Story Highlights
- Ethereum price could drop further retesting $2,800 and $2,500 support areas this week.
- The SEC’s “Ethereum 2.0” investigation is geared toward determining whether Ethereum is a security.
- The approval of spot Ether ETFs remains uncertain, with issuers predicting a denial.
The approval of Bitcoin ETFs in the US in January this year broadened the outlook of the crypto market for most investors. Attention quickly shifted to Ethereum with companies swiftly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to offer spot ETH ETFs. For a short while, Ethereum price surged alongside Bitcoin price. Although the latter achieved a new all-time high of $73,837 according to data by CoinGape and CoinGecko, ETH topped out at $4,091.
Ethereum Price Market Update As Volatility Rages
The post-Bitcoin halving crypto environment remains in a precarious state. An initial climb in crypto prices waned, paving the way for the current correction. Bitcoin price changed at $60,715 on Tuesday during US hours, painting a 3.5% drop in the last 24 hours.
Ethereum, the second-largest crypto had been hammered the most, losing a modest 5.6% of its value to $2,984. A 6.6% fall in the market cap to $361 billion reflects the intense sell-off in April while the 8% spike in the 24-hour trading volume hints at the growing interest in Ether among traders.
Losing support at $3,000 exposes Ethereum price to more selling pressure at the outset of May. The position of the smart contract token below two bull market indicators — the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) and the 50-day EMA (blue and red lines on the chart) could further trigger more declines this week.
![Ethereum price chart | Tradingview](https://coingape.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ETHUSD_2024-04-30_19-41-24.png)
A death cross pattern confirmed on April 17 when the 20-day EMA flipped beneath the 50-day EMA is another bearish signal that’s hard to ignore.
Similarly, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) reveals that sellers have more influence at the time of writing. Therefore, it would be imperative to anticipate continued losses to $2,800, and if push comes to shove $2,500.
Despite the correction, the RSI is not oversold, suggesting that there’s room for more downward movement.
Nevertheless, the same four-hour chart brings attention to a wedge pattern. If Ethereum price rebounds before breaking below the lower trendline support, chances of a targeted recovery will increase significantly.
A falling wedge is considered a bullish pattern occurring after a substantial surge in the price of an asset followed by a drop, or consolidation. As the trendlines narrow, bulls fight to retake control.
Traders will look for a breakout above the upper trend line, which often points to a breakout target equal to the distance between the widest points of the pattern. A 24% increase in price could drastically change Ethereum’s outlook.
Is Ethereum A Security?
US Regulators are undecided on Ethereum’s status — whether a security or a cryptocurrency. With the expectations of a spot ETF gaining momentum, this determination is crucial and likely to set a precedent for many digital assets.
A recent report by Fox Business producer Eleanor Terret revealed that Gary Gensler and the agency he heads, the SEC believed that Ethereum passed as security, but only for some time.
This revelation comes amid the ongoing Consensys lawsuit against the SEC. In the report, Terret said that Gensler and the SEC “appear to have believed for at least a year” that Ethereum was an “unregistered security trading out of compliance with current federal regulations.”
An investigation dubbed “Ethereum 2.0” is being carried out by the SEC intending to unearth details of Ethereum being a security, especially on the sales of Ether from 2018.
Former executives of the SEC like Director of Corporation Finance Bill Hinman are on record stating that Ethereum was not a security. Hence, the ongoing investigation could throw this stance in the wind, further opening a can of worms for the SEC.
On the other hand, if the “Ethereum 2.0” investigation affirms Ether’s status as a cryptocurrency, it could potentially bolster its position in the industry.
At the very least, it will increase the probability of spot Ethereum ETFs approval — a move that could blast ETH price above the previous all-time high. A clear path could also be opened for Ethereum to close the gap to $10,000 bolstered by increased adoption among retail and institutional investors.
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John is a seasoned crypto expert, renowned for his in-depth analysis and accurate price predictions in the digital asset market. As the Price Prediction Editor for Market Content at CoinGape Media, he is dedicated to delivering valuable insights on price trends and market forecasts. With his extensive experience in the crypto sphere, John has honed his skills in understanding on-chain data analytics, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Centralized Finance (CeFi), and the dynamic metaverse landscape. Through his steadfast reporting, John keeps his audience informed and equipped to navigate the ever-changing crypto market.
The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.