana price trending upward on the daily chart | Source: SOLUSDT on Binance, TradingView

With prices trending inside the bear bar of January 3, sellers have the upper hand from an effort-versus-result perspective. For the uptrend to resume, there must be a clear, high-volume close above $100. If not, steep losses below $85 might trigger a sell-off that could price toward $60 or worse.

Feature image from Canva, chart from TradingView

Disclaimer: The article is provided for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.

Dalmas Ngetich

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January 8, 2024
Ethereum Price Crash Looming? Celsius To Unstake $465 Million

Celsius Network, the bankrupt cryptocurrency lending company, is gearing up to unstake approximately $465 million worth of Ethereum (ETH) as part of its efforts to compensate creditors. This development follows the company’s bankruptcy filing in July 2022, leaving creditors in a prolonged 18-month wait for financial recompense.

Celsius’s decision to unstake a substantial amount of ETH is seen as a necessary step to ensure liquidity for creditor compensation. The company’s official announcement, made via X (formerly Twitter), highlights the strategic nature of this move:

“In preparation of any asset distributions, Celsius has started the process of recalling and rebalancing assets to ensure ample liquidity. Celsius will unstake existing ETH holdings, which have provided valuable staking rewards income to the estate, to offset certain costs incurred throughout the restructuring process. The significant unstaking activity in the next few days will unlock ETH to ensure timely distributions to creditors,” the announcement reads.

Celsius Responsible For Over 86% Of ETH In Exit Queue?

Blockchain analytics firm Nansen states that Celsius possesses approximately one third of the total Ether in the unstaking exit queue, totaling around 206,300 ETH. This figure translates to a market value of around $465 million. To date, Celsius has already withdrawn over 40,249 ETH.

Tom Wan, an on-chain data analyst at 21.co (parent company of 21Shares), elaborated on the situation, “Over 540k staked ETH (16,670 Validators) are currently withdrawing from the Ethereum Beacon chain. To fully exit and withdraw now, it will require 14.5 days.” The researcher added that 352,000 ETH (54.7%) waiting to be withdrawn belongs to Figment and 206,000 ETH (32%) belongs to Celsius.

ETH waiting for withdrawal | Source: X @tomwanhh

“It is also likely that the withdrawal by Figment belongs to Celsius. Earlier in June, when Celsius redeemed 428.000 stETH from Lido, they have re-staked 197.000 ETH via Figment,” he added. Therefore, Celsius might be responsible for unstaking 86.7% of all ETH in the queue.

Ethereum Price Crash Looming?

While some investors express concern that the release of such a large volume of tokens from staking could adversely impact Ethereum’s price, others maintain a more composed outlook, believing that the market is robust enough to absorb this additional volume.

Even in the unlikely event that all ETH from the queue is sold, liquidity appears to be strong enough to absorb such a process, which would be gradual rather than sudden. According to Coinmarketcap, the current ETH trading volume stands around $11.35 billion, suggesting that the market could withstand the potential sale of Celsius’ entire ETH holdings without any major ETH price crash. Fear-mongering is therefore superfluous.

After receiving approval for its settlement plan, Celsius has allowed eligible users to withdraw 72.5% of their cryptocurrency holdings, with this option available until February 28. A court document filed in the previous September revealed that approximately 58,300 users possess a total of $210 million in assets, which the court has classified as “custody assets.”

At press time, ETH traded at $2,250. The 1-week chart for ETH/USD indicates that, over the past five weeks, the price of Ethereum has formed a consolidation range. The chart defines this zone with a lower boundary at $2,125, indicated by the red area, and an upper boundary at the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement level, located at $2,441.

ETH price establishes consolidation zone, 1-day chart | Source: ETHUSD on TradingView.com

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

Disclaimer: The article is provided for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.

Jake Simmons

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January 5, 2024
Ethereum: Balancing Act At $2,300

The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster ride for Ethereum. Buoyed by a waning Bitcoin dominance and an influx of traders seeking greener pastures, Ethereum’s price surged towards critical resistance levels near $2,500.

Yet, a palpable anxiety lingers in the air, fueled by questions about Ethereum’s long-term scalability and the increasing chorus of bearish whispers. Can the second-largest crypto navigate this tightrope walk and reclaim its DeFi crown, or will it take a tumble from grace?

Ethereum Rises: Growth, Innovations, And Challenges

Beneath the surface of rising price charts lies a complex story of intertwined strengths and weaknesses. Ethereum’s impressive 87% year-on-year market cap surge, catapulting it from $140 billion to a hefty $267 billion, paints a picture of robust growth.

The Merge upgrade, a landmark event streamlining Ethereum’s blockchain, and the burgeoning DeFi ecosystem pulsating with innovative applications are key contributors to this ascent.

However, lurking beneath this facade is a critical bottleneck: Ethereum’s Layer 1 scalability limitations. The network’s notorious high transaction fees and sluggish throughput have become thorns in the side of DeFi expansion, frustrating both users and developers yearning for a smoother experience.

As of writing, on this 26th of December, Ethereum’s price hovers around $2,233, painting the daily and weekly charts red with a dip of roughly 1.5%, data from Coingecko shows. This recent descent adds further intrigue to the complex dance Ethereum is performing near the critical $2,500 resistance level.

This delicate dance between bullish aspiration and bearish pressure underscores the fragile equilibrium in the market. On one hand, the optimism surrounding Ethereum’s future potential continues to draw in traders.

On the other hand, the specter of high transaction fees and scalability woes, alongside whispers of a potential bear market, keeps selling pressure simmering just below the surface.

Ethereum At $2,300: Bulls’ Battle, Bears’ Threats

For Ethereum bulls, the $2,300 level is a crucial battleground. If they can muster enough buy-side force to sustain a climb above this mark, it could pave the way for a surge towards the coveted $2,500 resistance level. This breakthrough would be a significant psychological victory, injecting fresh confidence into the market and potentially triggering a new upward trend phase.

However, the bears are not out for the count. Their sights are set on breaching the $2,200 support level, which would solidify their grip and potentially trigger a more substantial decline. Should this scenario unfold, the $2,000 mark could come into play, with further losses possible if selling pressure remains unchecked.

Adding to the intrigue is the factor of exchange supply. A recent increase in Ethereum tokens on exchanges indicates more readily available ETH for sellers, potentially amplifying downward pressure. This highlights the delicate balance between market sentiment and technical factors in determining Ethereum’s future trajectory.

Meanwhile, the ETH traders’ profit-taking is evident in the Network Realized Profit/Loss between October 31 and December 23. A significant amount of profit-taking may cause the price of ETH to decline.

Ethereum’s Critical Crossroads Ahead

Looking ahead, Ethereum’s path hinges on its ability to navigate this complex landscape. Addressing its scalability issues through Layer 2 solutions and potential future upgrades will be crucial for maintaining and expanding its DeFi dominance.

Rekindling developer and user confidence by reducing transaction fees and improving network throughput is also paramount. Only by tackling these internal challenges and adapting to the ever-evolving crypto sphere can Ethereum truly reclaim its throne as the king of DeFi.

The next few weeks are likely to be pivotal for Ethereum. Will it scale the $2,500 height and cement its position as a leader in the crypto revolution? Or will internal limitations and external pressures force it to face a precipitous drop?

Featured image from Shutterstock

Christian Encila

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December 26, 2023
Ethereum Rises: ETH Remains Steady At Over $2,300
Recent patterns indicate that the impetus fueling Ethereum’s climb is far from diminishing, and the price trajectory of the cryptocurrency has shown resilience. Ethereum may not be as advanced as some of its L1 competitors, but it stands out from the crowd thanks to its large developer community, immense acceptance, and crucial role in DeFi and other blockchain-based applications.

Ethereum Remains Firm At $2,347

At the time of writing, ETH was able to keep a strong footing at the $2,300 level, trading at $2,347, nearly unchanged in the last 24 hours, but tallied a 10% increase in the last seven days, data from Coingecko shows.

There is still a lot of room for profit in the current bull market, even though Ethereum’s price spike hasn’t been as dramatic as other altcoin’s. Size, liquidity, and being the leading platform for smart contracts all contribute to Ethereum’s continued appeal as an investment.
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Ethereum currently trading at $2,341.6 territory. Chart: TradingView.com
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This means that ETH’s price performance could be greatly enhanced by any further market increases. Ethereum, according to technical research, is about to see growth, and it is now testing key resistance levels. Both retail and institutional investors would be interested if the price breaks out above these levels, as it could indicate that the positive trend would continue.

🐳 #Ethereum has scratched its way to $2,349, its highest level since June, 2022. The long-term trend of top non-exchange whale wallets getting richer, and top exchange whale wallets having less sell-off power, is a promising combo for a continued climb. https://t.co/h7ogbqPLWf pic.twitter.com/82plXmVn02

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) December 7, 2023

For the first time in more than a year, Ethereum’s price has moved into a new range. The accumulation patterns seen in several top addresses indicate that this new range has created a chance for persistent price increases.

Ethereum’s Growing Holdings And 2024 Roadmap

The most popular Ethereum addresses on exchanges and those outside of them have shown clear patterns of accumulation in the last several months, according to new data from Santiment.

A large number of top non-exchange addresses have been buying Ethereum at different prices, which has caused their holding volume of ETH to rise steadily and now surpass 54 million.

At the same time, following their most recent execution layer meeting on December 8, Ethereum developers have laid out a detailed strategy for the network’s future in 2024, including new suggestions, major upgrades, and more.

Meanwhile, Ethereum is predicted to significantly outpace mega-cap tech stocks. After the Bitcoin miners’ payouts are halved, investment firm VanEck thinks Ethereum will soar. In the past, this has caused a fresh spike in the price of Bitcoin, with the proceeds going into altcoins.

Ethereum won’t surpass Bitcoin, despite surpassing large stocks, and what “flippening” rumors claim. It is still believed that Bitcoin will continue to lead in market capitalization even though there is a chance that ETH may gain value in daily transaction volume.

(This site’s content should not be construed as investment advice. Investing involves risk. When you invest, your capital is subject to risk).

Featured image from Shutterstock
Christian Encila

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December 10, 2023
2 Reasons Why An Ethereum Mega Bull Run Is Inevitable

While the recent Bitcoin and crypto momentum is cooling off, Ethereum (ETH) rejects lower lows, especially against Bitcoin (BTC). Taking to X on December 8, decentralized finance (DeFi) researcher DefiIgnas shared insights that suggest ETH could be on the verge of a rally that would potentially see the second most valuable coin usurp BTC’s current position as the best-performing asset.

Reasons That Might Drive Ethereum Bulls

The researcher observed that ETH is down 24% versus BTC in 2023. However, multiple fundamental indicators show that this is about to change. First, DefiIgnas noted that crypto investors are increasingly drawn to discounted Grayscale Ethereum Trust (GETH), which has been rallying over the past few months, outperforming Ethereum spot prices.

