Ethereum's Indication of Lack of Momentum — What the Silence of Market Leaders Signifies

There is a phenomenon that cryptocurrency market analyst CyrilXBT is paying close attention to. It is that although Ethereum’s price rebound appears to be upward on the surface, the buying pressure behind it is extremely weak. As of January 30, 2026, ETH is trading around $2.71K, but it has recorded a 3.99% decline over 24 hours, indicating that its movement is by no means strong. The analyst points out that the essence of this phenomenon is not merely price fluctuation but a critical lack of market-wide momentum.

Price rises, but momentum stalls—The true meaning of corrective movements

Ethereum’s price is indeed rebounding within the demand zone. However, CyrilXBT emphasizes that this rebound is fundamentally corrective (counter-trend) and not impulsive (impulse-driven). In other words, it is just a temporary retracement after a decline and not the beginning of a new upward trend.

When market momentum is strong, traders typically actively increase their positions. But currently, there are no signs of that. The significantly weak buying momentum is clear evidence that investors are not yet ready to accelerate their investments in risk assets.

Why is the market not showing a bullish stance on Ethereum?—Conflict with the macro environment

The background of this phenomenon lies in the current macroeconomic uncertainty. In an environment where overall sentiment toward cryptocurrencies is fragile, traders prioritize securing profits and are cautious about new risk investments. The fact that even assets like Ethereum, which generally serve as market leaders, are facing this lack of momentum indicates that the entire market is adopting a risk-averse stance.

Historically, Ethereum has led the market during phases when risk appetite rekindles. When ETH begins to show strong impulsive upward movement, it has usually been a precursor to a wave of buying across altcoins. However, such leading signals are not present at this time.

Risks of Ethereum without momentum—Ripple effects on the entire market

If Ethereum does not start to show decisive buying pressure and trend-following momentum, the entire crypto market will struggle to transition into a full risk-on phase. The analyst warns that the silence at this stage is the greatest risk.

The current lack of momentum is not just a temporary phenomenon but suggests a deep-rooted change in market psychology. Until bullish momentum returns, investors should maintain a cautious stance. Whether Ethereum’s momentum will revive or not is key to the next market turning point.