Ethereum is under pressure after sliding below the $4,200 level, with price now testing the $4,000 support zone. The market is watching closely, as a breakdown here could expose ETH to deeper corrections, while a strong defense may open the door for a rebound. Despite the selling pressure, on-chain signals reveal a strikingly different picture beneath the surface.
Top analyst Darkfost shared data showing that ETH inflows into accumulator addresses are exploding, signaling long-term conviction even as short-term sentiment wavers. Just yesterday, nearly 400,000 ETH were added to these specialized wallets. More notably, on September 18th, Ethereum saw a historic first when 1.2 million ETH were accumulated in a single day — a record for the network.
Accumulator addresses are unique in that they only buy ETH and never sell, making them a reliable proxy for long-term holder behavior. Such massive inflows highlight that large players are strategically building positions, likely tied to institutional adoption and the growing demand for ETH ETFs.
Long-Term Conviction Amid Pressure
According to Darkfost, Ethereum’s inflows into accumulator addresses mark one of the most important trends developing beneath the surface of current market volatility. He explains that accumulator addresses are wallets that have made at least two ETH transactions without ever selling a single coin. This behavior makes them reliable indicators of long-term holder conviction, since accumulation, not short-term speculation, drives them.
Darkfost adds that some of these addresses could be linked to institutional entities offering ETH ETFs, which have seen surging demand recently. The scale of these inflows — with nearly 400K ETH added yesterday and a record 1.2M ETH accumulated on September 18th — points to serious players positioning for the long haul.
Still, this comes at a time when Ethereum is facing a critical technical test, hovering around the $4,000 support after losing more than 14% since mid-September. While accumulation shows strong confidence in ETH’s long-term trajectory, the short-term risks remain elevated. Selling pressure, broader market corrections, and macro uncertainty could test investor patience.
Ultimately, Darkfost emphasizes that the coming weeks will be decisive: either ETH bulls hold the line and confirm this accumulation as the foundation for a rebound, or pressure deepens into a more prolonged correction.
Ethereum Price Analysis: Testing $4,000 Support
Ethereum’s chart reveals a decisive breakdown after losing the $4,200 level, with price now testing the $4,000 support zone. This marks a sharp 3.2% decline in the last session, continuing the corrective structure that has been developing since early September.
The price breached the 12H 50 moving average (blue) and the 100 moving average (green), showing weakening bullish momentum. Price is now hovering just above the 12H 200 moving average (red), which sits near $3,800. This zone represents a crucial line of defense for bulls, as a confirmed breakdown could accelerate selling pressure and open the path toward deeper retracements.
Momentum also reflects increasing market fear, as sellers remain in control and meet each bounce attempt with lower highs. Still, holding above $4,000 keeps Ethereum within a potential consolidation range, offering bulls a chance to stabilize before the next move.
If buyers defend this area successfully, ETH could rebound to retest the $4,200–$4,400 resistance range. However, a daily close below $3,950 would likely confirm further downside pressure, exposing $3,800 and possibly $3,600 as the next targets.
Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView