Ethereum Analysts Flag Potential ‘Selling Wave’ as ETH Struggles at $1.7K

Ether’s near-term outlook is deteriorating as spot flow and derivatives positioning both point to weaker participation. Over the past several days, Binance saw net inflows of about 57,700 ETH, while Ether futures open interest has dropped to $10.3 billion—down from roughly $15 billion a month earlier—marking the lowest level across exchanges since April 2025, according to CryptoQuant.

Analysts say the mix of rising exchange supply, fewer new depositors, and cooling leverage is consistent with a market that may be running out of fresh buying pressure. Several traders are now watching key weekly demand areas around $1,700 and $1,400, with the potential for renewed downside if Ether fails to hold.

Key takeaways

• Binance net inflows of ~57,700 ETH suggest more Ether is moving onto the most liquid venues, increasing the risk of sell-side pressure if price rallies.
• Ether futures open interest fell ~31% to $10.3B—its lowest aggregate level since April 2025, reflecting cooling speculative activity.
• Estimated leverage ratio declined to 0.83 from an early-June peak, signaling reduced trader conviction and less leverage-driven volatility.
• Weekly price levels in focus: the market is hovering near $1,700 and $1,400, with lower liquidity targets below there.

Why Binance inflows matter for short-term selling risk

CryptoQuant analyst Pelin Ay highlighted that Binance received roughly 57,700 ETH on a net basis over the past few days. In crypto market structure, large and sustained exchange inflows can act as a warning sign for near-term sell pressure—especially when the influx is concentrated on a venue with deep liquidity like Binance.

Ay also tied the pattern to a lack of offsetting demand. The number of new ETH depositors is currently around 320 addresses, which is described as materially below levels seen during earlier demand surges. When deposit growth is weaker, the spot market’s ability to absorb incoming supply without repricing can fade—leaving price action more dependent on existing holders.

There is also a supply-side counterweight to consider. Ay noted that daily ETH issuance sits near 2,791 ETH, a relatively modest figure that has been typical since Ethereum’s EIP-1559 upgrade in 2021. Still, even with comparatively lower issuance, elevated exchange inflows can be enough to tilt order books if buyers don’t step in.

In Ay’s view, the near-term risk is that a brief relief rally into resistance could encourage further distribution from exchange balances, turning “stability” into renewed pressure.

Derivatives activity cools as open interest hits a multi-month low

Beyond spot flows, the derivatives tape has weakened. Ether futures open interest fell to $10.3 billion on Thursday, down from about $15 billion a month ago—roughly a 31% decline. CryptoQuant characterizes this as the lowest aggregate open interest across exchanges since April 2025.

Open interest is often used as a proxy for participation and the balance of hedging versus new speculative bets. A drop of this scale typically points to fewer market participants taking fresh positions, which can translate into less willingness to press trades during a rebound attempt.

Leveraged positioning has also eased. The estimated leverage ratio (ELR) fell to 0.83 from an all-time high of 1.10 on June 2. CryptoQuant also notes that this move represents the largest leverage unwind since October 2025, when the metric slid from 0.72 to 0.56.

Lower leverage can reduce short-term volatility and speculative pressure, but it usually comes with a trade-off: it often reflects weaker conviction. In other words, the market may be less prone to sharp liquidations, yet less capable of sustaining a strong uptrend on its own momentum.

Weekly demand zones under scrutiny: $1,700 and $1,400

On the chart, Ether’s weekly trend has continued to struggle. The weekly outlook referenced in the analysis shows ETH down about 30% over the past 42 days, trading near demand zones around $1,700 and $1,400.

The April 2025 low at $1,384 is cited as the nearest external liquidity target if weakness continues. Below that, the analysis points to a broader demand area dating back to January 2023, spanning roughly $1,289 to $1,071.

Trader Ardi previously argued on X that there are early technical “bottoming” signals forming for altcoins, including ETH. In the same framing, Ardi noted that Ether touched the lower band of a long-term acceptance range that had previously aligned with macro lows—suggesting the market may be approaching a decision point rather than continuing an uninterrupted slide.

Part of that argument is based on momentum indicators. The weekly RSI is near 31, while a daily RSI reading of 11 during the recent sell-off is described as the lowest recorded level. In practical terms, these readings are often interpreted as improving the odds of stabilization—though they do not guarantee a reversal.

Ardi also emphasized that ETH/BTC remains an important metric to watch because the pair continues to trend lower. For now, the key trading range remains where liquidity and position-taking are concentrated: roughly $1,400 to $1,700.

What investors and traders should monitor next

If exchange inflows keep outpacing new depositors while futures open interest remains depressed, Ether could struggle to convert any bounce into a sustained trend—especially if leverage continues to unwind. The immediate question for markets is whether ETH can hold the weekly demand bands near $1,700 and $1,400, or whether the combination of supply returning to exchanges and reduced derivatives activity will push price toward the next liquidity pockets below.