Ethereum Approaches $2,800 Resistance as Dormant Whales Resurface, Signaling Potential Market Shifts

Dormant ETH whales resurface as price nears $2,800 resistance, testing market resilience.

• Whale inflows jumped 50.89% in seven days, hinting at rising sell pressure.

• Ethereum held above $2,370 support, but a decisive close above $2,800 is needed to confirm bullish continuation.

Two long-dormant Ethereum [ETH] whales have stirred the market by depositing 3,500 ETH, valued at over $9.3 million, into Kraken.

One wallet had remained inactive for four years, while the other had shown no movement in ten months.

These transactions mark a notable return of aged capital to exchanges, a pattern typically associated with distribution or profit-taking.

While both wallets still control over 13,600 ETH, their sudden reactivation comes at a sensitive time as Ethereum consolidates just below major resistance.

What can ignite market pressure?

Whale behavior has shifted significantly.

Over the last seven days, Large Holder Inflows jumped by 50.89%, signaling growing deposits into exchanges.

In contrast, Large Holder Outflows surged 80.46% this past week but remain down 5.74% on a monthly scale. Over 90 days, outflows have dropped by 17.45%, suggesting longer-term reluctance to move ETH off platforms.

The imbalance between inflows and lagging outflows points to increased potential for profit-taking.

Source: IntoTheBlock

Does a balanced spot flow suggest uncertainty?

Ethereum’s Spot Exchange Flows reflect a market in limbo.

On the 23rd of May, inflows totaled $832.56 million while outflows slightly exceeded at $840 million — a difference too narrow to define a directional trend. This near-equal movement indicates hesitation among investors.

Although whales are moving assets into exchanges, the broader market has not responded with decisive action.

Instead, buyers and sellers appear evenly matched, awaiting a catalyst.

Source: CoinGlass

Derivatives data from CoinGlass shows a clear bullish skew, with 64.32% of ETH/USDT traders positioned long on Binance.

The Long-to-Short Ratio sat at 1.80, reflecting growing speculative optimism.

While this indicates bullish sentiment, it also raises the risk of liquidation if momentum fails to sustain.

Can Ethereum break above $2,800?

ETH traded near $2,658 at press time, staying above its 9-day EMA at $2,553 and 21-day EMA at $2,357, reflecting a firm short-term bullish structure.

Price continues to consolidate below the $2,800 resistance, with $2,370 acting as the nearest support. A clean breakout above $2,800 could open the path to $3,400.

Meanwhile, the Directional Movement Index (DMI) shows a strong trend setup, with the ADX at 35.49 indicating solid trend strength.

The +DI (25.77) is above the -DI (11.62), confirming bullish dominance. Therefore, momentum and structure favor buyers as long as ETH holds above its EMAs.

Source: TradingView

Ethereum’s price sits at a pivotal level, supported by technical strength but shadowed by renewed whale exchange activity.

While inflows have surged, broader market reactions remain muted. If bulls absorb the current selling pressure and reclaim $2,800, Ethereum could open the path to $3,400.

However, further whale deposits may weaken confidence and increase volatility.

For now, ETH stands at the edge of a potential breakout or breakdown, with whale behavior as the deciding factor.