Is the Ethereum Price Top in? ETH Sell-Pressure Soars to $419M, Second Highest Level Ever

Key takeaways:

  • ETH Net Taker Volume hit -$418.8 million, the second-largest daily sell imbalance ever.

  • Price is retesting a major resistance zone near $4,000, echoing the December 2024 top.

  • ETH could drop 25%โ€“35% toward key trendlines by September.

Ethereumโ€™s native token, Ether (ETH), may establish a local top signal as its selling pressure nears historic extremes.

Traders sell 115,400 more ETH than they buy

As of Tuesday, ETHโ€™s Net Taker Volume dropped to -$418.8 million, the second-largest daily outflow ever, with 115,400 more ETH sold than bought via market orders, according to CryptoQuant data.

ETH Net Taker Volume chart vs price. Source: CryptoQuant

Net Taker Volume tracks the difference between buying and selling executed through market orders.

These โ€œtakerโ€ trades prioritize execution speed over price, typically indicating urgency or fear. When taker sells volume vastly outweighs taker buys, it often suggests capitulation or heavy profit-taking.

Such massive sell-side imbalances have historically marked local tops,โ€ wrote CryptoQuant analyst Maartunn, casting doubt on the sustainability of Ethereumโ€™s current rally.

Ether may decline 25%-35% next

The latest surge in ETH sell-side pressure came as the price tests a historically significant distribution zone between $3,600 and $4,000, a level that has repeatedly acted as resistance since 2021.

ETH/USD weekly price chart. Source: TradingView

Ethereum faced a similar setup in December 2024. At the time, the Net Taker Volume turned sharply negative, and ETH also traded near this same resistance zone.

What followed was a steep 66% decline, with the price collapsing toward its 50-week (the red wave) and 200-week (the blue wave) exponential moving averages (EMA).

A similar outcome may unfold, with ETH retesting the $3,600โ€“$4,000 resistance, Net Taker Volume plunging, and weekly relative strength index (RSI) cooling from overbought.

The confluence of bearish signals increases the probability of ETH retreating toward its 50-week and 200-week EMAs โ€” currently at $2,736 and $2,333, respectively โ€” by September or October, similar to the decline seen in late 2024.

Related: BlackRock leads record $465M spot Ether ETF Monday exodus

A drop to these support levels would mark a 25%โ€“35% decline from current prices.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.