Ethereum (ETH) demonstrated notable resilience by quickly recovering the $3,100 price level on Monday morning, hours after dipping below it for the first time since early November. This volatility was driven by two key on-chain events that highlight contrasting market forces:
1. Notable Figures Liquidate Holdings
BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes executed a series of large-scale crypto sales totaling approximately $4.1 million.
- Hayes liquidated substantial amounts of ETH (approx. 780 ETH total) along with altcoins like ENA, ETHFI, LDO, AAVE, and UNI.
- The assets were sent to institutional trading desks (Flowdesk, FalconX, and Cumberland), suggesting a defensive rebalancing or profit-taking strategy amid market uncertainty.
- These sales likely contributed to the selling pressure that briefly pushed ETH below $3,100 and BTC below $94,000.
2. A Decade-Old ICO Wallet Awakens
In a rare sign of early adopter activity, an Ethereum wallet that participated in the Initial Coin Offering (ICO) and had been dormant for over 10 years transferred 200 ETH (worth $626,000).
- The wallet originally purchased 1,000 ETH for a mere $310 investment, representing a 10,097x return at current prices.
- While increasing the market supply, the movement of early-stage funds is closely watched as a signal of sentiment among long-term holders.
Market Outlook and Conflicting Views
Despite the brief price dip, the rebound above $3,100 signals strong underlying support. The Long-Short Ratio for ETH remains high (over 3.0), reflecting intense trader engagement, though this also hints at potential short-term volatility.
- Bullish View (Tom Lee): Compares Ethereum's current turbulence to Bitcoin's past "supercycles," arguing that volatility is a prerequisite for eventual exponential gains.
- Cautious View (Ali Martinez): Maintains a cautious outlook, citing ETF outflows and ETH's higher risk profile relative to Bitcoin, suggesting a potential drop to $1,800.
The short-term fate of ETH hinges on whether it can maintain support above $3,100 in the face of institutional hesitation and active whale rebalancing.
November 2025 Cryptoniteuae