2025-12-24 21:21:55

Market remains eerily quiet, but anyone who has traded for years knows that this kind of calm often signals something brewing.

Looking at the candlestick chart, ETH has been hovering around the $2980 level for quite some time. Above is the $3000 psychological barrier, below is the support zone between $2880 and $2900. This back-and-forth friction has tested the patience of many traders.

But I have a feeling—this isn’t the end of the trend, but rather someone deliberately creating a false impression.

**01 The news seems bearish on the surface, but there’s more to the story**

Recent news appears chaotic, but this chaos actually reveals the underlying issue. On one hand, expectations of rate cuts are being challenged; on the other hand, crypto funds have experienced a short-term outflow of $952 million, with Ethereum alone accounting for $555 million. At first glance, this looks like a clear bearish signal.

However, if you only see the surface, you’re falling into a trap.

What are the truly smart funds doing? Although market sentiment is cautious, on-chain data tells a different story—large holders are quietly accumulating during price dips. This “say no but act yes” scenario has played out countless times in the crypto world.

Even more interesting, despite some redemptions from ETFs, the long-term holdings strategies of certain institutions remain unchanged. Data shows that one institution currently controls 4.066 million ETH, which is about 3.37% of the total ETH supply, and they have been increasing their holdings last week. This is not a sign of bearish sentiment.

**02 Narrow-range consolidation is the best time to build positions**

Think carefully—who benefits most from this low-volatility environment? Large institutional players who need time to accumulate. The calmer the market, the harder it is to detect their footprints. When the price finally breaks out, retail traders will realize too late that they’ve been left behind.

This is why every “calm before the storm” feels so unbearable—because during this period, the forces that will determine the next trend are quietly gathering.

ETH0.31%

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tx_pending_forever

· 4h ago

The sluggish market is really incredible, the big players are starting to play their tricks again --- ETH keeps bouncing around this price range, honestly a bit annoying... but this is the rhythm that big funds love the most --- On-chain data looks the same, news is the same, I'm already tired of this routine haha --- By the time the pattern truly breaks out, retail investors will have already been left behind, it’s always like this --- Are the big players building positions wildly during narrow-range fluctuations? I believe it, anyway we are definitely the latecomers --- After lingering around the $3000 line for so long, it’s either a false breakout or brewing a big move, a 50% chance on a 50% gamble

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FomoAnxiety

· 4h ago

It's the same old story again, big players scoop up the chips while retail investors take the fall. The story is always the same, but the question is, can it really go up this time?

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FlatlineTrader

· 4h ago

Here we go again with this set? Big players eat up the chips while retail investors take the bait. This script is the same every time. Do you still have the nerve to talk about on-chain data? --- Holding at 2980 for so long is indeed a bit ridiculous, but I actually think it's more likely that no one wants to move. --- Narrow-range fluctuations and building positions until your ears are calloused—it's better to just say it's a scalp than be dishonest. --- Is 4.06 million ETH really that consumable? Feels like it's a bit exaggerated. --- Is calm market = storm before the calm? No, maybe there's just no market at all. --- That old tune about turning bad news into good news is back again. Have you ever thought that this time it might really be bad news? --- So much capital outflow and still making up stories about people building positions? Haha. --- Every time they say big players are quietly operating, but in the end, it still drops and continues to fall. --- Can we break through the 3000 level? Honestly, it's a bit uncertain. --- How many times does the phrase "calm before the storm" need to be used?

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ThesisInvestor

· 5h ago

Here we go again with this routine? Big players scoop up chips while retail investors get trapped. This script is the same every time.

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DarkPoolWatcher

· 5h ago

Taking so long to dilly-dally, it seems like the big players are quietly accumulating... retail investors are still hesitating over whether to short or not.

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