Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has faced persistent struggles throughout the year.

Despite multiple attempts to reclaim momentum, Ethereum has fallen below $3,000 on occasion, reflecting an inability to sustain recovery. This lack of upward movement has triggered investor caution, leading many to sell their holdings to secure profits.

Ethereum Investors Run Out Of Patience

Investor sentiment surrounding Ethereum has shifted notably, with holders moving to offload their assets amid growing skepticism. Over the past week, more than 410,000 ETH, worth over $1.3 billion, has been sold. This spike in sell-offs is evident in the increased ETH supply on exchanges, a clear signal that investors are capitalizing on recent price action rather than holding for long-term gains.

This rise in selling pressure highlights the waning confidence among market participants, who appear unconvinced of Ethereum’s ability to sustain a meaningful recovery. The absence of strong upward price action has further fueled uncertainty, leading to a shift toward profit-taking behavior.

Ethereum’s macro momentum presents a mixed outlook. The Network Value to Transaction (NVT) signal, a key metric for assessing valuation, has dropped to a 25-month low. This suggests that Ethereum is currently undervalued, which historically indicates a potential for recovery and a rally in the medium to long term.

The undervaluation shown by the NVT signal could prevent Ethereum from experiencing sharp corrections, offering some hope for a reversal in sentiment. If this undervalued status attracts renewed interest, ETH may have a chance to stabilize and push beyond its current barriers.

ETH Price Prediction: Invalidating Barriers

Ethereum’s price is currently holding above the support level at $3,303, following a failed attempt to breach the $3,530 barrier. Last week, the cryptocurrency dipped to $3,131, highlighting its ongoing struggle to maintain bullish momentum.

Given the current conditions, Ethereum is likely to continue consolidating under the $3,530 resistance level. A failure to reclaim this critical barrier could see ETH falling back to $3,131, further weakening market confidence.

On the other hand, a successful breach of $3,530 could mark a turning point for Ethereum. Such a move would likely push the price toward $3,711, restoring investor confidence and invalidating the bearish outlook. However, sustained buying pressure and favorable market conditions will be critical for this scenario to unfold.

A recent revelation by blockchain investigator ZachXBT has exposed the loss of $29 million worth of SUI tokens in December 2024.

This alarming incident highlights the persistent risks facing the blockchain sector.

Attackers Launder $29 Million Stolen SUI Tokens Using Tornado Cash

On January 26, blockchain investigator ZachXBT disclosed details of the exploit, which targeted a major holder on the Sui network.

The attacker reportedly siphoned off 6.27 million SUI tokens, valued at $29 million, on December 12. The stolen assets were transferred from Sui to Ethereum using bridging tools, then laundered through Tornado Cash in smaller portions to obscure the trail.

Following the breach, the affected user quickly moved their .sui domain holdings to a secure wallet to prevent further losses. However, efforts to trace the stolen funds remain hindered by the limited analytics tools and tracking capabilities available on the Sui network.

“The victim transferred their .sui domains to a new uncompromised address shortly after the theft. Current limitations with Sui block explorers and Sui analytics tools make the theft difficult to trace,” ZachXBT wrote.

This case is part of a broader pattern of increasing exploits in the blockchain space. For example, Singapore-based exchange Phemex recently reported suspicious activity involving its hot wallets. The firm’s estimated losses surpass $37 million across assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and TRON.

Market experts pointed out that such incidents underline the persistent risks facing both established and emerging blockchain ecosystems.

The Sui blockchain, launched in 2023, has gained prominence as a Layer-1 network designed for decentralized applications. Its adoption of the Move programming language and support for parallel transaction processing have fueled its rapid growth.

As of press time, Sui’s market capitalization had reached $12 billion, securing its position as the 16th largest cryptocurrency with over 50 million registered accounts. This rapid rise has undoubtedly made the network attractive for bad actors.

Despite these challenges, Sui remains focused on strengthening its ecosystem. The blockchain’s co-founder, Adeniyi Abiodun, said the network plans to expand its reach in 2025 by supporting sectors like artificial intelligence, gaming, and fintech. Sui aims to build on achievements such as sub-second transaction speeds and innovations in decentralized finance and gaming to introduce more practical applications.

“2025 we’re going way beyond ‘faster finality.’ We’re designing a future where Sui becomes the backbone for finance, gaming, AI-driven agents, and everyday apps,” Adeniyi said.