Ethereum Price Prediction: Hayes Moves $3M as ETH Loses Momentum to DeFi

Ethereum's momentum is bleeding out—and the smart money is already repositioning.

Arthur Hayes just shifted $3 million worth of ETH, a move that echoes across trading desks. It's not panic selling; it's strategic rotation. The king of smart contracts is watching its throne get chipped away by DeFi protocols that do more with less friction.

Where Did the Momentum Go?

Check the charts. The price action tells the story: a series of lower highs, weakening volume, and a dominance that's being cannibalized. The narrative of 'ultrasound money' is getting drowned out by the hum of more efficient Layer 2s and purpose-built chains. Capital is pragmatic—it flows to the highest yield with the lowest gas fee, sentiment be damned.

The DeFi Drain is Real

This isn't just about price. It's about utility and flow. Total Value Locked (TVL) metrics show capital migrating to platforms that offer better returns and user experience. Why pay a $50 network fee to swap tokens when another chain does it for pennies? Ethereum's first-mover advantage is now its legacy cost.

The $3 Million Signal

Hayes's move isn't a death knell, but it's a severe weather alert. When a founder and market veteran moves that kind of capital, it's a data point you can't ignore. It suggests a recalibration of risk versus reward in the core crypto portfolio. The bet isn't against blockchain—it's against inefficiency.

So, where does ETH go from here? The path hinges on adoption beyond speculation and the successful scaling of its roadmap. Until then, expect more sideways action punctuated by sharp moves—perfect for traders, agonizing for HODLers. In the end, the market has a cynical habit of rewarding what works today over what promised to work tomorrow.

Arthur Hayes Shifts $3M From Ethereum to DeFi as Charts Signal Rotation

A notable shift is unfolding in Arthur Hayes’s portfolio, as on-chain data confirms an active rotation away from Ethereum and into select decentralized finance tokens. The move follows Hayes’ public comments on December 20, where he flagged improving global liquidity conditions and hinted at tactical repositioning rather than broad risk reduction.

We are rotating out of $ETH and into high-quality DeFi names, which we believe can outperform as fiat liquidity improves.

Data shared by Lookonchain shows this was not symbolic. More than 1,100 ETH was moved and redeployed, marking a capital-backed strategy shift involving several million dollars.

Arthur Hayes(@CryptoHayes) just transferred another 680 $ETH($2.03M) to sell and rotate into high-quality DFi tokens.https://t.co/jifQkMFtiO pic.twitter.com/xYIW9o7xSK

Ethereum Becomes the Funding Asset

Hayes hasn’t abandoned Ethereum as a long-term asset. Instead, the rotation suggests ETH is being used as a funding LAYER while capital is redirected toward higher-beta opportunities within DeFi.

Between December 19 and 20, Hayes transferred ETH to exchanges and market-making venues, where it was promptly converted into DeFi exposure. The speed and size of the transactions point to deliberate execution rather than portfolio testing or hedging. This framing matters. Hayes is rotating within crypto risk, not stepping away from it.

Ethena, Pendle, and ether.fi in Focus

The largest allocation has gone to Ethena (ENA), where Hayes added roughly 1.22 million tokens in a single session, bringing his total holdings above 6 million ENA. He has also accumulated Pendle (PENDLE) and ether.fi (ETHFI), both tied to yield tokenization and liquid restaking.

Arthur Hayes(@CryptoHayes) just bought 1.22M $ENA($257.5K) 30 mins ago.https://t.co/loeYKUb9rNhttps://t.co/3j5DkVtzD1 pic.twitter.com/ft4csng5e9

Together, these positions align with Hayes’ long-standing thesis that liquidity-sensitive protocols tend to outperform during early easing cycles.

Ethereum Price Prediction – Technical Signals Reinforce the Shift

The rotation also aligns with Ethereum’s current technical posture. ETH has been trading inside a descending channel on the 4-hour chart, repeatedly failing to reclaim the $3,100–$3,150 resistance zone.

Momentum indicators suggest stabilization rather than strength, with the RSI hovering in neutral territory and the price consolidating below key moving averages.

By contrast, several DeFi tokens have already broken short-term downtrends or reclaimed critical EMAs, suggesting relative strength versus ETH. From a trader’s perspective, this divergence supports Hayes’ MOVE to seek alpha in yield-driven assets while Ethereum digests its recent correction.

What are the Rotation Signals for Traders

Hayes is positioning for relative outperformance rather than a directional market call. Ethereum remains structurally important, but near-term capital may favor protocols that directly monetize yield, liquidity, and on-chain activity.

The on-chain evidence removes ambiguity. This is not narrative positioning. It’s capital moving ahead of a potential liquidity turn.

PEPENODE: A Mine-to-Earn Meme Coin Nearing Presale Close

PEPENODE is gaining momentum as a next-generation meme coin that blends viral culture with interactive gameplay. With over $2.37 mn raised and the presale approaching its cap, interest is building fast as the countdown enters its final stretch.

What makes PEPENODE stand out is its mine-to-earn VIRTUAL ecosystem. Instead of passive holding, users can build digital server rooms using Miner Nodes and facilities, earning simulated rewards through a visual dashboard. The concept brings gamification and competition into the meme coin space, giving holders something to do before launch.

The project also offers presale staking, allowing early participants to earn boosted rewards ahead of the token generation event. Leaderboards and bonus incentives are planned post-launch to keep engagement high.

With 1 $PEPENODE priced at $0.0012016 and limited allocation remaining, the presale is entering its final opportunity window for early buyers.