Ethereum Demand Holds Despite Pullback: New Whales Enter With $192M Buys

Ethereum is testing critical demand levels after a sharp pullback from its recent peak at $4,790. The correction has pushed ETH toward the $4,200 region, a level that bulls are now trying to defend. Despite strong momentum in recent weeks, selling pressure is mounting, and some analysts warn that Ethereum could face a deeper correction before finding solid ground.

Yet, institutional accumulation continues to provide a strong counterforce. Data from Arkham Intelligence reveals that two whale accounts bought nearly $200 million worth of Ethereum over the past 24 hours. These new players are part of a broader trend of institutional investors and large funds aggressively adding ETH to their treasuries.

The scale of these purchases signals growing confidence in Ethereum’s long-term prospects, even as short-term volatility tests market sentiment. Such whale accumulation often reflects strategic positioning ahead of potential rallies, reinforcing Ethereum’s status as a cornerstone of the broader crypto market.

According to Arkham, two fresh whale addresses have just purchased a combined $192 million worth of Ethereum from Bitgo, raising eyebrows across the market. The wallets, 0xEC9A7e7D864bD598d0F0F00d8D397E83171c52De and 0x728e79933070e44273Eb23bD0aB937565f41777d, executed these massive buys in what analysts see as part of a broader institutional accumulation trend. The timing has sparked speculation from Arkham — what do these players know that the retail market may be missing?

The rise of Ethereum as a treasury reserve asset is quickly becoming a reality. Similar to the Bitcoin corporate adoption wave that began with MicroStrategy, institutional players are now openly adding both Bitcoin and Ethereum to their balance sheets. This shift signals that global adoption is accelerating, with Ethereum recognized not only as a smart contract and DeFi backbone but also as a strategic long-term store of value.

These latest whale purchases reinforce the idea that institutional money is here to stay, even as ETH faces short-term volatility. With exchange supply steadily declining and OTC liquidity thinning out, every major accumulation adds pressure to the supply side, making ETH structurally bullish in the long run.

Ethereum (ETH) is currently trading at $4,222, showing signs of stabilization after a sharp retracement from the recent $4,790 high. On the 4-hour chart, ETH is attempting to hold above the green 100-day moving average (around $4,180), a key support level that could determine short-term direction.

The rejection near $4,800 marked a local top, followed by sustained selling pressure that pushed ETH below the 50-day moving average (blue line). This signals fading momentum in the short term, with bears attempting to gain control. However, the current bounce from the 100-day MA suggests that bulls are still defending critical support zones.

Volume has spiked during the decline, reflecting aggressive selling but also significant absorption from buyers. If ETH holds the $4,200–$4,180 range, a potential recovery toward $4,400–$4,500 could play out in the coming sessions. On the other hand, failure to defend this level could open the door for a deeper correction toward $3,950–$3,900, aligning with the 200-day MA (red line).

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView