Ethereum Tests Key $1,967 Resistance as Staking Hits Record 40.2 Million ETH
Key Takeaways
- •Staked ETH reached an all-time high of 40.2 million coins during the second quarter of 2026, representing approximately 33% of the total supply with a value exceeding $63 billion.
- •BlackRock clients withdrew $60 million from the IBIT Bitcoin ETF while purchasing more than $20 million worth of ETH over the same period.
- •A whale wallet identified as 0x2d59 withdrew 40,000 ETH valued at approximately $76.58 million from Binance, a move that typically signals intent to hold rather than sell.
- •ETH futures open interest rose 1.29% to $4.4 billion, with retail traders 68.6% long and larger traders 63.1% long, reducing the likelihood of an abrupt reversal.
- •Ethereum's transition to Proof-of-Stake in September 2022, known as The Merge, reduced the network's energy consumption by roughly 99.95% and contributed to its long-term resilience.

Ethereum is trading near $1,905–$1,918, positioned almost exactly on its daily pivot point of $1,904.31 — a level of precision that typically signals a market awaiting a decisive catalyst.
The MACD histogram has flatlined at zero, indicating that the momentum accumulated during ETH's recent rally has been fully expended. Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits at 56, a neutral reading that suggests the asset is neither overbought nor oversold, leaving room for movement in either direction.
Critical Price Levels
Resistance is anchored at $1,967.99. A daily close above this threshold could pave the way toward $2,050, followed by $2,117 — a level that aligns with the 200-day moving average.
On the downside, buyers have been defending support at $1,872. A breach below that price could push ETH toward $1,840, with further downside risk extending to $1,786.
Open interest in ETH futures rose 1.29% over the past 24 hours to $4.4 billion, indicating fresh capital entering the market rather than existing traders closing positions. Retail traders are 68.6% long, while larger traders stand at 63.1% long. Both cohorts leaning in the same direction reduces the likelihood of an abrupt reversal.
Record Staking and Institutional Flows
Ethereum marked its 11th anniversary this week, accompanied by several data points pointing to sustained interest in the asset.
Staked ETH climbed to an all-time high of 40.2 million coins during the second quarter of 2026, according to Bitwise. That figure represents approximately 33% of ETH's total supply and carries a value exceeding $63 billion. Under Ethereum's Proof-of-Stake system, validators lock ETH to secure the network and process transactions in return for staking rewards, meaning a growing portion of supply is effectively removed from circulating markets. Bitwise shared this milestone on X, emphasizing that staking participation has never been higher and underscoring how a significant portion of ETH's supply is now locked and removed from active trading.
Fund flows are also shifting. Arkham Intelligence reported that BlackRock clients withdrew $60 million from the firm's IBIT Bitcoin ETF this week. Over the same period, those clients purchased more than $20 million worth of ETH. The movement comes as Ethereum maintains its position as the dominant platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications, a role that underpins its institutional appeal alongside staking yield.
Whale Activity Signals Potential Accumulation
On-chain data further supports the narrative of institutional interest. Lookonchain tracked a wallet identified as 0x2d59 withdrawing 40,000 ETH — valued at approximately $76.58 million — from Binance. Moving assets off an exchange typically indicates an intent to hold rather than sell, though the specific motivation behind this withdrawal has not been confirmed. Large transfers of this nature are closely monitored as they can signal reduced selling pressure.
Raj Karkara of ZebPay reflected on Ethereum's trajectory since its inception, noting that the network has evolved from an early-stage concept into the foundational layer for an expansive digital ecosystem. He pointed to Ethereum's transition to Proof-of-Stake — completed in September 2022 in an upgrade known as The Merge, which reduced the network's energy consumption by roughly 99.95% — as a key factor contributing to its long-term resilience.
No verified analyst price predictions with clear attribution have surfaced in the past 24 hours. As a result, ETH's short-term direction remains tied primarily to the technical levels and capital flows outlined above.
As of the most recent update, ETH was trading at $1,918.20, up 0.04% on the day.