Ethereum Price Eyes Breakout as Whales and Arthur Hayes Buy the Dip
Ethereum price is trading around $1,885 on Thursday, showing a small gain of 0.03% over the past day. The move comes as large holders, known as whales, keep adding $ETH to their bags.
Trader and Maelstrom founder Arthur Hayes bought 1,293 ETH worth about $2.48 million, roughly five hours ago, according to blockchain tracker Lookonchain.
This purchase adds to a growing list of big wallets stacking Ethereum this week. Let’s discuss the ETH price prediction. How long will $ETH go.
Why are whales buying Ethereum right now?
Three newly created wallets withdrew 30,000 ETH, worth close to $57.66 million, from Coinbase Prime about nine hours ago. Moving coins off an exchange like this often signals long-term holding rather than plans to sell.
Lookonchain data shows the $ETH moved in three separate transfers of 10,000 coins each, sent to fresh wallet addresses. This pattern is common among institutional or high-net-worth buyers who want to hold assets away from exchange risk.
Whale accumulation like this has historically been read as a bullish signal, though it does not guarantee future price gains.
What does Ethereum's staking data show?
Staking demand is another factor drawing attention. At last check, 2,675,221 coins are queued to be staked on the Ethereum network. Only 31,860 ETH is waiting to exit.
That gap works out to almost 84 times more ETH entering staking than leaving it. A wide gap like this suggests many holders want to lock up their coins for yield instead of selling.
It is worth noting this 84x ratio has been shrinking since it peaked in February 2026. The entry queue is still much bigger than the exit queue, but the gap is not as wide as it was a few months back.
Ethereum price technical analysis: what the chart shows
The daily chart shows price near $1,885, bouncing off support in the $1,700 to $1,800 zone that has held since June.
Indicator | Value |
Price | $1,885.43 |
24h Change | +0.03% |
EMA 20 | $1,782.40 |
EMA 50 | $1,810.81 |
EMA 100 | $1,944.32 |
EMA 200 | $2,214.70 |
RSI (14) | 57.65 |
Market Cap | $227.34B |
24h Spot Volume | $2.30B |
Ethereum price is currently trading above its 20-day and 50-day EMAs but below the 100-day and 200-day lines, near $1,944 and $2,214.
A daily close above the $1,944 EMA could open the door toward the $2,200 zone, where the long-term downtrend line also sits.
RSI at 57.65 sits in neutral territory, leaving room for more upside before the market looks overbought.
Ethereum futures and liquidation data
Futures open interest sits at $27.00 billion, down slightly from the prior day. The long/short ratio on major exchanges leans bullish, with Binance ETH/USDT accounts near 1.69 longs for every short.
Liquidation data shows $136.04 million in total ETH positions wiped out over 24 hours, with shorts taking the bigger hit at $89.20 million compared to $46.84 million in long liquidations.
Ethereum price prediction: what could happen next
Given the mix of whale buying, heavy staking demand, and a chart trying to break a long-term downtrend, Ethereum price could push toward $2,000 to $2,200 if buyers stay in control.
A drop back below the $1,782 to $1,810 EMA cluster would weaken this setup and could send price testing the $1,700 support zone again.
Traders should watch whether whale wallets keep growing their ETH holdings and whether the staking queue ratio stabilizes or keeps shrinking.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and risky. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
