Ethereum drops 30% but still sees whales adding positions. Will the market reverse after ETF positions are deeply trapped?

ETH-2,06%

On February 11, news reports indicate that since 2026, Ethereum (ETH) has continued to weaken, with the year-to-date decline exceeding 30%, and the price once fell below the $2,000 mark. The latest data shows ETH trading at approximately $1,971. The main holding groups—including long-term accumulated addresses and ETF investors—have all entered an unrealized loss zone. However, there has been no panic-driven capital outflow, and the market presents a complex pattern of “price pressure and stable chips.”

On-chain analyst CW8900 pointed out that the current ETH price has fallen below the realized average price established during whale accumulation since June 2025, indicating that many core addresses are in a floating loss. Meanwhile, the on-balance sheet loss of the world’s largest Ethereum vault, BitMine, has exceeded $7 billion. Nevertheless, data shows these addresses have not withdrawn en masse; instead, they continue to add positions at low prices.

ETF holders are also under pressure. Bloomberg senior research analyst James Seyffart stated that the average cost basis for ETH ETFs is around $3,500. Currently, the decline exceeds 60%, making their situation even more severe than Bitcoin ETFs. Despite this, net ETF inflows have only decreased from about $15 billion to below $12 billion, with most funds still holding rather than liquidating.

More notably, on-chain fund movements are worth attention. The net position change indicator for Ethereum exchanges has turned negative, indicating withdrawals are higher than deposits, which is often seen as a long-term bullish signal. Recently, BitMine repurchased 40,000 ETH and added 140,400 ETH to staking, bringing its total staked amount to 2.97 million ETH—nearly 70% of its ETH holdings—showing that institutions are still betting on the network’s long-term value.

The current Ethereum market is in a phase of confidence and price dislocation. Although short-term volatility is intense, the continued positioning by whales and institutions suggests they prefer to build long-term positions at low levels. Future trends may depend on the overall recovery pace of the crypto environment and whether ETH can regain key technical levels.

View Original
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to Disclaimer.

Related Articles

Ethereum Faces Three-Front Challenges in Early 2026: Scaling, Quantum Safety, and AI Positioning

The Ethereum ecosystem faces three major challenges in the future: scalability, quantum safety, and AI strategy. Vitalik Buterin has criticized existing L2 solutions, emphasizing the importance of security and decentralization. The foundation will prioritize quantum safety and decentralized AI as key development directions.

GateNews3m ago

Machi Big Brother's ETH Long Position Completely Liquidated Again, Cumulative Losses Exceed $30.35 Million

Gate News Report: On March 23, according to Onchain Lens monitoring, Machi Big Brother (@machibigbrother)'s ETH 25x leverage long position was completely liquidated again. Shortly after the liquidation, he opened a new ETH 25x leverage long position. Currently, the wallet balance at this address has only 32,000 USD remaining, with cumulative losses exceeding 30.35 million USD.

GateNews19m ago

Citigroup Slashes Bitcoin and Ethereum 12-Month Price Targets, Citing Stalled U.S. Crypto Legislation Weighing on Upside Catalysts

Citigroup has lowered its 12-month price targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum, signaling a shift toward caution on the cryptocurrency market's medium-term outlook, primarily due to slow progress in U.S. crypto asset legislation. Bitcoin's target was reduced from $143,000 to $112,000, while Ethereum's fell to $3,175. Despite upside potential remaining in the future, the lack of new policy catalysts suggests prices may oscillate within a range in the near term. Citigroup's assessment of Ethereum is more cautious, as it believes the asset is more significantly impacted by on-chain activity.

区块客44m ago

ShapeShift Era Mysterious Whale Continues ETH Accumulation with $4.35M USDT Purchase

Gate News bot message, a mysterious whale from the ShapeShift era has withdrawn $4.35M USDT from Aave and purchased 2,103 ETH. The whale now holds 122,392 ETH worth $251.3M. According to Onchain Lens, this whale previously withdrew $4.29M USDT from Aave and bought 2,012 ETH, bringing their total h

GateNews47m ago

NYSE Cancels Crypto ETF Options Position Limit of 25,000 Contracts, SEC Exempts 30-Day Waiting Period

NYSE Arca and NYSE American, subsidiaries of the New York Stock Exchange, have submitted rule changes to the SEC to eliminate position limits on spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF options, effective immediately. This change affects 11 cryptocurrency ETFs and allows large, liquid ETFs to have higher position limits. Meanwhile, Nasdaq ISE has proposed increasing the position limit for IBIT exclusive options to 1 million contracts, pending review.

GateNews51m ago

The Hormuz Strait crisis remains unresolved, and Bitcoin has fallen below 68K.

Affected by the US-Iran conflict, global markets have been severely impacted, with the S&P 500 Index declining for four consecutive weeks. Gold has experienced a modest rebound around $4,500, while oil prices remain stable at elevated levels. Trump has issued an ultimatum to Iran, with potential escalation of conflict between the two sides. Bitcoin and Ethereum have also declined in tandem, and market sentiment has turned conservative.

ChainNewsAbmedia1h ago
Comment
0/400
No comments