SEC Approves ETF Options Trading as Token Reclaims $1,600 Level

TLDR

• Ethereum (ETH) price touched its “realized price” level, historically signaling potential market bottoms
• ETH experienced a recent 11% surge above $1,600 following SEC approval of options trading for spot Ethereum ETFs
• Institutional investors have exited ETH for six consecutive weeks with consistent ETF outflows
• Despite price challenges, upcoming catalysts like the Pectra upgrade in May and potential ETH-staking ETFs could drive recovery
• Network activity shows concerning trends with 33% drop in active wallets and 40.5% decrease in total transactions

Ethereum’s price has been making headlines after reaching levels that historically signal market bottoms, sparking discussions about whether the second-largest cryptocurrency is poised for a rebound. The digital asset recently tapped its “realized price” – the average cost basis for most ETH buyers – a metric that has flagged previous long-term market bottoms.

According to CryptoQuant analyst Kriptolik, ETH dropping below its realized price is noteworthy as this level has consistently marked potential market shifts in the past. Historical data shows these periods have been followed by strong recoveries, making them strategic accumulation points for long-term investors.

The realized price saw market rebounds during the 2018-2020 period. However, this level could also act as resistance in the short term if ETH’s price remains below it, potentially triggering increased panic selling.

Despite these bottom signals, institutional sentiment remains cautious. U.S. spot ETH ETFs have experienced outflows for six consecutive weeks, indicating that large investors have been exiting the altcoin consistently.

Recent Price Action and Regulatory Developments

ETH has shown signs of life recently, surging more than 11% in a 24-hour period to reclaim the critical $1,600 support level. This price movement came following the SEC’s approval of options trading for several spot Ethereum ETFs on April 9.

The regulatory green light spans BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETF), Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE), Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust (ETF), and Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETF). This approval marks a historic ruling and signals a changing regulatory landscape for cryptocurrency.

ETF options provide investors with more tools to gain exposure to spot ether while hedging against potential market downturns. This capability could attract more sophisticated capital to the Ethereum ecosystem.

The price has also been influenced by broader market factors. U.S. stocks and cryptocurrencies, including ETH, have reacted positively to President Trump’s decision to pause nearly all tariffs for 90 days, which led to a broader market recovery.

Technical Indicators and Network Health

From a technical perspective, ETH dropped to a two-year low below $1,500 earlier, marking a 64% decline from its cycle peak of $4,000. With ongoing macro uncertainty, some analysts haven’t ruled out an extended decline to $1,000 in the short term.

Ethereum Price Has Dropped Below Its Realized Price

“Past data shows that whenever ETH dips below its realized price, it often coincides with long-term bottom zones.” – By @theKriptolik pic.twitter.com/cVRgufkqlc

— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) April 8, 2025

However, recent price movements show a technical breakthrough above important resistance points. ETH gained momentum to break through the $1,450 and $1,500 resistance zones after building support around $1,380. On hourly charts, a negative trend line with resistance at $1,470 was broken, with the price then testing the $1,680 level.

Network health indicators present a mixed picture. Stacy Muur, a market analyst, noted that Ethereum active addresses have remained flat for four years. While some critics argue that users have migrated to Layer 2 solutions, stagnant network growth could limit ETH’s recovery prospects.

On-chain data reveals further challenges with ETH trading below its realized price, a circumstance historically indicating bearish sentiment as it puts most investors in a losing position. Previous examples of this trend in June and November 2022 preceded price corrections of 51% and 35%, respectively.

Network activity measures underscore competitive pressures, with Ethereum seeing a 33% drop in unique active wallets over the previous month and a 40.5% drop in total transactions. Meanwhile, rival Layer-1 blockchains like Tron and Fantom have experienced transaction increases of 23% and 16%, respectively.

Potential Catalysts for Recovery

Market watchers believe several catalysts could drive price momentum in the coming months. Analyst Ted Pillows recently highlighted major events scheduled for May 2025 that could push ETH upward.

The Pectra upgrade, expected on May 7, introduces several enhancements to staking, deposit processing, blob capacity, and account abstraction. Each of these technical improvements aims to strengthen Ethereum’s infrastructure and user experience.

Another potential catalyst is the introduction of ETH-staking exchange-traded funds. Since the launch of spot ETH ETFs last year, their performance has been underwhelming compared to spot Bitcoin ETFs. Many believe the lack of staking yields in Ethereum ETFs has hindered their growth.

This may change soon, as several ETF providers have filed requests with the SEC to allow staking. In February 2025, Cboe filed a request to allow the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF to stake ETH held by the Trust. Similar requests followed from Fidelity Ethereum Fund and Bitwise Ethereum ETF in March.

Despite current challenges, many view ETH’s lower price as a favorable buying opportunity. According to one analyst, ETH’s market price dropping below the realized price for the first time since 2020 represents a “generational ETH buy opportunity.”

At press time, ETH was trading at $1,613, reflecting a 13.7% rise. With multiple technical and fundamental factors in play, market participants are closely watching to see if this marks the beginning of a sustained recovery or a temporary bounce before further consolidation.