Ethereum (ETH) Price Records $234M in Liquidations as Price Retreats from $4,000

TLDR

Ethereum tested $4,000 resistance level before experiencing a notable pullback to $3,621
Binance’s taker buy-sell ratio turned negative, indicating increased retail selling pressure
ETH trading volume rose from $60B to $72B despite price decrease, suggesting active sell-offs
Total crypto market liquidations reached $1.58B, with ETH accounting for $234.72M
Institutional ETF demand remains strong, helping offset retail selling pressure

Ethereum (ETH) has pulled back from the $4,000 resistance level, currently trading at $3,621, marking a 6% decrease in the past 24 hours. The retreat comes as retail traders on Binance show increased selling pressure, while institutional interest through ETF products remains robust.

Data from cryptocurrency exchanges reveals a sharp decline in Ethereum’s market capitalization, which has dropped by over $40 billion from its recent peak. The total market cap fell from $490 billion last Friday to $434 billion at present, highlighting the scale of the current correction.

Despite the price decrease, Ethereum’s daily trading volume has shown an opposite trend. Volume has increased from $60 billion on December 6 to $72 billion currently, suggesting active market participation during the downturn. Market analysts attribute this volume surge primarily to selling activity.

CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost reports that Binance’s taker buy-sell ratio for Ethereum turned negative as the price approached $4,000. This metric indicates that traders on the platform have largely adopted a selling stance, particularly since the beginning of November.

The market has witnessed substantial liquidations across the cryptocurrency space. According to Coinglass data, the past 24 hours saw 526,828 traders liquidated, with total liquidations reaching $1.58 billion. Ethereum-specific liquidations accounted for $234.72 million of this total.

Breaking down the ETH liquidations further, long positions made up the majority at $208.83 million, while short positions recorded losses of $25.89 million. These figures underscore the market’s current directional bias and the risks faced by leveraged traders.

Trading patterns on Binance, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, show retail traders have maintained their bearish stance throughout the recent price movement. This selling pressure has created consistent resistance around the $4,000 price level.

However, institutional interest tells a different story. Demand for Ethereum Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) continues to show strength, providing a counterbalance to retail selling pressure. This institutional backing has helped maintain support levels despite the current correction.

The contrast between retail and institutional behavior highlights a divergence in market sentiment across different trader categories. While smaller traders appear to be taking profits, larger institutional players continue to accumulate positions through regulated investment products.

Technical indicators suggest the current price action represents a test of key support levels. The movement below $4,000 has triggered increased selling pressure, though some market participants view this as a healthy correction within a broader upward trend.

Market data indicates that the selling pressure intensified after Ethereum failed to maintain momentum above the $3,900 level. This technical resistance point has become a focal point for traders monitoring price action.

The cryptocurrency’s price movement has prompted various responses from market participants. While some traders have closed positions, others view the current levels as potential entry points, particularly given the continued institutional interest.

Looking at order book data, significant support has formed around the $3,500 level, while resistance remains concentrated near the recent high of $4,000. These price points have become key areas of interest for market participants.

Recent data shows that exchange inflows and outflows have remained relatively balanced, suggesting that despite the price correction, there hasn’t been a mass exodus of ETH from trading platforms.

The market has recorded over $72 billion in daily trading volume, indicating active participation from both buyers and sellers. This elevated trading activity suggests high market engagement during the current price movement.