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Institutional Exit? US Investors Are Dumping ETH at a Record Rate

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While retail traders hold or accumulate ETH, on-chain data shows US institutions selling Ethereum at a discount.

Ethereum (ETH) broke below the crucial $2,100 price level after a fresh 8% decline amid a severe market correction. On-chain data now points to a major shift in sentiment among US investors.

In fact, those market participants are aggressively de-risking the world’s largest altcoin, even pushing the Coinbase Premium to its most negative reading since July 2022.

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Institutional Exit

According to CryptoQuant, the Ethereum Coinbase Premium Index, measured on a 30-day moving average, has fallen to its lowest level since July 2022. The index tracks the price difference between the ETH/USD pair on Coinbase Pro, which is widely used as a proxy for US institutional trading activity, and the ETH/USDT pair on Binance, often viewed as a proxy for global retail participation.

CryptoQuant said that the deeply negative reading on the 30-day basis indicates that selling pressure is largely coming from US entities. While global retail traders may be holding positions or buying into the price decline, US institutions appear to be actively de-risking or exiting their Ethereum holdings.

The analytics platform revealed that the last time the Coinbase Premium Index reached similarly negative levels was during the depths of the 2022 bear market. Based on this comparison, it detailed two possible interpretations. One is that bearish momentum could continue, as US demand, described as an important driver of crypto market rallies, is currently absent, potentially limiting any near-term price recovery.

The alternative interpretation presented is that such extreme negative premiums have historically aligned with capitulation phases, which can sometimes coincide with local market bottoms once aggressive selling pressure is exhausted. CryptoQuant concluded that the $2,100 level represents an important psychological and technical zone, and added that a reversal would likely require the Coinbase Premium to normalize or turn positive.

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“As long as US investors are selling at a discount compared to the global market, upside momentum will likely remain capped.”

Another Historical Warning Signal

A sharp increase in Ethereum network activity has further raised questions about potential market risks. Ethereum’s total transfer count surged to 1.17 million on January 29th, in one of the highest recorded levels for the metric, and represents a sudden, vertical rise in transaction activity across the network. Historical comparisons reveal that similar spikes have previously occurred around major turning points in ETH’s price cycle. In January 2018, for example, a comparable surge in transfer counts coincided with the market cycle top and was followed by a prolonged bear market.

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A similar pattern appeared on May 19, 2021, when a sharp increase in transfers aligned with a major market crash and a steep price correction. While high network activity is often associated with growing usage, CryptoQuant stated that rapid and parabolic increases near price highs have historically reflected periods of market stress.

Such conditions can indicate high volatility, large-scale asset movements, or distribution by long-term holders moving funds, potentially to exchanges. Based on these historical precedents, the current spike places the crypto asset in a “high-risk” zone, where past patterns have been followed by notable price drawdowns.

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Crypto World

World Liberty Financial Offloads Bitcoin to Pay Debt

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WLFI Token - CoinGecko

The Trump family’s DeFi protocol was forced to sell $5 million of BTC today to cover an Aave loan.

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol affiliated with President Trump’s sons, was forced to sell some Bitcoin at roughly $67,000 today to avoid liquidation on Aave.

According to Arkham Intelligence, the WLFI wallet was forced to liquidate more than 170 BTC, worth roughly $11 million, to repay its loans on Aave.

Meanwhile, the WLFI token is down 14% today, slightly underperforming BTC and ETH, which are both down 13%.

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WLFI Token - CoinGecko
WLFI Token – CoinGecko

WLFI has been in a consistent downtrend since its token launch in September. The token started trading on Sept. 1 at $0.23, or a $6.6 billion market capitalization, and now trades 65% lower at $0.115.

In addition to the protocol’s financial woes, Trump’s political opponents continue to call for probes and investigations into the DeFi protocol.

Today, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna announced that he has launched an investigation into a $500 million investment in WLFI from the United Arab Emirates. Back in November, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed claimed that the protocol is tied to malicious actors from North Korea and Russia; however, it remains unclear if there has been any progress on this probe.

Warren, in particular, is no fan of cryptocurrency, broadly referring to DeFi users as “scammers” and labeling the GENIUS bill as a “grift.”

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Crypto World

Is It Time For A Bounce?

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Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin Price, Markets, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis

Bitcoin touched new lows under $64,000 as market selling reached a historic level, and analysts warn that the bottom is not in. Does data support analysts’ sub-$60,000 prediction?

Bitcoin (BTC) has fallen 13% over the past four days, sliding to $63,844 from $79,300. It is currently trading below $69,000, which is the 2021 bull market high, a level many see as a support level.

The drop was matched by a sharp decline in futures activity, with BTC’s open interest falling by more than $10 billion over the past seven days.

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Analysts are now focusing on the long-term technical zones and onchain indicators that may signal a major turning point for BTC. 

Key takeaways:

  • Bitcoin has dropped 13% in four days, slipping below the 2021 cycle high near $69,000 after a sharp leverage reset.

  • A key Bitcoin demand zone from $58,000 to $69,000 is supported by heavy transaction volume and the 200-week moving average.

  • Oversold technical and sentiment indicators suggest downside pressure may be peaking for BTC, even if a relief rally fails to manifest.

Why the $69,000 level matters for Bitcoin

The $69,000 level represents the peak of the 2021 bull market. Prior cycle tops have historically acted as support during bear markets. In the last cycle, Bitcoin bottomed near the 2017 high of $19,600 before briefly dipping lower to about $16,000 in November 2022. 

Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin Price, Markets, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
Bitcoin one-month chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The current drop below $69,000 may follow this pattern. However, past cycles also show that prices can fall below prior highs before forming a final bottom. This keeps downside risk open for BTC.

Bitwise European Head of Research André Dragosch noted that a large share of recent transactions occurred between $58,000 and $69,000. This range also aligns with the 200-weekly moving average near $58,000, reinforcing it as a key demand zone.

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Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin Price, Markets, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
Bitcoin URPD chart. Source: Glassnode

Meanwhile, crypto analyst exitpump highlighted that large BTC bids are visible on order books between $68,000 and $65,000, suggesting buyer interest on dips.

Related: Bitcoin price may drop below $64K as veteran raises ‘campaign selling’ alarm

BTC flashes record oversold signals

Market analyst Subu Trade said that Bitcoin’s weekly relative strength index (RSI) has fallen below 30. Bitcoin has reached this level only four times, and in each case, the price rallied by an average of 16% over the next four days.

Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin Price, Markets, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
Bitcoin weekly chart and RSI comparison. Source: X

Crypto analyst MorenoDV also noted that the adjusted net unrealized profit/loss (aNUPL) has also turned negative for the first time since 2023. This means the average holder is now at a loss. Similar conditions in 2018–2019, 2020 and 2022–2023 all led to price recoveries for BTC. 

While a relief rally might not take shape immediately, Moreno pointed out that the current “speed of sentiment deterioration” is much faster than the previous cycles. The analyst added, 

“This rapid transition suggests an acute sentiment reset rather than a gradual decline, potentially shortening the capitulation phase.”

Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin Price, Markets, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
Bitcoin adjusted net unrealized profit/loss NUPL. Source: CryptoQuant

Related: Three signs that Bitcoin price could be near ‘full capitulation’