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Short Selling Ethereum: A Bearish Frenzy Grips the Market, Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, finds itself in the crosshairs of short sellers. This aggressive trading strategy, where investors bet on a price decline, has intensified following Grayscale Investments’ decision to withdraw its Ethereum futures exchange-traded fund (ETF) application.
Short Selling Ethereum grips market after Grayscale ETF withdrawal! $345M squeeze looms on price rise. Can ETH defy bears or will SEC & network woes sink it?https://t.co/yx7iZbh1Gb
— tradingcompass.io (@TradingcompassI) May 8, 2024
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Short Selling Ethereum Fuels Price Slide After Grayscale Withdrawal
On May 7th, just weeks before the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) deadline, Grayscale announced the withdrawal of its Ethereum futures ETF application. This move sent shockwaves through the market, with many investors interpreting it as a sign of regulatory hurdles and a potential delay in the broader ETF approval process for Ethereum.
This uncertainty triggered a surge in short selling activity. Investors, anticipating a price drop, borrowed Ethereum tokens and immediately sold them in the market, aiming to repurchase them later at a lower price and pocket the difference. Data from CoinMarketCap reveals a 1.85% price decline for Ethereum within 24 hours of the Grayscale news, pushing the price dangerously close to the critical $3,000 support level.
Liquidation Looms: A Delicate Balance
The surge in short selling has created a precarious situation. According to CoinMarketCap’s liquidation map, a mere 3% price increase in Ethereum could trigger a massive liquidation event. This means short sellers holding a combined value of $345 million in borrowed Ethereum would be forced to buy back the tokens to cover their positions, potentially pushing the price even higher in a domino effect known as a short squeeze.
Conversely, a 3% price drop would see long positions worth $237 million liquidated, potentially accelerating the downward trend. This delicate balance between short and long positions underscores the heightened volatility surrounding Ethereum’s price movement.
SEC Decision and Network Usage: Dual Threats on the Horizon
The short selling Ethereum isn’t the only concern plaguing Ethereum. As the May 23rd deadline for the SEC’s decision on spot Ethereum ETFs approaches, anticipation and skepticism are running high. Analysts, initially optimistic about ETF approval, are now expressing doubts. Similarly, participants on the New York-based crypto prediction platform Polymarket overwhelmingly believe (with a 92% certainty) that the SEC will reject spot Ethereum ETFs.
Adding to the bearish sentiment are concerns about Ethereum’s overall network usage. On-chain analyst James Check, also known as Checkmatey, pointed out the network’s low activity levels on social media platform X. He suggests that the current token burning mechanisms, designed to reduce the overall supply and potentially increase value, are struggling to keep pace with the issuance of new tokens to validators. Crypto data platform Glassnode further fueled the bearish narrative by reporting a “measurable delay in speculative interest from the STH cohort” as a key factor behind Ethereum’s underperformance compared to Bitcoin in this market cycle.
Bullish Whispers: A Counterpoint to the Bearish Chorus
Despite the prevailing bearish sentiment, some analysts retain a cautiously optimistic outlook. Anonymous crypto analyst Ash Crypto, on May 6th, pointed to a historical model suggesting a potential breakout for Ethereum’s price by the third quarter of 2024. Similarly, TheCryptoPalace, another anonymous analyst, commented on the possibility of Ethereum consolidating within a falling wedge pattern near a significant support area.
These contrasting viewpoints highlight the uncertainty surrounding Ethereum’s future trajectory. The coming weeks will be crucial, with the SEC’s decision on spot ETFs and Ethereum’s price movement closely watched by investors worldwide.
Will the short sellers cash in on a price decline, or will a short squeeze trigger a bullish reversal? Only time will tell what lies ahead for Ethereum.
