TLDR:
- Ethereum price trades at $4,058 after a 3.98% daily gain, with traders eyeing recovery beyond $5,000.
- Open interest in Ethereum futures dropped 45% from its peak, reducing market speculation pressure.
- Technical analysts see a bullish setup if ETH reclaims $4,100 and holds it in the short term.
- The MVRV Momentum death cross reappears, warning of potential correction before any major breakout.
Ethereum is back in focus as traders weigh whether its next move leads to a breakout or another pullback. The asset is holding near the $4,000 mark after weeks of choppy action, and market sentiment seems split.
Some traders see the recent reset in leverage as a healthy sign, while others warn of a possible short-term correction. The tension is clear: bulls want a reclaim of key levels to confirm strength. The next few days could define whether Ethereum breaks higher or slips further.
Traders Watch Critical Levels as Ethereum Holds $4,000
Crypto analyst Daan Crypto Trades said Ethereum’s current setup looks technically sound. He explained that the retest of the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement level and the Daily 200EMA remains “healthy.”
$ETH Technically, this retest of the .382 Fibonacci retracement level and Daily 200EMA are perfectly fine and healthy.
I would want to see this back above those previous cycle highs at $4.1K to get the momentum back in favor of the bulls.
If it can do so and hold there, I'd be… pic.twitter.com/wbqUPP5krp
— Daan Crypto Trades (@DaanCrypto) October 19, 2025
For him, the key lies in reclaiming $4,100, the previous cycle high. Holding that level, he added, could bring back bullish momentum and open the door for a new all-time high by year’s end.
Market data from CoinGecko at press time shows Ethereum trading at $4,058.40 with a daily trading volume of about $34 billion.
The token has gained nearly 4% in 24 hours but remains down 2% for the week. These figures reflect a cautious recovery phase after recent liquidations wiped out excess leverage across the crypto market.
Trader Ted noted that Ethereum’s open interest has dropped by nearly 45% from its previous high, while price has only fallen by about 20%.
He said this reset in speculation is constructive for a cleaner market rebound. If buying resumes from current levels, he projected a move toward $5,500 to $6,000 without overheating.
Market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic. Traders see the reduction in leveraged positions as a sign of more stable footing. However, technical signals suggest Ethereum still needs to prove it can sustain upward momentum.
Death Cross Reappears as On-Chain Data Turns Mixed
On-chain analyst Ali warned that the MVRV Momentum indicator has flashed a death cross, a pattern that last appeared before a steep drop from $3,300 to $1,400. He said the signal has returned, raising questions about the strength of the current rally.
The reappearance of this signal has left traders divided.
Some view it as a temporary shakeout before a larger move higher, while others believe it hints at another leg down before recovery. The contrast between reduced leverage and bearish on-chain signals captures the current state of uncertainty.
Still, Ethereum’s broader setup looks resilient compared to earlier corrections.
The token’s price holding near $4,000 suggests steady demand from both spot buyers and long-term holders. If it pushes back above $4,100 and maintains that level, analysts believe a strong year-end rally could follow.
Hence, the next directional move may depend on whether ETH attracts fresh momentum from these levels or stalls below resistance.