Ethereum Whales Accumulate $350M as Retail Hesitates, Bullish Patterns Emerge

• Money Flow Index below 37 shows retail investors avoiding Ethereum price rallies.

• Whales accumulated $350 million in ETH since December 26 amid declining retail participation.

• Record weekly transactions hit 1.73 million on December 24, driven by stablecoins, DeFi, and Layer-2 growth; futures volume on Binance exceeded $6.74 trillion in 2025.

Ethereum whale accumulation surges with $350M institutional buys since Dec 26, 2025, as retail lags per low Money Flow Index. Charts eye $4,400 breakout. Explore key insights now!

What is Ethereum whale accumulation?

Ethereum whale accumulation refers to large investors purchasing over $350 million in ETH since December 26, 2025, while smaller retail traders hold back. This split is evident in the Money Flow Index staying below 37, indicating weak cash inflow from everyday investors during recent price upticks. Institutional moves contrast with broader market hesitation.

How does the Money Flow Index reveal this market split?

The Money Flow Index (MFI) measures money inflow and outflow into Ethereum, highlighting the divergence between whales and retail. From December 18 to 24, ETH price rose, but MFI declined, showing retail investors are not committing capital to these gains. Experts note retail buying unlikely until MFI exceeds 37, currently below that threshold.

Chart analysis supports whale confidence with an emerging inverted head-and-shoulders pattern, potentially signaling a shift from downtrend to uptrend if key levels break. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) shows bullish divergence: price hit lower lows from November 4 to December 25, but RSI formed higher lows, suggesting easing selling pressure. Resistance sits at $3,050, followed by $3,390; a break above could target $4,400, while a drop below $2,800 risks $2,620.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is driving Ethereum’s record transaction volume in late 2025?

Ethereum achieved a weekly average of over 1.73 million transactions on December 24, 2025, a record high fueled by stablecoin transfers, DeFi protocols, and Layer-2 scaling solutions. Despite price stagnation under $3,000—41% below its August peak—network utilization demonstrates robust fundamental growth.

Are Ethereum whales positioning for a 2026 price surge?

Yes, institutions like BitMine Immersion Technologies added 103,000 ETH on December 28, 2025, staking total holdings to 257,600 ETH worth about $750 million. This aligns with tokenization trends: real-world assets grew from $5.6 billion to $18.9 billion in 2025, with Ethereum leading at over $12 billion and managing $170 billion in stablecoins.

Key Takeaways

• Whale dominance: Big players spent $350 million on ETH since December 26, 2025, outpacing retail amid low MFI.
• Technical signals: Inverted head-and-shoulders and RSI divergence point to potential breakout above $3,050 toward $4,400.
• Fundamentals strong: Record transactions, $6.74 trillion Binance futures volume, and RWA tokenization growth bolster long-term outlook.

Conclusion

Ethereum whale accumulation underscores institutional commitment amid retail caution, with the Money Flow Index and chart patterns like bullish RSI divergence signaling potential reversal. Tokenization expansion to $18.9 billion and expert forecasts from Tom Lee of Fundstrat—predicting $7,000 to $9,000 by early 2026—highlight Ethereum’s edge. As the Fusaka upgrade succeeds and traditional finance integrates via projects like DTCC’s Canton blockchain tokenization, monitor for institutional inflows to drive sustained gains.