Several market indicators suggest that Ethereum’s ETH might be gearing up for a breakthrough in early 2025. For investors wondering what crypto coins to buy, ETH remains a strong prospect.\

Source: Brave New Coin’s Ethereum Liquid Index

Recent insights from CryptoQuant analyst Burak Kesmeci shed light on Ethereum’s Futures market dynamics. Kesmeci highlighted four key metrics—Funding Rate, Taker Buy-Sell Ratio, Open Interest, and liquidations—that have played a crucial role in shaping Ethereum’s price movement.

Source: CryptoQuant

The Funding Rate stood at a healthy 0.01 at the time of analysis. This figure indicates that traders in long positions are confidently supporting Ethereum’s spot market, a promising sign for sustained stability. Furthermore, the Taker Buy-Sell Ratio of 0.57 underscored a prevailing buying sentiment among derivatives market participants, which could potentially fuel demand-driven price surges.

Bullish Indicators Spark Investor Optimism

Open Interest, a measure of market activity, experienced a modest increase of 3.18% within 24 hours. This uptick signals a renewed interest in Ethereum derivatives, though it appears to be a short-term trend. Meanwhile, $6 million worth of short positions were liquidated during the same period. The active liquidation of these bearish bets reduced selling pressure and countered the effects of heightened Open Interest.

The easing of sell pressure in Futures markets paints an encouraging picture for Ethereum bulls, who are actively stepping into the market. However, Futures markets tell only part of the story. Spot market behavior offers additional insights into Ethereum’s performance and investor sentiment.

Source: Cryptoquant

The exchange supply ratio—a metric reflecting the proportion of ETH held on exchanges—dropped to 0.14 over the past week. This decline suggests that investors are withdrawing Ethereum from exchanges, signaling accumulation and long-term optimism. Reduced exchange supply often correlates with bullish sentiment, as investors hold assets off exchanges to avoid selling.

Large Holders and Long-Term Investors Stay Positive

Whales, or large Ethereum holders, appear to share this positive outlook. The net flow of capital from whales has been consistently positive throughout the week, reflecting increased confidence in Ethereum’s prospects. Long-term holders have also demonstrated optimism, as their profit margins remain more favorable than those of short-term traders.

Source: IntoTheBlock

This shift towards accumulation and long-term investment is a strong indicator of potential price growth. As confidence spreads across different market segments, Ethereum seems well-positioned to break out of its consolidation phase.

Furthermore, over 78% of traders on BitMEX are bullish on Ethereum, holding open futures positions anticipating a price surge, according to Crypto Analyst Ali Martinez. This optimistic sentiment reflects growing confidence in Ethereum’s market potential as its ecosystem continues to expand and innovate.

Source: X

If current conditions hold steady, Ethereum could reclaim $3,600, a level not seen in weeks. However, the possibility of bearish sentiment disrupting this upward momentum cannot be ignored. A resurgence of selling pressure might push Ethereum down to $3,100. Overall, like with other leading crypto coins such as XRP, 2025 looks bright for ETH.