Whale dominance on Ethereum indicates strong bullish sentiment and potential price growth.
Concentrated holdings have raised concerns about liquidity risks and potential market corrections
Ethereum (ETH) whales are increasingly dominating the network, with 104 wallets now holding over 100,000 ETH, representing over 57% of the total supply.
This significant change in Ethereum’s distribution raises important questions about its future, particularly regarding market control and price action. As these whales continue to accumulate, their increasing dominance indicates strong bullish sentiment.
However, with such concentrated holdings, how could this influence Ethereum’s price trajectory in the future?
Whale accumulation and long-term holders: bullish sign or bear trap?
Whale accumulation on Ethereum has intensified alongside notable price rebounds, reflected in increasing whale trading volumes exceeding $100,000 and $1 million.
These large investors, often categorized as long-term holders (LTH), act as stabilizing forces during volatile cycles, reducing supply shocks when sentiment turns bearish.
Their strategy of accumulating during dips and holding despite uncertainty aligns with Ethereum’s upward price trajectory in late 2024.
Source: Santiment
However, this concentration raises a crucial question: is this a bullish sign or a bearish trap? While the increasing dominance of whales portends sustained confidence and bullish momentum, it also amplifies downside risk.
A coordinated sell-off or exhaustion of buying pressure could trigger sharp reversals, highlighting the fragile balance between accumulation-driven optimism and a potential liquidity-driven correction.
Historical whale activity
Historical Ethereum data shows a strong correlation between whale activity and price movements. Spikes in whale transactions, especially those above $1 million, often precede large price increases or corrections. Notably, the surge in late 2020 and early 2021 coincided with ETH’s monumental bull run, as whales strategically accumulated ahead of retail inflows. Likewise, periods of increasing whale activity during market consolidations, such as mid-2022, signaled phases of accumulation that stabilized prices.
Source: Santiment
Whale-driven spikes have also sometimes foreshadowed massive sell-offs, as seen during ETH’s 2022 pullback.
This dual impact highlights the importance of monitoring whale behavior: while accumulation often drives price growth, excessive concentration can introduce volatility if whales decide to dump their holdings, thereby putting the tests the resilience of market liquidity.
Read Ethereum (ETH) Price Prediction 2024-25
What’s next for ETH?
Ethereum’s whale-led rally propelled its price above the $4,000 mark, with strong buying volume reinforcing the bullish sentiment.
The RSI stands at 64.61, indicating that ETH remains below overbought territory, suggesting further upside potential. OBV continues to rise, a clear signal that demand is driving the uptrend.
Source: TradingView
If the whale accumulation persists, Ethereum could consider the $4,500-$5,000 range as its next target. However, asset concentration remains a double-edged sword.
Although sustained accumulation fuels optimism, history warns of sharp corrections if whales shed large positions, testing liquidity and retail confidence. The coming weeks will reveal whether this recovery consolidates or whether it risks reversing.
Next: Is Ripple’s RLUSD Launch What XRP Needs to Hit $3?