The cryptocurrency market remains as unpredictable as ever, with Ethereum (ETH) facing significant selling pressure from large investors, commonly referred to as “whales.” Currently, the price of Ether hovers around $3,166, yet Bitcoin (BTC) hasn’t managed to reclaim the $65,000 support level. With the launch of Ethereum ETFs, trading volumes surged past $500 million within two days, but this has not stemmed the tide of whale-driven sales. Over the past two weeks, more than 840,000 ETH have been sold by holders possessing between 10,000 and 100,000 ETH.
Why Are Whales Selling?
Historically, intense selling by whales has led to declining prices. The current sales trend stems from concerns about a potential post-ETF launch dip. Whales seeking to mitigate risk sold off their holdings, creating opportunities to buy back at lower levels. This bearish sentiment is shared by individual investors, as indicated by the highest level of realized profits in the last 1.5 months. Notably, sales worth $747 million occurred just a day before the ETF’s debut.
What are Analysts Predicting?
Markus Thielen, CEO of 10x Research Ltd, suggests that Ethereum could be nearing a lower price level. According to the stochastic indicator, a current value of 87 (down from 92) implies that a correction is forming. Thielen recommends shorting Ethereum in light of the recent rally and upcoming potential impacts from factors like Mt Gox payments and the US earnings season.
Investment Insights
Concrete and valuable inferences for investors:
- Monitor whale activity for signs of further sell-offs.
- Consider the stochastic indicator to gauge potential corrections.
- Stay aware of macroeconomic factors, such as Mt Gox payments and US earnings, which could influence the market.
- Evaluate the risks of shorting Ethereum if bearish signals persist.
If the downward trend continues, Ethereum could test the $3,000 level, especially if it closes below $3,118. Since the ETF’s launch, ETHE has seen an outflow exceeding $800 million, signaling that the selling pressure may persist for some time.