Ethereum (ETH) is at a critical juncture, retesting levels after a series of breakdowns by technical patterns. According to analysts, ETH’s next steps will be crucial, especially considering an already cautious market.
At press time, ETH is trading at $1,972.83 with a 24-hour volume of $24.19 billion and a market capitalization of $237.33 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. Over the last 24 hours, ETH declined by 1.3% while investors monitor its key levels.
Ethereum Faces Critical Support Test
On February 16, 2026, crypto analyst Crypto Patel mentioned that there are two reasons why Ethereum (ETH) is struggling. The first reason is that the bull flag formation failed to hold as the $3,700 level was broken.
Secondly, an ascending triangle pattern also failed to hold, causing Ethereum to go below the $3,000 support level. As a result, ETH now trades in a range of $2,000 to $1,850.
Patel has also identified key levels that could be crucial in determining the direction that Ethereum will take in the near future. Thus, if it holds at $1,800, it could lead to a relief rally to $2,650, while a fall below $1,800 could see a decline to $1,300, which is a possible accumulation level for long-term investors.
ETH Faces Massive Whale Pressure
Adding pressure to the market, analyst Ted revealed that “a whale has entered a $41.34 million ETH short position with 20x leverage.” Even an increase of 12% can result in liquidation, causing volatility spikes that need to be monitored.
Also Read | Ethereum’s (ETH) Massive 10% Surge Faces Brutal Bearish Pressure
Crypto Market Eyes Ethereum Swings
With all of these elements in place, Ethereum is at a critical juncture, with many market analysts observing support levels to see whether it will hold its current price levels or go lower. Investors should be careful about the $1,800 support level, which, if breached, may cause more volatility in the market.
As Ethereum passes through this critical phase, investors and crypto enthusiasts worldwide are gearing up for possible swings that will determine the next direction of the market.
Also Read | Bitcoin Drops Past $68,000, Potential Rally Targets $76,000–$85,000 Resistance