Last Updated: January 22, 2026
Ethereum rose 0.96% in the latest 24-hour period to trade around $3,008.15 (Jan 22, 2026), showing early signs of recovery after weeks of underperformance against Bitcoin. While the broader market remains choppy amid lingering tariff uncertainty and macro caution, ETH has started to outperform BTC on a relative basis, with several large wallets visibly accumulating during the recent dip below $3,000. This guide analyzes the drivers behind the modest rally, on-chain evidence of whale behavior, technical levels traders are watching, and practical ways Tapbit users can position for the next move — whether it’s continuation or renewed selling pressure.
Market Snapshot – Ethereum & Major Assets (Jan 22, 2026)
| Asset | Price | 24h Change | 7d Change | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethereum (ETH) | $3,008.15 | +0.96% | –4.2% | Leading relative recovery |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | $90,073 – $90,866 | +0.4% to +0.8% | –2.1% | Still consolidating |
| Total Market Cap | ~$3.21T | +0.8% | –1.9% | Attempting stabilization |
| Fear & Greed Index | 38–42 | Up from 24 | — | Moving out of extreme fear |
| ETH 24h Liquidations | $105M–$130M | Mostly longs earlier in week | — | Long squeeze mostly complete |
Why Ethereum Is Showing Early Strength
Despite ongoing macro headwinds, several factors are supporting ETH’s relative outperformance:
- Post-liquidation stabilization: Most leveraged longs were flushed during the $2,916 low → reduced forced selling pressure
- Whale accumulation signals: Multiple large wallets added ETH during the sub-$3,000 dip (CryptoQuant / Nansen data)
- Layer-2 usage rebound: Daily active addresses and transaction count on Arbitrum, Optimism, Base picking up again
- Relative value vs BTC: ETH/BTC ratio bottomed near 0.032 → classic mean-reversion setup
- Staking & burn dynamics: Pectra upgrade effects continue to reduce issuance pressure while fee burn remains active
Key Technical Levels Traders Are Watching Right Now
Ethereum (ETH) – Current ~$2,980–$3,010
- Immediate Resistance: $3,050–$3,100 (prior breakdown zone)
- Major Resistance: $3,200–$3,300 (recent high cluster)
- Critical Support: $2,900–$3,000 (psychological + prior swing low)
- Next Major Support: $2,850–$2,880 (Fib 0.618 retracement from Nov high)
- RSI (4h): ~48–52 → neutral, room to run higher
- Volume Profile: Strong POC (point of control) forming around $2,980–$3,000
Three Realistic Scenarios for ETH in the Next 1–4 Weeks
Scenario 1 – Continuation of Relative Strength (45–50% probability)
- ETH breaks & closes above $3,100 → targets $3,380–$3,500
- ETH/BTC ratio expands toward 0.034–0.036
- Triggered by whale buying + L2 activity rebound
Scenario 2 – Sideways Consolidation (30–35% probability)
- ETH trapped $2,950–$3,200 range for 2–4 weeks
- Waiting for next clear macro catalyst
- Most likely base case if tariff fears linger
Scenario 3 – Renewed Selling Pressure (15–20% probability)
- Failure at $3,100 → retest $2,850–$2,900
- Triggered by macro shock (stronger dollar, tariff escalation)
- Lower probability given current leverage flush already occurred
Tapbit Trading Strategies for the Current ETH Setup
- Create your Tapbit account (0% maker fees)
- Deposit USDT via P2P or card
- Spot accumulation: Limit buys at $2,950–$3,000 → hold in Tapbit Earn for yield
- Futures momentum: Long ETH/USDT perpetuals on clean break & close above $3,100 (20–50x leverage, isolated margin)
- Relative value play: Long ETH/USDT vs short BTC/USDT if ratio continues to expand
- Risk control: Max 1–2% account risk per trade; always use isolated margin & trailing stops
Conclusion
Ethereum’s 0.96% rally to $3,008.15 (and broader recovery from $2,916 lows) is an early sign that the most recent leverage flush may be complete. Whale accumulation during the dip, reduced forced selling pressure, and improving Layer-2 metrics support the case for relative strength vs Bitcoin in the near term. While macro and tariff risks remain in play, historical patterns show that fear-driven capitulation phases frequently precede strong rebounds — especially when institutional positioning stays supportive.
Ready to trade ETH momentum & dip opportunities on Tapbit?
- Sign Up on Tapbit (0% spot trading fees)
- Login & Deposit
- Live ETH/USDT Charts & Futures
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment or trading advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and subject to rapid change. Past patterns do not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose completely.