GETH surged by 298% in the past few months, while ETH only rose by around 100% in the same period. As GETH share prices increased, its discount with spot ETH decreased. This means more capital indirectly flowed into ETH, leading to higher demand.

Money flowing into GETH | Source: @DefiIgnas on X

Besides GETH rising, the researcher remains bullish on Ethereum because of the recent developments surrounding the approval of the first spot Bitcoin ETF. The crypto community expects the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to authorize multiple products, including those proposed by Fidelity and BlackRock.

In DefiIgnas’ assessment, once the spot Bitcoin ETF goes live, likely in early 2024, all “attention, narrative, and speculation” will shift toward the agency approving the first spot Ethereum ETF. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has already applied with the SEC to issue the first spot Ethereum ETF.

The expected activation of the Cancun upgrade in H1 2024 will also likely support Ethereum prices. Over the years, Ethereum has integrated multiple upgrades. This includes shifting to proof-of-stake (PoS) from proof-of-work (PoW) and overhauling their fee auction mechanism, introducing ETH burning.

However, with Cancun, the goal is to directly enhance the main net’s capabilities by activating several proposals, including EIP-4844 proto-dank sharding, which aims to reduce gas fees associated with rollups. This update will further cement Ethereum’s quest to significantly increase on-chain scalability and reduce gas fees over the years.

ETH Looks Firm, Resistance At November Highs

At spot rates, ETH is firm versus BTC, looking at the candlestick arrangement in the daily chart. How prices react in the days ahead remains to be seen.

ETHBTC price trending upward on the daily chart | Source: ETHBTC on Binance, TradingView

Even so, if there is confirmation of the December 7 gains, ETH might extend gains. In that case, it can break above the current consolidation as bulls aim to break above November 2023 highs of around 0.058 BTC.

Feature image from Canva, chart from TradingView

Dalmas Ngetich

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December 8, 2023
Solana Dominates Ethereum In Daily Active Wallets, SOL Back To $140?

Solana (SOL), the fourth-generation blockchain, has staged a remarkable comeback, looking at on-chain metrics. Citing Artemis data, Step Data Insights on X noted that Solana’s daily active wallets flipped Ethereum’s, the pioneer smart contract platform. This development is when SOL prices have been ripping past resistance levels in the past few months.

Solana’s Resurgence Continues, Daily Active Wallets Flips Ethereum

According to Step Data Insights, Solana’s daily active wallets currently hover at around 400,000, slightly edging past Ethereum’s. This spike in activity suggests that Solana is attracting a growing user base, and more people are keen to explore its ecosystems, comprising DeFi, NFTs, and other protocols.

Solana daily active wallets | Source: Artemis via Step Data Insights

Additional data from Artemis shows that Solana also eclipses Ethereum in the number of daily transactions. Although Ethereum leads in DeFi total value locked (TVL), Solana’s low fee and scalable environment could explain why users opt for this high-performance network.

Overall, the Solana recovery could triggered by recent favorable price action in Q4 2023. To quantify, Step Data Insights notes that SOL has risen by over 210% in the past three months. During this time, ETH’s gains have capped.

The analytic platform states that the coin only rose by 39%. To illustrate, in the last three months, SOL rose from around $17 to peak at approximately $70. Meanwhile, ETH expanded from roughly $1,500 to peak at about $2,300, recorded on December 6.

This recovery points to increasing investor confidence. However, time will tell whether SOL will extend gains in the sessions. From the daily chart, prices have been moving horizontally for the better part of H2 November to early December 2023.

Solana price trending upward on the daily chart | Source: SOLUSDT on Binance, TradingView

The immediate resistance line is at $70. With the SOL moving inside a bull flag, any upswing above November 2023 highs will be the building block for a possible leg-up that will lift SOL to April 2022 highs of $140.

Spot Bitcoin ETF Hopes, Firedancer Lifting Solana

Altcoins, including Solana, have been racing higher as the crypto market recovers. Following a court ruling, SOL is relatively firm despite the FTX estate being permitted to liquidate the coin in the secondary markets to repay creditors.

Hopes of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approving the first Bitcoin ETF have also benefited Solana. However, the recent release of Firedancer, a validator client developed by Jump Crypto, on testnet has supported SOL.

The client will make the network more resilient and performant. Firedancer will go live in the H1 2024. Once it goes live, the new client is expected to improve Solana’s reliability.

Feature image from Canva, chart from TradingView

Dalmas Ngetich

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December 6, 2023
Bloomberg Experts Forecast Timeline For Ethereum ETF Approval

The journey towards the approval of an Ethereum ETF in the United States has seen a new development yesterday as the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced a delay in the decision for Grayscale’s Ethereum trust conversion into a spot Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). The SEC has stated the need for an extended period to evaluate the proposed rule change, pushing the new deadline Grayscale to January 25, 2024.

In its reasoning, the SEC has reiterated, “The commission finds it appropriate to designate a longer period within which to take action on the proposed rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider the proposed rule change and the issues raised therein.” Notably, the delay comes at a time where the US agency is working with now 13 spot Bitcoin ETF applicants on presumably the final amendments before a January 10 approval.

Timeline For A Spot Ethereum ETF Approval

Despite the latest delay, the crypto community remains optimistic about the future of spot Ethereum ETFs. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart has suggested that delays are par for the course, tweeting, “Update: As expected Grayscale’s Ethereum trust filing just got delayed. It was due by 12/6/23 so this is completely normal.”

