Ethereum (ETH) Faces Critical $2,100 Support as $1.7B in Liquidations Loom

Key Highlights

• ETH currently trades around $2,130, representing approximately 12% decline from $2,420 peak
• Potential US-Iran ceasefire agreement could positively impact ETH through lower oil prices
• Ethereum ETFs saw $33M in net redemptions on May 21
• Approximately $1.7B in leveraged long positions vulnerable to liquidation below $2,044
• Critical support zone at $2,080 — breach could accelerate decline toward $1,800

Ethereum maintains a precarious position just above the $2,100 threshold as market participants monitor multiple risk factors threatening further downside movement.

On Wednesday, ETH was changing hands around $2,129, marking approximately a 12% retreat from its recent peak near $2,420. The decline coincided with US Treasury yields surging to 4.58%, their most elevated reading in recent months, after inflation figures exceeded market expectations. Rising yields typically drive capital toward traditional safe-haven assets and away from cryptocurrency markets.

The spot Ethereum ETF market compounded selling pressure. Data from May 21 revealed $33M in net redemptions from ETH ETFs, extending a persistent pattern of consecutive outflow days. Bitcoin ETFs experienced similar headwinds with $101M in withdrawals on the same date, while Solana ETFs bucked the trend with $4M in positive inflows.

Arthur Hayes, BitMEX co-founder, highlighted a fundamental issue with current ETF structures. “Ethereum ETFs still lack the structural yield advantage many institutions expected,” Hayes noted. “Until staking is integrated into these products, capital allocation will remain skewed toward Bitcoin.”

Geopolitical Developments and Commodity Market Implications

Thursday brought reports suggesting the US and Iran are approaching a ceasefire agreement, with Pakistan serving as mediator. The proposed arrangement allegedly includes a collaborative oversight framework for the Strait of Hormuz. In response to these developments, US crude oil prices retreated from above $100 to approximately $96.

Lee’s company, BitMine, maintains the largest corporate Ethereum holdings, with approximately 5.278 million ETH in its treasury.

Chart Analysis Reveals Deteriorating Structure

Examining the daily timeframe, Ethereum has violated support from an ascending channel pattern and currently trades beneath its 20-, 50-, and 100-day exponential moving averages, which form a resistance cluster between $2,225 and $2,326. The MACD indicator has crossed into negative territory, validating bearish momentum.

Blockchain metrics reinforce concerns. Wallet addresses containing over 10,000 ETH have declined to their lowest count in approximately 10 months. Simultaneously, net ETH deposits to centralized exchanges have reached their highest levels since early 2025 — suggesting accumulating sell-side pressure.

According to CoinGlass analytics, more than $1.7B in leveraged long positions are concentrated between the $2,044 and $2,000 price levels. A breakdown below this range could initiate a liquidation cascade. Over the past 24 hours alone, ETH witnessed $47.9M in total position liquidations.

Immediate support zones to monitor include $2,080, with subsequent levels at $1,909 and $1,800.

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