Ethereum’s network cooldown – Why caution doesn’t mean crisis!

Key Takeaways 

Why has Ethereum’s activity slowed recently?

Internal Contract Calls slipped from 9.5 million, while Transaction Count and Network Growth declined sharply.

Does this cooldown weaken Ethereum’s outlook?

Not yet, as long as daily transactions stay above 1 million, Ethereum may hold structural strength before another upswing.

Ethereum’s [ETH] on-chain momentum has slowed after months of elevated activity, with Internal Contract Calls falling from a sustained 9.5 million daily average. 

The metric, which measures complex DeFi and RWA interactions, had reached new highs in September but now signals moderation.

Despite continued optimism around ETF inflows and corporate accumulation, transactional depth has weakened, hinting that investors shifted from active accumulation to cautious observation as prior gains settled.

Network growth and transactions retreat

Santiment data highlighted a clear pullback in Ethereum’s Transaction Count, which dropped from around 1.6 million to 412K at press time.

Likewise, Network Growth slipped from 150K to 37K, showing fewer new addresses joining the ecosystem. 

The slowdown suggested lighter user onboarding after months of heavy engagement. Even so, such pullbacks often precede stabilization phases if core utility metrics remain steady.

If sustained above 1 million daily transactions, Ethereum could maintain its structural strength despite current short-term fatigue among users.

Source: Santiment

Muted sentiment hints at quiet accumulation 

At the time of writing, Ethereum’s Weighted Sentiment turned negative at –0.35 as Social Dominance hovered near 6.6%.

The muted crowd response reflected cautious investor behavior following weeks of lower on-chain engagement. 

Historically, negative sentiment often aligns with consolidation periods, allowing smart money to reposition during uncertainty. 

However, the absence of a positive rebound suggests investors remain watchful, waiting for stronger fundamental or price catalysts before reentering the market with conviction.

Source: Santiment

Volatility clusters around key liquidation zones

CoinGlass data revealed dense liquidation bands between $4,400 and $4,600 on the ETH/USDT pair.

These zones suggest high liquidation density, where sudden volatility could trigger chain reactions on either side. 

If bulls reclaim upper levels, a short squeeze could ignite upward momentum, while downside liquidations may push Ethereum closer to $4,200. 

However, these zones also reflect indecision, indicating traders are tightening exposure until a clearer direction emerges. The next decisive break from this range could define Ethereum’s short-term trajectory.

Source: CoinGlass

A temporary cooldown or structural shift ahead?

Ethereum’s dip in activity, sentiment, and network expansion points to a cooldown rather than weakness.

While volatility remains elevated, the network’s broader fundamentals—spanning ETF inflows and growing institutional use—still support long-term optimism.

The data suggests Ethereum may be recalibrating before its next significant breakout.