TLDR
- ETH broke back above $2,000 following a 10–15% rally within 24 hours
- More than $20 million flowed into spot ETFs, with Grayscale contributing $11.1 million
- Ethereum Foundation revealed plans to stake 70,000 ETH held in its treasury
- Options contracts worth $893 million set to expire Friday with max pain level at $2,200
- Resistance levels identified at $2,120–$2,150; support zone holds around $1,975–$2,000
Ethereum pushed back over the $2,000 threshold on February 26, 2026, delivering gains between 10–15% within a 24-hour window. This sharp upward movement broke through weeks of consolidation around $1,920 and temporarily reached $2,158.
The wider cryptocurrency sector experienced similar strength. Overall market capitalization increased by 5%, hitting $2.35 trillion. Bitcoin simultaneously advanced past $68,000.
ETH had spent the majority of 2026 trading beneath the $2,000 level. The asset had declined over 60% from its all-time high before establishing a floor around $1,750.
Institutional participation contributed significantly to this reversal. Spot Ethereum ETFs attracted $9.23 million in net capital the day prior. Grayscale led the charge with $11.1 million in new purchases, primarily through its Ethereum Mini Trust.
This positive flow marked a notable reversal after multiple weeks of outflows throughout February, signaling a potential shift in institutional sentiment.
ETF Inflows and Foundation Staking
The Ethereum Foundation amplified bullish sentiment by revealing its intention to stake 70,000 ETH from treasury reserves. An initial deposit was executed to commence the staking process, representing a strategic shift toward more proactive treasury management.
Technical indicators on the 4-hour timeframe show the MACD line moving above its signal line, with widening green histogram bars signaling increasing bullish momentum. Additionally, the Chaikin Money Flow indicator flipped positive, confirming net capital inflow into the asset.
Immediate resistance zones appear at $2,080, $2,120, and $2,150. Successfully breaching $2,150 would potentially clear the path toward $2,200 and subsequently $2,320.
For downside protection, key support resides at $2,000, followed by $1,975—a level that corresponds with the 50% Fibonacci retracement from the recent move between $1,792 and $2,158. A breakdown below $1,975 might trigger a retreat toward $1,930 or even $1,900.
Options Expiry Adds Pressure
Approximately $893 million worth of ETH options contracts approach expiration on Friday, forming part of a massive $8.4 billion cross-crypto expiry event. The maximum pain threshold is positioned at $2,200, above ETH’s current trading range.
The put-to-call ratio registered at 0.78, revealing trader preference for call options. This configuration suggests market participants are positioning for upward price movement, although options-related dynamics can generate temporary price volatility.
Bitcoin confronts its own substantial $7.54 billion options expiry with max pain positioned at $75,000, potentially amplifying market-wide volatility.
At the time of writing, ETH was changing hands between $2,047–$2,074, maintaining position above its 100-hour simple moving average.
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