Ethereum Price Plunges: Liquidations Exceed $90 Million as Bear Market Deepens

Ethereum's price has declined for a second consecutive day, with bears triggering $91.91 million in liquidations. Despite a sluggish start to Q2, historical data suggests potential gains for Ethereum. Vitalik Buterin's insights on "The Purge," an Ethereum improvement proposal aimed at enhancing decentralization and security, indicate long-term growth prospects.

Ethereum Price Faces Downturn, Liquidations Exceed $90 Million

Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has experienced a price decline in the past 24 hours, falling to as low as $3,362 on Tuesday amidst a broader market downturn. This latest price movement follows a trend of bearishness, with ETH also recording losses on Monday.

Bitcoin's Influence and Market Liquidations

The ETH price drop is largely attributed to a decline in Bitcoin (BTC), the leading cryptocurrency whose price movements often have a significant impact on the broader market. Bitcoin's price fell by approximately 6% in the past 24 hours, leading to similar declines in Ethereum.

As a result of the market downturn, liquidations in the crypto market have exceeded $500 million, with over $91.91 million of those liquidations occurring in ETH. The largest single liquidation order for ETH amounted to $7.48 million, and long positions accounted for approximately $75.1 million of the total liquidations.

Historical Trends and ETF Prospects

Despite the current downtrend, historical data suggests that the second quarter (Q2) has generally been a positive period for ETH. In all but one year since 2018, ETH has experienced gains in Q2, with an average return of 66.59% and a median gain of 15.29%.

However, the outlook for ETH's price in the near term remains uncertain due to the pending approval of a spot Ethereum ETF by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Such an approval could provide institutional backing and exposure to ETH, potentially leading to a price rally. Conversely, a delay or rejection could cause market turbulence.

"The Purge" and Ethereum Ecosystem

Beyond the short-term price movements, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has highlighted the importance of a recently implemented Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP-6780), known as "The Purge." According to Buterin, this EIP is a significant part of a broader effort to "slim down Ethereum and clear technical debt."

The Purge aims to shift workload away from Ethereum's main chain, reducing computational and technical resource requirements for running an Ethereum node. By doing so, it is expected to enhance decentralization and security on the Ethereum network.

Technical Analysis and Price Predictions

Technical analysts have suggested that ETH could face further declines if it breaches the support level at $3,400. Some analysts predict a potential fall to $2,800, while others note strong historical bidding in the $3,200-$3,000 range.

Conclusion

Ethereum's price is currently facing headwinds, with market liquidations and uncertainty surrounding SEC approval of a spot Ethereum ETF contributing to the downturn. However, historical data suggests potential for recovery in Q2, and long-term developments such as "The Purge" indicate ongoing progress for the Ethereum ecosystem. The market's response to potential regulatory decisions and the broader economic climate will be key factors to watch in the coming weeks.