Ethereum trades near $2,696 as analyst Ali Martinez flags $2,700–$2,750 as the last resistance before a bigger move. Whale transactions above $1 million have jumped nearly 500% in a week, and spot ETFs just logged six straight days of inflows, adding buying pressure right at the hurdle.
Ethereum sits at a decision point. Analyst Ali Martinez says ETH trading near $2,696 faces one final hurdle before a larger rally can begin, with buyers needing to clear the $2,700–$2,750 zone.
Ali Martinez Identifies Ethereum's Final Hurdle
Martinez says Ethereum is approaching the apex of a large symmetrical triangle, a pattern that shows price compressing into a tighter range ahead of a possible breakout. He points to the 2,750 area as the main hurdle, the resistance level Ethereum needs to break and hold to confirm buyers are in control.
The difficulty is supply overhead. Martinez's chart shows more than 13.3 million ETH changed hands between $2,722 and $2,822, a zone where holders who bought at those levels could sell if price returns there.
Whale Buying Supports the Setup
Even so, whale activity is moving the other way. Transactions worth more than $1 million surged from 1,202 to 7,113 in a single week, a jump of nearly 500%, according to Martinez. Meanwhile, large holders added more than 320,000 ETH, worth around $864 million at current prices.
For Martinez, this accumulation matters because it shows large holders continuing to buy even as ETH approaches the resistance zone. If that demand absorbs the overhead supply, the breakout could come more easily.
ETF Inflows Add More Buying Pressure
Institutional demand backs the same picture. U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs recorded six consecutive days of inflows, bringing the weekly total to about $690 million. The streak opened with a $270 million single-day net inflow, the strongest day for Ether funds since the October 2025 cycle peak.
Price Targets Beyond the Hurdle
Martinez's outlook does not stop at $2,750. He sees $3,400 as the next major target once Ethereum clears that level, with additional resistance around $2,970 and $3,366 along the way. Beyond $3,400, he sees Ethereum potentially reaching the 4,300 range if buying momentum holds.
Source: Coinpedia Fintech News
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