ETH drops 0.86% in 15 minutes: On-chain whale transfers and contract long liquidations amplify selling pressure

On March 25, 2026, from 12:15 to 12:30 (UTC), ETH experienced a rapid decline in yield of -0.86% within a very short period, with the price range between 2167.58 and 2191.55 USDT, and an amplitude of 1.09%. During this period, market attention quickly increased, trading activity and volatility intensified simultaneously, with obvious short-term fluctuations attracting a large number of investors.

The main driver of this movement was a single on-chain whale depositing 13,739 ETH (approximately $28.96 million) into a major exchange, triggering market expectations of short-term selling. Subsequently, inflow to the exchange continued to rise, short-term sell pressure surged, making it difficult for buy orders to fully absorb the sell-off, directly pushing the price downward. Additionally, ETH perpetual contract holdings rapidly declined during the event window, with a nearly 14.9% decrease in 24-hour open interest, leading to passive liquidations of some long positions, which intensified the chain reaction between spot and futures markets, further expanding the downward price movement.

At the same time, active addresses on the ETH network increased significantly before and after the event, indicating that market participation from multiple whales was rapidly growing, and trading sentiment warmed. Trading volume on major pairs also expanded in tandem, with increased liquidity amplifying the movement. The RSI indicator quickly entered the overbought zone and then retraced, while the MACD showed a short-term bullish crossover followed by a pullback, indicating that short-term bullish momentum was quickly countered by selling pressure. Discussions on social media about whale transfers were highly sensitive, also boosting market sentiment resonance and amplifying volatility risks.

It is crucial to monitor whether large on-chain transfers and exchange fund inflows continue, observe changes in futures market positions and active liquidations, and track market sentiment and technical indicator feedback. If selling pressure persists and buy orders cannot effectively absorb it, the risk of further price decline should not be underestimated. Investors should closely follow on-chain data, trading positions, key support levels, and be cautious of potential short-term volatility risks. For more real-time market updates and on-chain developments, continuous attention to subsequent news is recommended.