Ethereum's rebound attempt faded on Saturday, with ETH stalling below the $2,281 resistance zone after the recovery lost momentum. The asset traded near $2,245 as sellers defended the $2,264 to $2,281 band. According to CoinMarketCap data, the price remains below its short-term moving averages, meaning the bounce has not confirmed a shift in trend. The next test is whether buyers can hold the $2,250 area. Meanwhile, a reported whale position continued to add on dips.

Why Ethereum Stalls at Resistance Below $2,281

Immediate resistance sits at approximately $2,263.73 and $2,281.12. A clear move through that shelf would give the recovery more room. Until then, ETH remains below its short-term simple and exponential moving averages, consistent with the soft conditions of recent sessions. Short-term moving averages are widely used trend filters, and trading beneath both is generally read as a sign that momentum has not yet turned, which is why this weekend's bounce is not being counted as a trend change.

Saturday's prints clustered around $2,240 to $2,245. Pressure on technology stocks and concerns over employment data weighed on broader risk appetite. Ethereum is broadly traded as a risk asset, which is why equity and labor-market headlines register quickly on its tape. Buyers prevented a deeper slide during the session but failed to reclaim nearby resistance.

Ethereum Holds Near $2,250 While Bitcoin Makes a Fresh Low

ETH's ability to stay near $2,250 drew analyst attention after Bitcoin posted a fresh low, raising questions about relative strength even as the broader market remained weak. As the second-largest cryptocurrency, ETH is a standard barometer for altcoin strength, which is why its hold against a falling Bitcoin is being watched closely.

Crypto analyst Ted noted that Ethereum was still defending the $2,250 support region while Bitcoin printed a new low, calling that a constructive sign. He added, however, that ETH still needs to clear overhead resistance before any broader recovery takes hold.

Analyst Aiden flagged $2,205 to $2,172 as a key buyer defense zone. In his view, a move above $2,300 would be the first indication of improving momentum, with $2,409 a higher level he is watching.

Ethereum Whale Accumulates About $30 Million on the Dip

Large spot buying also appeared during the soft patch. On-chain trackers reported that a major holder kept accumulating ETH throughout the week. Flows like these are observable directly because blockchain transfers are publicly recorded, making large-holder accumulation one of the few market activities that can be tracked rather than inferred.

One whale purchased roughly 13,077 ETH, worth approximately $29.95 million, over the past week, according to on-chain data shared by Hupzy on X about two hours before the updates. The latest tranche was 3,300 ETH valued at $7.41 million.

The buying pattern appears to consist of stacked purchases rather than a single block order, pointing to steady dip demand. It does not, by itself, break the $2,281 ceiling that continues to cap the tape.

What Levels Decide the Next ETH Move

Chart analysts remain divided on the next move. Some still expect a temporary bounce before another decline. One technical desk labeled the post-midterm-election breakout a failure and mapped a possible bounce toward $2,295 to $2,393. The same desk flagged $2,206 as a downside line; a break there could open $2,069 to $1,832. A reclaim above $2,446 would provide firmer evidence that ETH has carved a market low. Read together, the marked levels function as checkpoints rather than calls: the overhead band for confirming any recovery attempt, and the flagged supports for judging how much room the downside has.

For now, Ethereum sits between nearby resistance and lower support after Saturday's rebound faded. With ETH around $2,245, the $2,263.73 to $2,281.12 band remains the key test, and that range will determine whether the next recovery attempt gains traction.