Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has faced choppy waters. Over the past few days, Ethereum’s price has taken a nosedive, plunging to lows of $2,800 on April 12, echoing the broader downturn witnessed across the crypto landscape.
However, in the face of volatility, a fascinating development has emerged: Ethereum whales, the behemoths of the crypto world, have begun to flex their muscles, showcasing strategic maneuvers that have captured the attention and speculation of the crypto community.
Strategic Accumulation Amidst Turbulence
As Ethereum’s price plummeted, Ethereum whales wasted no time in capitalizing on the opportunity. One notable example is the whale identified as “0x435,” which embarked on a strategic accumulation spree as the ETH price dipped.
With a staggering investment of 70 million USDC, this whale acquired a hefty 23,790 ETH when Ethereum hit nearly $2,930. However, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision; rather, it was part of a calculated strategy that unfolded over several days, involving significant transactions and withdrawals from both centralized exchanges like Binance and decentralized exchanges.
Despite the recent 8% correction in the $ETH price (24H), whales are still buying $ETH!
1. Whale 0x435 spent 70M$ USDC to buy 23,790 $ETH at ~$2,942 4 hours ago:
• In total, the whale has accumulated 60,808 $ETH ($191M) from #Binance and DEX in the past 15 hours, after each… pic.twitter.com/ujZRULGAkX
— Spot On Chain (@spotonchain) April 14, 2024
The Right Timing
The actions of “0x435” are just the tip of the iceberg in the wider phenomenon of Ethereum accumulation by large holders. On-chain analytics firms, such as Spot On Chain and Lookonchain, have provided insights into the scale and timing of these whale transactions, revealing a pattern of strategic accumulation amidst the market turbulence.
This whale spent 70M $USDC to buy 23,790 $ETH at $2,942 from the bottom again after $ETH dropped.
He has bought 85,931 $ETH($278.5M) from #Binance and #DEX in the past week, with an average buying price of $3,241.
He still holds $136M stablecoins and may buy more $ETH.… pic.twitter.com/d7yYdqEnDB
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) April 14, 2024
These whales aren’t acting alone; they’re part of a broader trend that suggests institutional players or sophisticated investors are positioning themselves strategically in anticipation of future market movements.
Ethereum’s Journey Through The Storm
The broader context of Ethereum’s price movement adds another layer to this unfolding saga. Ethereum’s decline over three consecutive days, from highs of $3,617 to lows of $2,850 on April 13, underscores the volatility and uncertainty gripping the cryptocurrency market.
However, amidst the stormy seas, Ethereum managed to make a slight recovery, climbing back up to $3,107 at the time of writing, albeit still down 6.05% in the last 24 hours.
Ethereum is currently trading at $3.107. Chart: TradingView
Hong Kong Gives Nod To Ethereum ETFs
In another development, as the first jurisdiction to permit trading in Bitcoin and Ethereum cash exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Hong Kong has set new precedents.
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong has previously granted permission to many prominent financial corporations to establish these exchange-traded funds (ETFs), while the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently reviewing comparable applications.
The SFC has given the all-clear to several top financial institutions, including China Asset Management, Bosera Capital, and HashKey Capital Limited, to launch Bitcoin and Ethereum cash exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
When combined, these cutting-edge financial instruments let investors to pay cash for shares in Ethereum and Bitcoin.
Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView