Stoking the flames of red September, the Ethereum (ETH) price slipped below the psychologically charged $4,000 barrier today, stirring anxiety across trading desks and social media circles.
The temporary dip in Ethereum’s price is an unwelcome wake-up call, and charts show critical supports buckling as liquidations ripple through the derivatives market.
The big question: are traders staring at the edge of another steep correction, or is there a hidden opportunity beneath the fear?
Ethereum (ETH) Price Below $4,000: What Happened?
The latest break in the ETH price below $4,000 was sudden. ETH registered a swift 3.66% drop in 24 hours, briefly touching lows under $3,990 before rebounding slightly.
More than $71 million in long positions were wiped out, and some individual traders saw catastrophic losses. One wallet was liquidated for over $45 million and left with less than $500,000 in its account.
The sell-off erased nearly $22 billion from Ethereum’s market cap in a matter of hours, illustrating just how volatile things have become.
The reason that market sentiment is three interlocking forces causing the entire crypto market to be down today.
Dollar strength, a hawkish stance from the Federal Reserve, and cascading liquidations in leveraged ETH derivatives pulled the ETH price below $4,000.
Another delay on a potential rate cut has driven a risk-off mood. At the same time, heavily leveraged positions proved increasingly vulnerable as price momentum stalled.
Technical Levels: The New Lines in the Sand
Traders staring at technical charts will recognize $3,750 as the next crucial support. Analysts flag this level as the “must hold” line.
A break could send the ETH price spiraling further, with broader downside targets near $3,600.
The $4,050–$4,100 region had previously flipped from resistance to support, but that defense cracked this week.
Momentum metrics paint a bearish view: the relative strength index (RSI) sits near 34.5, well into oversold territory, and the MACD signals a continuation of negative momentum.
Yet, there are signs that large players, especially ‘whale’ wallets, are taking advantage of the volatility.
On-chain data shows more than $850 million in spot buying by new addresses during the downturn, suggesting some believe the selloff has run its course.
Ethereum (ETH) Price Macro Headwinds and Institutional Flows
Behind the technical drama lies a bigger narrative: US dollar strength, stubbornly high interest rates, and waves of ETF outflows are amplifying ETH’s volatility.
Ethereum spot ETFs reversed their bullish momentum, recording net outflows of nearly $297 million in recent days after a strong run of inflows in mid-September.
However, it’s not all gloom. Even after the recent withdrawals, ETFs and regulated funds collectively hold more than 6 million ETH, worth around $25 billion.
That base of demand, alongside continued activity in decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, has so far limited the size and speed of the downturn.
Should Traders Panic or Buy the Dip?
For short-term traders, the current environment is fraught with negative funding rates, bearish technical patterns, and outsized liquidations.
They all point to potential further losses in the near term. Also, selling could accelerate if $3,750 is breached.
Some analysts are flagging a $3,600 ETH price as a deeper cushion if panic sets in. However, for investors with longer time horizons, this flush might be a blessing in disguise.
Heavy selling often precedes periods of whale accumulation and renewed staking activity.
On-chain measurements indicate that important addresses are buying the dip, and exchange supply of ETH has dropped to a nine-year low, hinting at future price recovery.
While no one can predict short-term price action with certainty, for traders watching the ETH price, the $3,750 support zone now holds the key to the next leg.
A further breakdown could bring more pain, while sustained accumulation by whales and institutional investors hints at deep pockets waiting for the dust to settle. Stay tuned, but panic isn’t compulsory.