Ethereum’s Resilience Tested: Whales Trigger $321 Million Sell-Off Amid Market Turbulence

Ethereum recently experienced significant selling pressure as large holders, often referred to as 'whales,' offloaded $321 million worth of ETH in just one minute. This sudden sell-off caused a sharp drop in ETH's price, briefly pushing it down to $2,300 before it rebounded to $2,400, showcasing the resilience of dip-buyers. The taker sell volume across exchanges skyrocketed to $10.3 billion, indicating widespread market panic and profit-taking behavior. Despite this turbulence, ethereum has been trading within a descending channel since its peak at $2,800. As of June 22, 2025, the market continues to watch ETH's performance closely, with many investors seeing this as a potential buying opportunity amid the volatility.

Ethereum Whales Trigger $321 Million Sell-Off Amid Market Turbulence

Ethereum faced intense selling pressure as whales unloaded $321 million worth of ETH within a single minute. The taker sell volume surged to $10.3 billion across exchanges, reflecting broad market panic and profit-taking behavior.

ETH's price briefly plunged to $2,300 before recovering to $2,400, demonstrating resilience among dip-buyers. The asset has been trading within a descending channel since peaking at $2,800 last week, with exchange inflows reaching 1.2 million coins - predominantly from large holders.

This sell-side aggression marks a significant shift in market sentiment, as prolonged price stagnation eroded holder conviction. The velocity of the sell-off suggests institutional-scale repositioning rather than routine profit-taking.

Ethereum Long-Term Holders Are Selling Amid Market Uncertainty

Ethereum's long-term holders are liquidating their positions as bearish sentiment grows in the crypto market. Glassnode data shows ETH's Liveliness metric spiking to a record 0.69, indicating increased movement of dormant tokens to exchanges for sale. This trend reflects weakening confidence in Ethereum's near-term recovery.

The Chaikin Money FLOW (CMF) indicator for ETH has turned negative, currently standing at -0.08, signaling reduced capital inflows. This technical deterioration aligns with broader market cooling, as investors remain sidelined during the persistent lull.

Historically, rising Liveliness metrics precede price declines when long-term holders distribute their holdings. The current exodus suggests Ethereum may face continued pressure until accumulation patterns re-emerge.

Ethereum Staking Hits Record High Despite Market Downturn

Ethereum's proof-of-stake mechanism has locked over 35 million ETH—28.3% of total supply—marking a historic milestone in network participation. The staking surge persists despite bearish market conditions, signaling long-term holder conviction and a contraction of liquid supply.

More than 500,000 ETH flowed into staking contracts in early June alone, reflecting a strategic pivot toward yield generation over selling pressure. Pseudonymous analyst Onchainschool notes addresses holding unstaked ETH now control a record 22.8 million coins, underscoring reduced sell-side risk.

Lido, Binance, and Coinbase collectively dominate staking activity, though their market share raises decentralization concerns. The trend follows recent SEC guidance exempting protocol-based staking from securities registration, though Ether staking ETF approvals remain pending.

Smart Ethereum Trader Nets $20M in Precision ETH Trades

A shrewd Ethereum trader identified by the wallet address '0xcB92' has capitalized on volatile market conditions to amass $20 million in profits within a single month. On-chain analytics firm Lookonchain revealed the trader's uncanny ability to time long positions NEAR local bottoms and short positions at key resistance levels, particularly on platforms like Hyperdash.

The trader's realized profit/loss dashboard shows $20.1 million in gains, with $14 million coming from a single strategic move. This performance highlights both the liquidity opportunities in ETH markets and the growing sophistication of crypto-native traders who can navigate volatility with surgical precision.

Ethereum Price Slips Below $2,500 as Sell Volume Signals Bearish Pressure

Ether struggled to break out of the $2,500-$2,700 range last week, mirroring broader market stagnation. By Friday, June 20, the asset dipped toward $2,400 as bearish momentum intensified—prompting traders to abandon the previously defended $2,500 support level.

On-chain analyst Maartunn flagged escalating sell pressure via rising Taker Sell Volume, a metric tracking filled sell orders in ETH perpetual swaps. When takers dominate, it typically reflects urgent liquidity exits rather than strategic accumulation.