Ethereum Sellers Dominate, But $5,000 Year-End Target Remains in Reach

Ethereum’s price slipped to $3,160, its lowest level in four months, erasing much of this year’s gains and triggering liquidations across exchanges. Despite the downturn, data suggests that the core bullish trend may still be intact, and the cryptocurrency could target $5,000 by the end of the year.

Market Dynamics and Selling Pressure

ETH experienced heavy volatility this week, reaching lows around $3,160 before a minor rebound. Exchange metrics indicate that selling pressure currently outweighs buying interest. The Taker Buy-Sell Ratio on Binance remained below 1.0, signaling that short-term trades are dominated by sellers.

However, this trend appears more like controlled profit-taking than panic. Analysts highlight that buyers are likely to step in around $2,955–$3,000, which could provide a foundation for the next upward move. Technical charts identify $3,500–$3,600 as a critical zone for regaining momentum, while failing to reclaim that area could push prices toward the $2,800 support level.

Network and Market Activity

Ethereum’s network activity has slowed, with daily active addresses dropping 24% since mid-August. Lower blockchain activity has historically coincided with downward price pressure, as fewer transactions and reduced engagement in dApps can dampen market sentiment.

Meanwhile, ETH is underperforming Bitcoin in recent weeks, with the ETH/BTC ratio falling to 0.03284 BTC. Despite the weakness, Ethereum remains above its two-year trendline support, which analysts consider a crucial floor before a potential rebound.

Outlook

Liquidity clusters between $2,800 and $3,000 suggest potential accumulation zones, while bulls are watching $3,600 as the key level to reclaim for renewed strength. Broader macro factors, including Federal Reserve tightening and ongoing liquidity outflows, may continue to influence price action.

If Ethereum maintains support and gradually regains resistance levels, the asset could resume its path toward the $5,000 target by the end of 2025, though the climb may be steeper than previously expected.