As the market reacts to the latest crypto legislation, Ethereum (ETH) is flashing warning signs after a fresh technical sell signal emerged for the first time in months and a spike in on‑chain realized profits.
Ethereum Risks New Leg Down After Key Sell Signal
On Thursday, Ethereum jumped 3.5 % intraday before hitting its three-day $2,320 resistance area. The move follows the advancement of the crypto market structure bill, known as the CLARITY Act, to a full Senate vote after a 15-9 bipartisan vote during the Senate Banking Committee’s long-awaited markup session.
The King of altcoins has been moving sideways between $2,200 and $2,400 over the past month, which some have called a “no-trade zone.” While many analysts suggest that a breakout above the upper boundary is coming, analyst Ali Martinez has warned that Ethereum may be close to a major correction.
In an X post, the market observer highlighted that a new sell signal has emerged on ETH’s weekly chart for the first time in nine months. He explained that the TD Sequential indicator has been highly precise in anticipating the altcoin’s trends since April 2025, with every signal on the weekly timeframe validated by significant price action over the past year.
In mid-April and mid-June 2025, the key indicator flashed two buy signals, resulting in multi-week rallies of 87% and 134%, respectively. Meanwhile, it flashed a sell signal in late August 2025, which accurately timed a 63% correction from its all-time high (ATH) levels toward the February lows.
Now, the latest weekly signal “suggests Ethereum is entering another corrective phase,” which could push the price to new local lows. If selling pressure accelerates, Martinez shared an initial target of $1,900, followed by potential mid- and long-term targets of $1,565 and $1,090.
Time To Turn Cautious Or Bearish?
Blockchain analytics firm Santiment highlighted that Ethereum realized profits rose to $74.58 million, its highest level in three weeks, even as the price fell 5.5% over the past three days. It noted that although this setup may seem “counterintuitive” given the recent pullback, it does not necessarily mean investors should turn completely bearish.
As the firm explained, holders with a much lower cost basis are the ones taking profit during the mid-May dip. These traders accumulated back in February and March when Ethereum was below $2,000 amid market uncertainty and geopolitical risks.
As a result, those who purchased during that period are still in profit despite the recent decline and may “have decided to sell while they feel they still have the opportunity to enjoy a profit.”
Meanwhile, on-chain activity volume increased, with 4-hour candles showing notable price compression around the $2,241 level. Santiment emphasized that more transactions generate more Profit and Loss (P&L) realization events and that even modest individual profits elevate network-level total volumes.
Based on the current Ethereum trader behavior, the firm told investors they do not necessarily need to turn bearish, but should instead “lean cautious” while waiting for clearer signals. “Watch for deeper realized losses as a potential bottoming signal, and don’t position aggressively until the distribution phase shows clear signs of ending,” it concluded.