Seyffart also shared a table of all seven spot Ethereum ETF applicants: VanEck, 21Shares & ARK, Hashdex, Grayscale, Invesco & Galaxy, BlackRock, Fidelity and their deadlines. He further hinted at potential approvals by mid-2024, responding to criticisms from Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream, with “Unfortunately I think you’re gonna be really upset by June of next year.”

Spot Ethereum ETF timeline | Source: X @JSeyff

In response to queries about the probability of an Ethereum ETF approval following a Bitcoin ETF, Eric Balchunas of Bloomberg has indicated that the first filers, Ark and VanEck, have strong odds of approval by their final deadline on May 23, 2024, as they are expected to use the same mechanics as spot Bitcoin ETFs, and due to the fact that Ether futures have already received the green light from the US SEC.

Queried about for the odd of a spot Ethereum ETF approval, he remarked, “Not formally yet, but final deadline for the first filers Ark and VanEck is May 23rd so strong odds they approved by then given they’d be using same design as btc etfs and ether futures were Ok’d.”

The Next Deadlines

The table by Seyffart shows that the next Ethereum ETF deadlines are from December 23 to 26 for VanEck, Ark Invest and Invesco & Galaxy, followed by Hashdex on January 1. Since a spot Bitcoin ETF is very unlikely to be approved by then, delays by the SEC are more than likely for this batch of filings.

Both iShares by BlackRock and the Fidelity Ethereum Fund have their next deadlines on January 25 and January 21, 2024 respectively. These dates are crucial as they could involve either an extension, a request for more information, or a final decision.

But things only get really tense towards the final deadlines for all Ethereum ETF filers, as outlined by both Bloomberg ETF experts. With VanEck poised for May 23, 2024, and ARK Invest for May 24, 2024 and other notable filers like Hashdex Nasdaq Ethereum ETF and Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust Conversion (ETHE) scheduled for decisions by May 30, 2024, and June 18, 2024, respectively, the timeline for potential approvals is taking shape.

At press time, ETH traded at $2,271.

ETH price targets the 0.382 Fib, 1-week chart | Source: ETHUSD on TradingView.com

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

Jake Simmons

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December 6, 2023
Ethereum Whales Go On 9-Day Accumulation Spree: ETH Price Rally Incoming?
The price of Ethereum has been on a steady and monumental rise in the past few weeks, and the last seven days have not been much different. The altcoin breached the $2,100 mark on Friday, November 24, with its sights now set on new yearly highs.

Interestingly, a recent on-chain revelation has shown what could be behind the latest ETH price surge while offering insights into the future prospects of the cryptocurrency.

On-Chain Data Shows Whales Continue To Buy ETH

Renowned crypto analyst Ali Martinez, in a post on X, revealed that Ethereum whales have been active in the crypto market over the past few days. According to on-chain data from Glassnode, ETH whales have been accumulating the altcoin for nine consecutive days.
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Ethereum whales increase balance for nine days in a row | Source: Ali_charts/X
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Notably, Martinez highlighted that this is the first 9-day accumulation spree in over nine months. Furthermore, the crypto analyst noted that “the increasing buying pressure could be a strong signal for ETH bullish price action.”

Changes in whale accumulation are often closely monitored in the cryptocurrency space because of how large crypto holders can influence the market dynamics. The steady buying pressure displayed by Ethereum whales over the past nine days suggests a growing optimism amongst this class of investors.

Another analyst offered a similar on-chain perspective to the growing accumulation by Ethereum whales. The crypto pundit revealed – via a post on X – that the 200 largest Ethereum wallets now hold a collective 62.76 million ETH (worth about $132.1 billion).

According to data provided by Santiment, this whale class has accumulated 30.3% more coins since November 21, 2022. Additionally, these 200 largest Ethereum addresses hold about 52% of Ether’s circulating supply.

Ethereum Price – Where Next?

While Ethereum’s price broke above the $2,100 mark on Friday, it has since retraced below the price level. However, there is much optimism around a continuous upward movement for ETH, especially as it still trades above the significant $2,044 resistance zone.

Many investors might want to keep an eye on the cryptocurrency’s price action by the end of the week, though. According to an analyst, a close above $2,130 on the weekly timeframe will be pivotal for Ethereum’s price trajectory.

$ETH / $USD – Update

$2,130 please is all we need to flip into support 💯 pic.twitter.com/qVw2gG66Cz

— Crypto Tony (@CryptoTony__) November 24, 2023

As of this writing, ETH is currently valued at $2,086, reflecting a negligible 0.2% in the past 24 hours. Nevertheless, the cryptocurrency has managed to maintain most of its gain on the weekly timeframe, having swelled by more than 8% in the last seven days.
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Ethereum price revolves around the $2,100 mark on the daily timeframe | Source: ETHUSDT chart on TradingView
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Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Opeyemi Sule

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November 25, 2023
Analyst Says Ethereum Is Seeing ‘Systemic Buying’, What This Means
A CryptoQuant Analyst has identified a significant systemic buying trend in Ethereum, suggesting a rising influx of strategic investments into the blockchain network.

Analyst Reveals Ethereum Systemic Buying Trend

A crypto market observer and a contributing analyst at CryptoQuant, Maarten Regterschot has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to publish a systemic buying trend he witnessed in Ethereum. The analyst presented a chart indicating that one or more investors have been engaging in Time Weighted Average Price (TWAP) buying on Ethereum futures.

Regterschot stated that the linear increase in open interest in Ethereum suggests that there has been systemic buying of ETH assets for an extended period of time. He revealed that approximately $700 million has already been added to the market.

“Someone(s) are TWAP-buying on Ethereum futures. This linear growth in open interest indicates systematic buying over a certain period. There is $700 million added so far,” Regterschot said.

Systemic buying in this context involves crypto investments made at regular and periodic intervals. TWAP on the other hand is the measure of an asset’s average price over a specific time period.

This systemic buying trend suggests a growing demand for ETH by investors over a long period. The trend also coincides with the latest Ethereum developments in the crypto space, including the growing applications on Ethereum Spot ETFs and its potential approval by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The analyst has not revealed insights into the motives behind this systemic buying of Ethereum. However, the developments could become a catalyst for a potential bullish momentum for Ethereum (ETH).

ETH Price Holds $2000 Mark

The price of Ethereum has seen multiple upticks within the last few months, allowing the cryptocurrency to finally cross the $2,000 mark. According to CoinMarketCap, Ethereum’s price is up by 2.3% and trading at $2,062 at the time of writing. Although its overall market capitalization is down by 23.31%, the cryptocurrency has been experiencing a fair amount of price increases recently.

As the potential approval of Ethereum Spot ETFs by the US SEC looms next year, many investors are currently holding their crypto assets as they gear up for a possible bull run. There have also been several optimistic price projections for the ETH token. Some analysts have predicted that the price of the cryptocurrency will reach $2,250 if it succeeds in crossing multiple resistance levels.
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ETH price falls to $2,055 | Source: ETHUSD on Tradingview.com
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Featured image from Decrypt, chart from Tradingview.com
Scott Matherson

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November 23, 2023
Ethereum ETF Race: BlackRock Wants An Ether Spot ETF
BlackRock has joined the Ethereum Spot ETF race as the asset management company has officially applied to the US SEC and is currently waiting for approval.

BlackRock Files For An Ethereum Spot ETF

Following its Spot Bitcoin ETF filing, BlackRock, an American investment company has taken the proactive step by filing an Ethereum Spot Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The asset management company submitted the application on November 15, however, BlackRock has stated it formed the Trust as early as November 9.

According to BlackRock, the iShares Ethereum Trust would be used to facilitate the ownership of Ether through the issuance of shares, allowing investors to own a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust.

“The Trust was formed as a Delaware statutory trust on November 9, 2023. The purpose of the Trust is to own ether transferred to the Trust in exchange for Shares issued by the Trust. Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist primarily of ether held by the Ether Custodian on behalf of the Trust,” BlackRock said in its filing.

Presently, the US SEC has not approved any Ethereum Spot ETF filing as well as Spot Bitcoin ETF applications. The regulatory body has delayed multiple applications to be reviewed from January 2024.

The crypto community has remained enthusiastic that the regulatory agency would eventually approve the pending ETF applications, as this could significantly push the growth and development of the crypto ecosystem as well as the cryptocurrencies involved.

Ethereum Price Surges

The price of Ethereum is on the rise following BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF filing. The cryptocurrency’s price climbed almost 2% moving to $2,080 at some point following the announcement of the filing.

The sharp reaction has caused a stir in the cryptocurrency community, as investors gear up for a potential bull run if the US SEC gives its official authorization of Ethereum Spot ETFs.

The price of Bitcoin has also been growing steadily as new companies apply for Spot Bitcoin ETFs. Currently, Bitcoin’s price is trading at $36,408, while ETH is down from its initial surge and trading at $1,952.

The crypto ecosystem is presently watching closely for more updates on the US SEC’s ETF filing approvals and the price changes that follow them.
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ETH price falls to $1,945 | Source: ETHUSD on Tradingview.com
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Featured image from Bitcoin News, chart from Tradingview.com
Scott Matherson

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November 17, 2023
$9 Trillion BlackRock Files Ethereum Spot ETF, What’s So Special About It?
Following BlackRock’s official filing of Spot Ethereum with Nasdaq, reports have confirmed that BlackRock’s Ether ETF plan has been confirmed by Nasdaq and is on its way to the US SEC to gain final approval.

BlackRock Ethereum Spot ETF Confirmed

American multinational investment company, BlackRock has been making waves in the crypto space after news spread of NASDAQ listing the investment firm’s Ethereum Spot ETF, iShares Ether Trust in Delaware.

“BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF confirmed. They just submitted a 19b-4 filing with Nasdaq,” Bloomberg Research Analyst, Jeff Seyffart stated.

While BlackRock’s Spot Bitcoin ETF proposal remains to be approved by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the $9 trillion asset management company has placed its focus on Ethereum Spot ETFs while it waits for the SEC’s final decision on Spot Bitcoin ETFs.

The news of the Nasdaq Ethereum ETF filing comes as a major development for BlackRock’s move into the ETF world. Although the investment company remains tight-lipped on the ETH ETF reports flowing through the space, the possibility of an Ether Spot ETF approval could be a sign of the SEC’s approval of Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the future.

Many crypto enthusiasts have predicted that the US SEC may continue its efforts to stop the growth of Spot Bitcoin ETFs by declining BlackRock’s Ether Spot ETF filing.

However, in the case the regulatory body does approve the asset management company’s Ethereum Spot ETF, the SEC could be faced with potential contradictions in its decision-making processes. The acceptance of ETH Spot ETFs would stand in stark contrast to the previous disapproval of Spot Bitcoin ETFs.

Presently, the crypto community has been largely positive, as market metrics signal a potential rally for altcoins following BlackRock’s Ethereum Spot ETF confirmation.

A crypto member has stated that the asset management company’s move into Ether Spot ETFs indicates strategic confidence in securing approval for Spot Bitcoin ETF in the future.

ETH Price Skyrockets

Following the news of NASDAQ registering BlackRock’s Ethereum Spot ETF, the price of ETH has increased by over 9% and is currently trading at $2,086.92 according to CoinMarketCap.

Reports of the Ethereum Spot ETF filing have sparked a rally in the cryptocurrency, topping over $2,000 for the first time since April this year. ETH’s market volume has also increased by 171.53%.

Many crypto investors are looking forward to more positive developments in the cryptocurrency regarding Ethereum Spot ETFs as an official approval may indicate a potential long-term bull run for ETH.
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ETH bulls retest $2,100 | Source: ETHUSD on Tradingview.com
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Featured image from BlockWorks, chart from Tradingview.com
Scott Matherson

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November 10, 2023
Analyst: Using This Metric In Ethereum Is Flawed, What’s The Alternative?

Going by the handle “@bkiepuszewski,” one X user contends that the transaction processing speed (TPS) metric analysts rely on to measure how fast a blockchain network like Ethereum or the BNB Chain processes transactions is flawed.

Laying out reasons on X, the decentralized finance (DeFi) researcher is convinced that using an alternative metric, the User Ops per second (UOPS), could paint a clearer picture of how well a blockchain is utilized at all times.

Measuring Network Utilization

Typically, blockchain utilization measures how much a given network, for instance, Bitcoin or Ethereum, is being used at a given point. This is critical because it can be used to measure adoption levels since those with higher utilization rates tend to have a broader, active base, which can make it successful over the long haul.

Ethereum price trends to the upside on the daily chart| Source: ETHUSDT on Binance, TradingView

To gauge activity, this metric considers the number of transactions processed every second when dealing with simple transfers or the total value locked (TVL) when dealing with smart contracts deployed.

As of November 1, the average network utilization rate in Ethereum, based on Etherscan data, is around 50%, down from about 100% registered in 2021. Meanwhile, the Bitcoin Transactions Per Day as of early November stood above 433,000, a nearly 2X increase from late October.

Usually, in the case of Bitcoin, considering it is a transactional layer, whenever prices rise, more BTC-related transactions are expected as users hope to increase the emerging trend.

Ethereum network utilization chart| Source: Etherscan

Whether the UOPS system will be adopted in the long term remains to be seen. However, what’s clear is that the UOPS will consider the number of user operations that the network in question can process every second, all while factoring in the level of complexity of that transaction.

Out of the UOPS, analysts will instantaneously know how well the blockchain can handle user load without the risk of congestion, as usually is the case in Ethereum when markets are trending higher.

The Rise Of Ethereum Layer-2s

At the same time, according to @bkiepuszewski, using UOPS instead of TPS brings clarity considering the widespread use of layer-2 solutions, including OP Mainnet, Base, and StarkNet, which bundles transactions offline before confirming them on the mainnet as a single transfer. The more dapps choose layer-2 solutions, the more flawed blockchain throughput calculation will be if TPS guides.

Presently, more developers are opting for layer-2 as their base to avoid scaling issues while accessing the latitude to deploy intensive dapps such as social media platforms, as seen with Friend.tech. According to L2Beat, Arbitrum and OP Mainnet have TVLs of over $6.5 and $2.9 billion, respectively.

Feature image from Canva, chart from TradingView

Dalmas Ngetich

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November 1, 2023
Are Ethereum Venture Capitalists Losing Hope In ETH?

Ethereum venture capitalists (VCs) are “not stupid” and know that investing in the world’s largest smart contract platform won’t result in the “multiples” they desire, according to a crypto user. Going by the handle R89Capital, claims that VCs are now looking at Ethereum layer-2 assets as vehicles to exit the market, dumping “Ponzi tokens.”

Ethereum VCs Exiting ETH For “Ponzi” Tokens?

The user opines that the primary reason why ETH prices may not surge in multiples like emerging tokens, including meme coins like PEPE, for instance, is because of the relatively large market cap.

According to trackers on October 31, ETH has a market cap of over $215.8 billion and is the second largest after Bitcoin (BTC). Typically, coins with higher market caps are harder to manipulate and usually have found more institutional adoption than emerging tokens.

Ethereum price trends to the upside on the daily chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Binance, TradingView

This is because projects with higher market cap are more liquid, have more name recognition, and have seen more adoption. Even so, while they are easier to buy in the second market due to the higher levels of liquidity, they tend to be less volatile than low market cap tokens.

These low-market tokens can also be held for speculative reasons primarily due to their upside potential, especially in trending markets. This means that low-market tokens, regardless of the issuing platform, appeal to profit-seeking speculators, not due to underlying fundamentals.

R89Capital aligns with this preview to allege that VCs, looking to recoup their investment, are launching Ponzi tokens on general-purpose layer-2 platforms before dumping them for ETH and eventually exiting for USD.

In this case, Ponzi tokens, as claimed, are low-market coins that can be meme coins or other well-marketed projects. These tokens have higher upsides, are liquid enough, and can be sold for ETH in layer-2 decentralized exchanges or popular ramps like Binance or Coinbase.

The Ethereum Technical Debt: Scaling Remains A Big Issue

Still, R89Capital didn’t mention which layer-2 projects are “Ponzis” but said the primary reason ETH is capped is due to Ethereum’s technical debt.

