- Ether volatility remains shallow, with the first potential catalysts as far as October.
- Ethereum price oscillates along the equilibrium level of $1,849, bound to BTC and the broader market lull.
- The lack of impulse comes as the ETF euphoria gradually fades after the SEC indication of delay.
- Notably, 14 futures-based ETH ETF filings are active in the US.
Ethereum (ETH) price remains range-bound, just like Bitcoin (BTC) price, as the broader market continues in its lull. The weekend, defined by low volume and increased volatility, is inactive for the largest altcoin, suggesting that large holders or whales, like retail traders, may have taken a back seat.
Ethereum price intertwines around equilibrium
Ethereum (ETH) price, like Bitcoin's (BTC) price, is suffering from waning ETF momentum, with the spillover effect affecting the entire market. Save for Shiba Inu (SHIB), which is rallying around The Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), the rest of the market is in a state of indecisiveness, with the two giants in crypto currently oscillating around fixed positions.
With 14 active futures-based ETH Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) filings live in the US, the fact that the first verdict is expected as early (or far) as October leaves the Ethereum market devoid of impulse, made worse by the lack of catalysts in the BTC market as well.
We're in new territory. It's been 13 days since Volatility Shares was first in a wave of #Ethereum futures ETF filings. Back in 2021 it was just a couple days before SEC forced withdrawals and was just ~7 days in May of this year. The odds of launching increase as time goes by pic.twitter.com/RJPLRr0RW3
— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) August 10, 2023
In the latest ETF-related news, as reported, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has delayed a decision on Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Bitcoin Spot ETF application, postponing excitement for when traders can finally trade crypto directly on traditional financial exchanges in the US. The delay is anticipated, considering the SEC called out for public commentary about amendments featured in the ETF applications two days before a decision was due.
As the euphoria on ETFs and the possible catalytic effect it would have on cryptocurrency prices continues to fade, Ethereum price has fallen back to neutral mode. It is currently intertwining along the equilibrium level of $1,849 and could continue with the same throughout the weekend.
This is expected considering the historical nature of weekends where the volume of trades reduces. Although this leaves markets susceptible to increased volatility, it requires impulse.
Ethereum price forecast as ETH bounces between two SMAs
Ethereum (ETH) price is bouncing between the 50- and 100-day Simple Moving Averages (SMAs), respectively, at $1,841 and $1,850 levels. The tight range adds credence to the lack of impulse in the market, leaving ETH in the hands of whales if they choose to act.
ETH Santiment data
According to Santiment data, the whale transaction count for large holders with more than $100,000 and a $1 million balance has steadily declined for the past four months since May. The same applies to the number of daily active addresses indicated in the chart above.
Unless ETH breaks from the current consolidation between the 50- and 100-day SMA, the altcoin could continue in the range-bound horizontal slide into the new week on the four-hour timeframe.
ETH/USDT 4-hour chart
For the next move, however, traders should watch for a decisive move either above or below the $1,886 and $1,813 levels representatively.
Ethereum development FAQs
What is the next big Ethereum software update?
After the Merge, the Ethereum community is looking at the Sharding upgrade next, which has been slated for sometime later in the year. The development can be summarized in four words, “scalability through more efficient data storage.” The software update will increase the capacity of the blockchain, widening the amount of data that can be stored or accessed. At the same time, all services running atop the Ethereum blockchain will enjoy significantly reduced transaction fees.
What is the difference between hard fork and soft fork?
A fork is the splitting of a blockchain after developers agree and proceed to implement upgrades. The decision comes after these developers reach a consensus for a software upgrade. The ensuing part will see one part continue with the status as is, while the other one will proceed with new features combined with the former ones. A hard fork basically entails permanent divergence of a new side chain from the original one, while a soft fork is doing the same, only difference being that it is temporary.
What is EIP-4844?
EIP-4844 is an improvement proposal for the Ethereum network. The upgrade promises reduced gas fees, which is a valuable offering considering the high transaction cost that continues to daunt crypto players. It has been a long-standing concern for the Ethereum network. The proposal is also referred to as “proto-Danksharding,” with an unmatched ability to increase the speed of transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. At the same time, it helps to reduce the transaction cost as everything becomes decentralized.
What is gas in the context of Ethereum?
Gas token is a new, innovative Ethereum contract where users can tokenize gas on the Ethereum network. This means they can store gas when it is cheap and start to deploy the gas once the market has shifted to the north. The use of Gas token helps to subsidize high gas prices on transactions, meaning investors can do everything from arbitraging decentralized exchanges to buying into initial coin offerings (ICOs) early.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks
Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: BTC nosedives below $95,000 as spot ETFs record highest daily outflow since launch
Bitcoin price continues to edge down, trading below $95,000 on Friday after declining more than 9% this week. Bitcoin US spot ETFs recorded the highest single-day outflow on Thursday since their launch in January.
Bitcoin crashes to $96,000, altcoins bleed: Top trades for sidelined buyers
Bitcoin (BTC) slipped under the $100,000 milestone and touched the $96,000 level briefly on Friday, a sharp decline that has also hit hard prices of other altcoins and particularly meme coins.
Solana Price Forecast: SOL’s technical outlook and on-chain metrics hint at a double-digit correction
Solana (SOL) price trades in red below $194 on Friday after declining more than 13% this week. The recent downturn has led to $38 million in total liquidations, with over $33 million coming from long positions.
SEC approves Hashdex and Franklin Templeton's combined Bitcoin and Ethereum crypto index ETFs
The SEC approved Hashdex's proposal for a crypto index ETF. The ETF currently features Bitcoin and Ethereum, with possible additions in the future. The agency also approved Franklin Templeton's amendment to its Cboe BZX for a crypto index ETF.
Bitcoin: 2025 outlook brightens on expectations of US pro-crypto policy
Bitcoin (BTC) price has surged more than 140% in 2024, reaching the $100K milestone in early December. The rally was driven by the launch of Bitcoin Spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in January and the reduced supply following the fourth halving event in April.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.