Tom Lee, head of analysis at Fundstrat, argues that Ether’s latest downturn needs to be considered as “engaging” as a result of its fundamentals stay sturdy, and that it was solely pushed down by a scarcity of leverage and a flight to valuable metals.
The primary quarter of 2026 is changing into the period of ether ($ETHBelongings have fallen 21% thus far this yr, in line with CoinGlass, the third-worst first quarter on document.
Nevertheless, Lee mentioned the value decline occurred at a time when the community’s on-chain exercise and fundamentals proceed to develop.
He mentioned the variety of Ethereum transactions per day hit a document excessive of two.8 million on January 15, and energetic addresses have soared to a peak of 1 million per day in 2026.
Through the crypto winters of 2018 and 2022, Ethereum buying and selling exercise and energetic wallets declined, which is “the other of what we have seen over the previous 12 months,” Lee mentioned.
“So non-fundamental elements are most likely extra of an evidence for the economic system’s weak point.” $ETH value. ”
Lee mentioned there are two elements contributing to the suppression of Ether costs. Whereas crypto leverage has not returned because the October 10 crash, hovering valuable steel costs are “appearing as a ‘vortex’ sucking danger urge for food away from cryptocurrencies.”
BitMine buys the increase $ETH 25% down in 1 week
Lee’s Ethereum treasury agency seems to be betting on a restoration. Final week, BitMine gained a further 41,788 $ETH.
“We expect this pullback is engaging given the strengthening fundamentals, and Bitmine is steadily shopping for Ethereum,” he mentioned.
“In our view, $ETH doesn’t replicate the excessive utility of $ETH and its position as the way forward for finance. ”
BitMine at present holds 4.28 million items $ETH The token represents 3.55% of the entire provide, reaching 70% in direction of a purpose of 5%. Roughly 2.87 million $ETH The guess is on.
Nevertheless, as a result of collapse of Ether costs, unrealized losses on the digital asset vault approached $7 billion.
A lot of the value declines have occurred prior to now week alone; $ETH It fell greater than 25% from about $3,000 on Monday to a bear market low of $2,200, earlier than recovering barely.

$ETH is having its third-worst first quarter in historical past. sauce: coin glass
