- Ethereum is testing the $2,550 resistance as strong ETF inflows and Tom Lee’s latest 20,000 ETH purchase support the bullish outlook.
- A breakout could push ETH toward $3,000, while $2,080 remains key support.
Ethereum is trading near $2,460 as traders watch a key resistance zone between $2,500 and $2,550. A breakout above this area could put $3,000 within reach, while fresh institutional buying adds support to the bullish case.
ETH has faced selling pressure over the past 24 hours. The price fell 1.82% from a weekly high near $2,533. Still, the broader trend remains stronger than earlier this year.
Ethereum dropped into the $1,500 to $1,600 range in 2026. It has since recovered and moved back above several major weekly moving averages.
Ethereum Price Faces a Key Resistance Zone
ETH was trading at $2,460.76, with a 24-hour range between $2,414 and $2,533.
Futures volume dropped 35.84% to $44.20 billion. Open interest also fell 1.79% to $32.43 billion. Spot volume stood at $2.54 billion, while Ethereum’s market cap reached $297.30 billion.
The decline in volume and open interest suggests that traders are reducing leveraged positions. This follows the recent rise toward the $2,500 resistance area.
Liquidations also increased during the pullback. About $74.25 million in positions were liquidated over 24 hours. Long positions accounted for $61.65 million, while shorts lost $12.60 million.
This shows that many bullish traders were caught off guard by the rejection near $2,500.
Can Ethereum Reach $3,000?
The weekly chart presents several important levels for ETH.
| Level | Significance |
|---|---|
| $2,550–$2,600 | Key resistance |
| $2,800 | First breakout target |
| $3,000–$3,250 | Main bullish target zone |
| $3,750–$4,000 | Extended target |
| $2,370–$2,450 | First support |
| $2,080 | Key weekly support |
| $1,600–$1,800 | Deeper support |
Ethereum is trading above its 20-week EMA at $2,079.76. It also remains above the 50-week EMA at $2,372.98. However, the 100-week EMA sits at $2,556.92. This places it directly inside the resistance zone that ETH must clear.
A weekly close above $2,550 could strengthen the case for a move toward $2,800. A break above $3,250 could then expose the $3,750 to $4,000 range.
The downside remains important too. A weekly close below $2,080 could weaken the bullish setup and send ETH toward $1,600 to $1,800.
Tom Lee Adds 20,000 ETH
Institutional buying is also drawing attention. Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, through Bitmine, reportedly purchased another 20,000 ETH. The purchase was worth about $48.89 million and came from Kraken, according to blockchain tracker Lookonchain.
Ethereum ETFs are also seeing strong demand. Spot ETH ETFs recorded $1.24 billion in net inflows during August 2026 so far. That marks their strongest monthly inflow since August 2025. Ethereum ETFs also attracted $179.80 million in one day this week.
BlackRock led that session with $146.44 million in inflows. Total ETF net assets have reached $14.88 billion. These inflows suggest that institutional interest in Ethereum remains strong despite the current price consolidation.
Ethereum’s Next Move Depends on $2,550
Ethereum now sits at a key decision point. The $2,500 to $2,550 area has capped the price for months.
A strong weekly close above $2,550 would give bulls a clearer path toward $2,800 and potentially $3,000. Strong trading volume would make that breakout more convincing.
For now, traders will likely focus on weekly closes rather than short-term price spikes. ETH must first clear resistance before the next major upside target comes into play.
If sellers push ETH below $2,080, however, the bullish outlook could weaken quickly. For now, institutional buying and improving technical conditions keep the $3,000 target in focus.
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