Ethereum (ETH) has been underperforming in this cycle, trailing far behind Bitcoin’s impressive rally to new all-time highs. While Bitcoin captures headlines with its continued surge, ETH struggles to reclaim its yearly highs, leaving many investors questioning its next move.
Despite the lackluster price action, data from CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju reveals a silver lining for ETH holders. According to Ju, many ETH investors are enduring unrealized losses, reminiscent of ETH’s early 2020 bottom before its explosive bull run. This suggests that the current market conditions might offer a unique opportunity for long-term ETH investors.
Ju’s analysis highlights that substantial price recoveries have historically followed such phases of unrealized losses. If Ethereum starts to gain momentum and close the gap with Bitcoin, the potential gains could be massive. For investors, this could mark the beginning of an upward trend, rewarding those who remain patient during this period of consolidation.
With market sentiment shifting and historical data supporting a bullish case, ETH’s next move could be pivotal. Investors and analysts closely watch ETH’s price action, hoping for signs of a breakout that could reignite its momentum and deliver significant returns.
Last Chance To Buy Ethereum?
Despite Ethereum’s underwhelming performance this cycle, there are signs of bullish price action in recent weeks. ETH has remained relatively stagnant compared to Bitcoin’s meteoric rise. However, optimistic signals suggest this could be the last opportunity to accumulate ETH at discounted prices before it starts its ascent toward new highs.
Critical data from CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju sheds light on an interesting development: the ETH-BTC NUPL (Net Unrealized Profit/Loss) has reached a 4-year low. This indicates that, despite Ethereum’s lagging performance against Bitcoin, many ETH holders are enduring unrealized losses.
This mirrors Ethereum’s early 2020 bottom situation, just before it began its explosive rally. Ju believes that this period of underperformance might present an opportunity for long-term ETH investors, as it could set the stage for a potential surge.
However, Ju also notes that Ethereum’s future heavily depends on the revenue generated by Web3 applications, particularly through stablecoins. While the ecosystem remains promising, it also feels heavily leveraged, and the issue of sustainable growth through Web3 app revenue doesn’t seem likely to resolve anytime soon.
Over a one-year timeframe, Ju finds ETH less appealing than BTC, although regulatory clarity in the future could change the dynamics and enhance Ethereum’s appeal. For now, this period of consolidation presents a critical moment for ETH believers to position themselves before any significant price movements.
ETH Testing Crucial Demand
Ethereum is testing crucial demand above the $3,000 level, trading at $3,120 after several days of sideways consolidation below its local high at $3,446. This consolidation suggests that ETH is preparing for a potential breakout, especially with its recent surge above the key 200-day moving average at $2,957. Holding above this key support level is critical for maintaining bullish momentum.
If Ethereum stays above the 200-day moving average and continues its upward trajectory, the next major resistance zone will be the local high at $3,446. A successful breakout above this level could pave the way for ETH to challenge its yearly highs, potentially reaching the $4,000 mark.
The current price action indicates a solid demand foundation above $3,000, and if ETH can maintain this level, it could trigger a bullish surge. However, failure to hold above the 200-day moving average could lead to a retest of lower support levels, such as $2,900 or even $2,500.
As of now, ETH remains poised for a potential move higher, and traders are watching closely for confirmation of a breakout to new highs.
Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView