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What Risks Could Ethereum Short Sellers Face This Week?

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ETH Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: Coinglass

The final week of February has brought another wave of declines, reinforcing expectations among short-term traders that altcoin prices could fall further. However, this outlook carries growing risks. If prices approach strong demand zones, they could stage an unexpected rebound.

Several altcoins are showing a severe imbalance between potential long and short liquidations this week. Such conditions often create an environment for large-scale liquidations.

1. Ethereum (ETH)

The seven-day liquidation map for Ethereum (ETH) shows that many traders are allocating capital and leverage to short positions, betting on continued downside through the end of the month.

As a result, cumulative potential liquidations on the short side now dominate. If ETH unexpectedly rebounds to $2,000 this week, short positions could face up to $2 billion in liquidations.

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If ETH climbs further to $2,160, short liquidations could reach $3.6 billion.

ETH Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: Coinglass
ETH Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: Coinglass

Short-term traders have reasons to justify their bearish positioning. A recent report by BeInCrypto revealed that Vitalik Buterin reduced his holdings by more than 8,800 ETH throughout February 2026. Meanwhile, Ethereum inflows to Binance have reached their highest level since November 2025.

However, several bullish indicators are also emerging, increasing the likelihood of a surprise recovery.

ETH ETF flows have turned positive after four consecutive weeks of outflows. In addition, data from CryptoQuant shows that inflows into ETH accumulation addresses over the past six months have reached the most active period in history.

Given these dynamics, short sellers may need to reassess their leverage levels to mitigate the risk of sudden price reversals.

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2. Binance Coin (BNB)

Like ETH, Binance Coin (BNB) has faced persistent selling pressure. Six consecutive red weekly candles with no clear signs of recovery have encouraged traders to maintain dominant short positions.

However, this positioning increases the risk of liquidation if BNB rebounds.

If BNB climbs to $640 this week, potential short liquidations could reach $35 million. A further rally to $680 could push short liquidations above $60 million.

BNB Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: Coinglass
BNB Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: Coinglass

Why should short traders remain cautious?

First, BNB is approaching its long-term support trendline established in 2024. Shorting near strong support levels often carries elevated risk.

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Second, data from On-Chain Mind, a crypto analytics account, indicates that BNB is currently trading about 37% below its short-term holder realized price equivalent. Historically, this level has signaled meaningful undervaluation and has often preceded strong repricing moves.

BNB Short-Term Holders Drawdown. Source: On-Chain Mind
BNB Short-Term Holders Drawdown. Source: On-Chain Mind

“Right now it is trading about 37% below its short-term holder realised price equivalent, a level that historically signals meaningful undervaluation. BNB has a history of sharp repricings from zones like this,” On-Chain Mind reported.

Short sellers who grow overly confident in BNB’s downtrend could face significant losses if momentum shifts.

3. Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

Bitcoin Cash stands out as one of the few altcoins that has not behaved as if it were in a broader crypto bear market.

Nevertheless, short-term traders have turned increasingly bearish on BCH in the final week of February. Their positioning has pushed potential short liquidations well above those on the long side.

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BCH Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: Coinglass
BCH Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: Coinglass

Data from Bitinfocharts shows that whales have actively accumulated BCH in recent months. One whale address accumulated 400,000 BCH within two months, becoming the network’s third-largest holder.

In addition, a recent report by BeInCrypto stated that the average transaction value on the BCH network surged to over $2 million, nearly 100 times higher than last year.

Under these conditions, heavily leveraged short positions could face liquidation risks if BCH rebounds. A move toward $630 this week could trigger up to $45 million in short liquidations.

In general, extremely negative market sentiment often creates ideal conditions for short squeezes.

“The sentiment in crypto right now is so bad that I’m actually pretty optimistic,” said Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of Gemini.

In such an environment, short sellers may still capture profits. However, without disciplined profit-taking strategies and strict risk management, gains can quickly evaporate and turn into losses.

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Crypto World

Bitcoin, Altcoins Fall Toward New Lows As Stocks Digest New Trump Tariffs

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Bitcoin, Altcoins Fall Toward New Lows As Stocks Digest New Trump Tariffs

Bitcoin’s (BTC) weakness extended into the weekly open as major stocks sold off in response to US President Donald Trump’s threat to enforce a 15% global tariff after the Supreme Court ruled that his IEEPA tariffs were illegal.

Market sentiment remains fragile, as the Crypto Fear & Greed Index at 5 out of 100 remains in the “extreme fear” zone. Pseudonymous trader and investor BitcoinHyper said in a post on X that the index has been in the extreme fear zone for nearly three weeks, the longest since 2022.

Traders on the prediction market Polymarket have increased the odds of BTC falling below $55,000 to 72%. The prediction market expectations matches several analysts and financial institutions who expect a fall near or below $55,000.

Crypto market data daily view. Source: TradingView

While a bottom may not have formed, expectations are that BTC will eventually recover and move higher. Economist Timothy Peterson said in a post on X that BTC has been positive 50% of the time in the past 24 months. Using a statistical model, Peterson estimated that there is an 88% chance that BTC “will be higher 10 months from now.” 

Could buyers defend the support levels in BTC and the major altcoins? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out. 

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S&P 500 Index price prediction

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) has been trading between 6,775 and 7,002 for several days, indicating a balance between supply and demand.

SPX daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The flat moving averages and the relative strength index (RSI) near the midpoint do not give a clear advantage either to the bulls or the bears. Buyers will have to achieve a close above the 7,002 resistance to signal the resumption of the uptrend. The index may then ascend to the 7,290 level.

This bullish view will be invalidated in the near term if the price turns down and breaks below the 6,775 level. The index may then tumble to the solid support at the 6,550 level.

US Dollar Index price prediction

The US Dollar Index (DXY) turned down from the 50-day simple moving average (97.95) on Friday, indicating that the bears are aggressively defending the level.

DXY daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Sellers are attempting to sink and maintain the index below the 20-day exponential moving average (97.48). If they manage to do that, the index might slide to the 96.21 to 95.55 support zone.

Buyers are likely to have other plans. They will attempt to halt the pullback and push the price above the 50-day SMA. If they can pull it off, the index may jump toward the 99.50 level and subsequently to the 100.54 resistance.

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Bitcoin price prediction

BTC fell below the $65,118 support on Monday, but the bulls are attempting to defend the level on a closing basis.

BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Any relief rally is expected to face selling at the 20-day EMA ($70,185). If the Bitcoin price turns down sharply from the 20-day EMA, it increases the likelihood of a drop to the vital $60,000 support. Buyers will have to defend the $60,000 level with all their might, as a break below it may sink the BTC/USDT pair to $52,500.

Buyers will have to propel the price above the 20-day EMA to signal demand at lower levels. The pair may then march to the $74,508 level, where the bears are again likely to pose a strong challenge.

Ether price prediction

Ether (ETH) fell below the nearby support at $1,897 on Monday, opening the doors for a retest of the $1,750 level.

ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The downsloping moving averages and the RSI near the oversold territory heighten the risk of a breakdown. If the $1,750 level is taken out, the ETH/USDT pair may resume the downtrend toward the next support at $1,537.

Contrarily, if the Ether price turns up sharply from $1,750, it suggests demand at lower levels. That may keep the pair inside the $1,750 to $2,111 range for a while longer. A close above $2,111 will be the first sign of strength, clearing the path for a rally to the 50-day SMA ($2,593).

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XRP price prediction

XRP (XRP) has been trading between the support line of the descending channel pattern and the 20-day EMA ($1.47) for the past few days.

XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The downsloping 20-day EMA and the RSI in the negative territory indicate that the bears remain in control. If the support line cracks, the XRP/USDT pair may retest the Feb. 6 low of $1.11. A break and close below the $1.11 level may extend the decline to psychological support at $1.

Buyers have an uphill task ahead of them. They will have to swiftly propel the XRP price above the downtrend line to signal a potential trend change.

BNB price prediction

BNB (BNB) fell below the immediate support at $587 on Monday, but the long tail on the candlestick shows buying at lower levels.

BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The bulls will attempt to start a recovery, which is expected to face selling at the 20-day EMA ($651). If the price turns down from the 20-day EMA, the bears will again strive to pull the BNB/USDT pair below the $570 level. If they manage to do that, the BNB price may start the next leg of the downtrend to psychological support at $500.

Contrary to this assumption, if buyers pierce the 20-day EMA, the pair may rally to the breakdown level of $730.

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Solana price prediction

The failure of the bulls to push Solana (SOL) to the breakdown level of $95 signals that the bears are active at higher levels.

SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Sellers will attempt to strengthen their position by pulling the Solana price below the $76 level. If they succeed, the SOL/USDT pair may fall to the Feb. 6 low of $67, which is a critical support to watch out for. If the level gives way, the pair may slump to $60.

Any relief rally is expected to face resistance at the 20-day EMA and then at the $95 level. A close above the $95 level suggests that the sellers are losing their grip. The pair may then surge to $117.

Related: Bitcoin traders diverge over BTC price strength with $60K in sight

Dogecoin price prediction

Dogecoin (DOGE) turned down from the 20-day EMA ($0.10) on Saturday and is likely to drop to the Feb. 6 low of $0.08.

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DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The bulls are expected to fiercely defend the $0.08 level, as the failure to do so may start the next leg of the downward spiral toward $0.06.

The 20-day EMA remains the immediate near-term resistance to watch out for. A close above the 20-day EMA will be the first sign that the selling pressure is reducing. The DOGE/USDT pair may then ascend to the breakdown level of $0.12, where the bears are expected to mount a strong defense.

Bitcoin Cash price prediction

Buyers pushed Bitcoin Cash (BCH) above the 50-day SMA ($571) on Sunday but could not sustain the higher levels.

BCH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The bears sold aggressively and have pulled the Bitcoin Cash price below the 20-day EMA ($551). If the price maintains below $538, the BCH/USDT pair might plummet to the strong support at $500. Buyers are expected to aggressively defend the $500 level, as a close below it may sink the pair to $443.

Buyers will have to drive and maintain the price above the 50-day SMA to signal strength. The pair may then climb to $600.

Cardano price prediction

Despite repeated attempts, buyers failed to push and maintain Cardano (ADA) above the 20-day EMA ($0.28) in the past few days. 

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ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

That increases the likelihood of a drop to the support line of the descending channel pattern. If the price rebounds off the support line and breaks above the 20-day EMA, it suggests that the ADA/USDT pair may remain inside the channel for some more time.

Instead, if the Cardano price continues lower and breaks below the support line, it indicates the resumption of the downtrend. The pair may then plunge toward $0.15. A short-term trend change will be signaled after buyers clear the overhead hurdle at the downtrend line.