Over the years, Ethereum developers have been launching new products and scaling solutions, of which the transition from a proof-of-work to a proof-of-stake system and adoption of layer-2 solutions stand out. Even so, scaling remains a challenge impacting user experience, especially when token prices begin rallying.

It is not unusual for gas fees on Ethereum to spike to double-digits in a bull market, discouraging deployment while catalyzing migration of some transactions to competing platforms like Solana or layer-2 scaling solutions like Base or Optimism.

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Dalmas Ngetich

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October 31, 2023
Ethereum Supply On Exchanges Fall To 2015 Levels, 3 Price Targets For Bulls | Bitcoinist.com
The Ethereum supply on exchanges has been on a steady decline since the FTX crash happened back in 2022. This was triggered by a growing distrust for centralized exchanges and investors choosing to self-custody their tokens as a result. The constant decline has now seen the Ethereum being held on exchanges fall to the lowest point since its inception.

Available ETH On Exchanges Fall To Genesis Levels

When the Ethereum network was first launched back in 2015, the available ETH on exchanges was very low due to it being a new player. The exchange balances would steadily rise over the next few years as the digital asset gained widespread acceptance and began trading on countless exchanges.

However, there has been a shift in the tide where crypto investors are now choosing to hold their ETH in private wallets rather than leaving them on exchanges. The result of this is now there is only 8.41% of the total ETH circulating supply available on exchanges.
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Source: Santiment on X
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On-chain data tracker Santiment points out that this is the lowest that Ethereum exchange balances have been since Genesis in 2015. “Prices crossed $1,850 for the first time since August 15th, and the now 8.41% of $ETH supply on exchanges is the lowest since #genesis in 2015. Whale transactions also hit a 6-month high,” Santiment said in an X post.

The move away from exchanges coincides with a rapid increase in price which suggests that holder accumulation has played a major role in the digital asset’s recovery. And if exchange balances continue to fall, meaning less willingness to sell off ETH and lower sell pressure, the value could continue to soar.
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ETH price gears up to retest $1,800 | Source: ETHUSD on Tradingview.com
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3 Price Targets For Ethereum Bulls

Now that the $1,700 resistance has been cleared by Ethereum bulls, they have begun to turn their attention toward much higher price points. The next significant resistance lies at $1,850 as was demonstrated on Tuesday when the bulls were rejected from that level. So $1,850 is the first price trade foo clear in the bid to establish a stronger bull trend.

Next on the list is the $1,920 level where a major roadblock is expected to happen for the ETH price. This will be one of the last defenses of the bears to prevent a full-blown bull rally and bulls are sure to run into a lot of resistance at this level.

Last but not least is the $2,000 mark which has eluded bulls for the better part of this year. It is arguably the most significant price level for Ethereum right now that could signal an end to the bleed. So ETH bulls will need to reclaim this level from the bears and turn it into support.
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October 25, 2023
Ethereum Set To Outperform: Crypto Analyst Predicts 18% Rise To $1,900
Ethereum (ETH) has so far relatively underperformed in comparison to the flagship cryptocurrency Bitcoin. However, that could change soon enough as a crypto analyst has predicted the second-largest crypto token by market to gain some momentum soon enough.

Ethereum To Hit $1900

In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) platform, prominent crypto analyst Ali Martinez mentioned that Ethereum could rise to as high as $1,900. His prediction was based on data that he had pulled up from the chart which he shared in his post.

The chart (a 3-day timeframe) featured an ascending triangle pattern, which usually represents a bullish formation. According to Ali, Ethereum is “poised” to rebound off the hypotenuse of the ascending triangle. Most importantly, for Ethereum to go as high as $1,900, the analyst noted that It has to experience a “firm close” above the 18-day SMA (Simple Moving Average).
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ETH getting ready to breakout | Source: X
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If that happens, Ethereum could hit $1,800 and further rise to $1,900 based on Ali’s predictions. It is worth mentioning that the last time Ethereum hit $1,900 was back in July 2023. A rise to that price again will represent about an %18 increase from its current price of $1,600.

Ali also had something to say about the flagship cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. In a subsequent post, he noted that the crypto token could see a correction to $28,800; a prediction he made based on the TD Sequential from a 4-hour chart.

Bitcoin rose to as high as $30,000 on October 20, with many speculating that a Spot Bitcoin ETF approval could be on the way, something that represents a bullish momentum for Bitcoin and the crypto market in general.
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ETH price holding $1,600 | Source: ETHUSD on Tradingview.com
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Bitcoin’s Dominance Is On The Rise

Data from TradingView shows that Bitcoin’s dominance has been on the rise this year, with the token currently boasting over 52% coin dominance in the crypto market. Interestingly, it has steadily risen since the Ethereum Merge occurred.

This is significant considering that many speculated that ‘the Flippening’ could happen after the Merge, where Ethereum overtakes Bitcoin to become the most dominant crypto token. However, that hasn’t happened so far, with Ethereum’s move from proof-of-work to proof-of-work being seen as ‘disastrous’ for the crypto token.

Bitcoin and Ethereum, however, share the podium when it comes to the best-performing assets of the year. Both crypto tokens are said to have outperformed the NASDAQ, S&P500, and Gold. Bitcoin has seen an %80 increase year-to-date (YTD), while Ethereum has seen a %35 increase YTD.

