Ethereum Foundation initiates a transfer of $13.3m worth of ETH, sparking speculation market

Speculation arises as Ethereum Foundation transfers $13.3 million worth of ETH, prompting market scrutiny and discussions about potential impacts.

Mar 5, 2024 - 13:12
May 4, 2024 - 12:46
Ethereum Foundation initiates a transfer of $13.3m worth of ETH, sparking speculation market
Ethereum Foundation

A wallet purportedly associated with the Ethereum Foundation has sold off $13.3 million worth of ETH, leading to discussions and speculation about a potential decrease in prices. The Ethereum Foundation's move to sell $13 million in Ethereum (ETH) has investors pondering the potential repercussions on the price of the second-largest cryptocurrency globally by market capitalization. Historically, the foundation's maneuvers are seen as indicators of upcoming market changes, leading to apprehensions about a possible downturn. However, current chart analysis suggests bullish signals for Ethereum.The Ethereum price chart exhibits a positive outlook, displaying a robust upward trend characterized by consistently higher highs and lows. Presently valued at $3,550, Ethereum has witnessed a 14.6% surge in the past week, boasting a market capitalization of $420 billion and a cryptocurrency market dominance of 17.8%, as per CoinGecko. While market pullbacks are inherent in an upward trend, they create anticipation among investors as they await the market's subsequent direction. The weekly Relative Strength Index (RSI) is currently at 89.95, nearing the overbought zone, indicating a potential correction. This aligns with the recent sell-off by the Ethereum Foundation.In the broader market context, Bitcoin (BTC) has witnessed a surge of over 28% in the past seven days, approaching its previous all-time high of $69,000 recorded in November 2021. As of the latest update, the BTC price hovers around the $67,000 range. Simultaneously, the Ethereum network is gearing up for the implementation of the Dencun update, a merger of the Cancun and Deneb updates. Set to be executed on March 13, this enhancement aims to notably reduce transaction fees on the layer-2 and improve Ethereum's scalability, efficiency, and security. On February 27, the Ethereum Foundation reported the successful activation of the upgrade on test networks.In the previous month, Ethereum exhibited significant expansion, drawing in 1.8 million new users to its network. Santiment's metric, monitoring well-funded Ether wallets, showcased a notable increase, with the total count of ETH holders reaching 115.5 million addresses. In contrast, Bitcoin (BTC) observed a reduction of 70,000 wallet addresses within the same timeframe, emphasizing Ethereum's prevailing position in the market.

The increasing demand from new ETH addresses and a $2.3 billion reduction in exchange supply positions Ethereum advantageously for a potential upswing towards $4,000 in March 2024. In the midst of Ethereum's positive momentum, various entities are seeking approval for spot Ethereum ETFs, aiming to replicate the success seen with spot BTC products. However, challenges seem apparent as SEC delays and comments from commissioners suggest potential obstacles ahead. An impending meeting between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and applicants for spot Ethereum ETFs later this month will play a pivotal role in determining the fate of investment vehicles based on Ether. Decisions on these products are postponed until at least May, with VanEck's application taking the lead. The SEC's decision, whether approval or rejection, by May 23 will set the tone for other issuers, including BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, and Invesco Galaxy. The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January marked a significant milestone following years of rejections. This decision, influenced by a Grayscale lawsuit against the SEC, was viewed as a turning point in legitimizing crypto adoption and investment in the United States.