Featured image from Analytics Insight, chart from Tradingview.com
Best Owie

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October 21, 2023
Ethereum ICO Participant Wakes Up After 8 Years, Moves $3 Million In ETH
The Ethereum initial coin offering (ICO), which took place in 2014, represents one of the most significant events in the history of cryptocurrency. As the network had not begun generating tokens autonomously, the ICO event allowed early investors and enthusiasts to accumulate ETH, currently the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap.

Latest on-chain data shows that one of the ICO participants has become active for the first time in more than eight years, transferring their pre-mined stash of Ether tokens to different addresses on Saturday, October 21.

💤 A dormant pre-mine address containing 2,000 #ETH (3,198,920 USD) has just been activated after 8.2 years!https://t.co/0Mpx77N5fs

— Whale Alert (@whale_alert) October 21, 2023

Ethereum ICO Participant Awakens From Dormancy

According to blockchain data tracker Lookonchain, the address, which was part of the Ethereum Genesis, initially received 2,000 ETH over eight years ago. At the time, the Ether tokens were purchased for $620 at an ICO price of $0.31 per token. On Saturday, the ETH tokens in question changed wallets for the first time.

An #Ethereum #ICO participant woke up after 8.2 years of dormancy and transferred all 2,000 $ETH($3.2M currently) to 4 addresses 10 mins ago.

He/she received 2,000 $ETH(the cost is ~$620) at Ethereum Genesis, and the ETH ICO price is ~$0.31.https://t.co/zyMsEZIlb3 pic.twitter.com/juvlKCnIsW

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) October 21, 2023

The wallet holding the pre-mined stash of ETH had been dormant for exactly 8.2 years (July 2015). Thanks to the exponential growth of Ethereum and the entire crypto market, the value of these holdings has grown to nearly $3.2 million at the current price.

In the X (formerly Twitter) post, Lookonchain highlighted that the ICO participant transferred the Ethereum tokens to four different addresses. About 500 Ether tokens were sent to each address, with minutes separating the transactions.

It remains to be seen whether the wallet owner is preparing to sell the tokens, stake on the network, or carry out other transactions. In the event of a sell-off, though, the price of ETH may experience momentary downward pressure.

Large transfers from early ICO participants are not exactly common occurrences, but there have already been a couple of similar transactions in 2023. Notably, an ICO participant moved $116 million worth of pre-mined ETH to a Kraken exchange address in July.

ETH Price Overview

As of this writing, Ethereum’s price stands at $1,605, reflecting a 0.7% decline in the past day. This comes on the back of a week where the value of ETH showed signs of recovery, registering a 3.8% price increase in the past seven days.

The past week was dominated mainly by the optimistic performance of Bitcoin and the false news of a spot ETF approval. This positive run of BTC, however, eventually rubbed on the broader cryptocurrency market, including the price of Ethereum.
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Ethereum price hovers around the $1,600 mark on the daily timeframe | Source: ETHUSDT chart on TradingView
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Featured image from The Economic Times, chart from TradingView
Opeyemi Sule

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October 21, 2023
Whale Moving Large Stash Of Ethereum To Kraken, Prices Bullish And Unmoved

Data from Lookonchain, a blockchain analytics platform, on October 20, shows that one Ethereum (ETH) whale is actively moving coins to Kraken, a crypto exchange, and appears to be selling. The unidentified whale deposited 35,176 ETH, worth over $56.5 million when writing, and withdrew $10 million in USDT hours later. USDT is the world’s most liquid stablecoin, tracking the value of the USD.

Ethereum Whale Selling On Kraken

Still, it is not immediately clear whether the whale ended up selling the whole stash and only choosing to withdraw $10 million. What’s evident is that the unknown whale has been actively accumulating Ethereum for some years before deciding to take profit.

Looking at market trends, the whale appears to be taking profit and exiting. Often, when coins are moved to centralized crypto exchanges, market participants interpret the event as net bearish. This can impact sentiment, even forcing prices lower, especially if the broader crypto market is falling.

Deposits to Kraken| Source: Lookonchain on X

According to Lookonchain, the whale accumulated 35,176 ETH on Kraken at an average price of around $415. When the address chose to liquidate, its realized profit was approximately $41.8 million. Ethereum prices have more than quadrupled the average entry price at spot rates, meaning the whale remains “in green” despite recent market gyrations.

Ethereum whale accumulating| Source: Lookonchain on X

Since prices have been primarily dicey, moving horizontally and occasionally posting sharp falls, the whale might have chosen to exit. Even so, it could not be ascertained what motivated the ETH holder to sell when sentiment is overly improving across the crypto scene.

Presently, Ethereum traders are bullish, expecting prices to increase in the sessions ahead. Notably, as of October 20, prices were relatively firm and rising. To illustrate, Ethereum is up roughly 3%, and bulls are soaking selling pressure. At the same time, the coin is up 5% from October 2023 lows.

Traders Bullish, Will ETH Clear $2,000?

Ethereum price charts show that the immediate resistance level in the medium term is at around $1,750, recorded in early October. On the flip side, support is at $1,530. A bullish breakout at the back of rising volumes pushing the coin above the resistance level may trigger more demand, propelling it toward the psychological $2,000 level.

Ethereum price on October 20| Source: ETHUSDT on Binance, TradingView

In early October, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved several Ethereum Futures Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), including VanEck Ethereum Strategy ETF (EFUT) and ProShares Ether Strategy ETF (EETH). Analysts interpreted this decision as a boost for ETH since it allowed institutions to have a regulated way of investing in Ethereum without necessarily having to buy and store the coins by themselves.

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Dalmas Ngetich

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October 20, 2023