The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has submitted a proposed rule change aimed at allowing the Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE) and the Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust (EZET) to stake their ETH holdings. 

This proposal is particularly noteworthy because it seeks to enable the trusts to earn rewards on their staked ETH while ensuring that the assets remain under the custody of their current custodian.

Grayscale Advocates For Staking In Crypto ETFs

Staking, a process integral to Ethereum’s proof-of-stake (PoS) model, allows holders to earn yield on their assets. By staking through trusted providers, ETHE and EZET could potentially bolster their returns, making these investment vehicles more attractive to institutional investors who are increasingly seeking opportunities that offer staking benefits. 

Unlike traditional staking-as-a-service models, which have drawn scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Grayscale claims that its approach is designed exclusively for the benefit of fund shareholders. This means that the assets will not be pooled with those of third parties, which could mitigate some regulatory concerns.

Industry advocates, including organizations such as Jito Labs and Multicoin Capital, have been vocal in their support for integrating staking features into exchange-traded funds (ETFs). 

They argue that doing so would not only benefit investors but also more accurately reflect the advantages of native network assets. Furthermore, incorporating staking into ETFs could empower issuers to contribute to the security of the networks on which these assets operate.

Ethereum Surpasses Bitcoin In ETF Inflows

The proposed rule change comes at a crucial time for Grayscale, especially as its ETHE product has faced substantial outflows—nearly $4 billion—making it the largest loser among Ethereum investment products since the approval of spot Ethereum ETFs. 

In contrast, the EZET has struggled to gain market traction, attracting only $650 million in inflows, which is minimal compared to its competitors. 

Other Ethereum spot ETFs, notably those managed by BlackRock and Fidelity, have seen significant inflows, largely due to their lower fees and strong institutional backing.

The Ethereum ETF market’s dynamics are shifting, with Ethereum now gaining momentum in terms of ETF flows, even surpassing Bitcoin in inflows for the first week of February, as reported by CoinShares. 

If the NYSE Arca proposal is approved, it could significantly enhance the appeal of ETHE and EZET, providing a much-needed boost to their performance and potentially curbing outflows.

At the time of writing, ETH is trading at $2,645, recording a 20% loss in the monthly time frame for the market’s second largest cryptocurrency. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

Ethereum has yet to return to its all-time high for over three years, a stark contrast to Bitcoin, which has surged past many price levels in the current cycle. Despite being the second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum has struggled to keep up with the broader market even during price rallies. However, a new technical outlook suggests that Ethereum may soon break free from this underwhelming trend and push toward $4,867 based on a strong meeting of multiple technical indicators.

Extremely Strong Support Shows Ethereum Breakout Is Close

As revealed by a technical analyst on the TradingView platform, technical analysis of the Ethereum price poses a bullish outlook to finally break above its all-time high of $4,878. Ethereum is currently positioned at a key inflection point, where it is trading just above a multi-year support trendline. Notably, this trendline has acted as a solid foundation during previous downturns, allowing ETH to consistently rebound after touching this level. Given this historical precedent, the next expected move is another upward bounce, potentially setting the stage for a renewed bullish push.

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The strength of this support trendline is further reinforced by key Fibonacci levels, which have previously served as inflection points for Ethereum’s major rallies. At present, Ethereum is positioned around the 14.6% Fib retracement level from its break above $4,000 in September 2024, which is a zone that has historically caused reversals and strong bullish momentum.

In addition to the Fibonacci level, Ethereum’s price structure is also currently supported by the monthly 55 Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which is typically known for marking long-term bullish trends. This adds weight to a bounce on the multi-year support trendline.

Triangle Formation Confirms The Explosive Move

The analyst also noted that ETH has been trading within a triangle pattern in a multi-month timeframe. Triangle patterns often signal a period of consolidation before a strong move in either direction and in Ethereum’s case, the supporting trendlines and Fibonacci levels suggest a higher probability of an upward breakout. 

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The specific pattern forming on Ethereum’s chart is an ascending triangle, a bullish continuation pattern characterized by a rising lower trendline and a horizontal resistance zone. The upper resistance trendline for this formation sits around the $4,000 mark, a level that has proven difficult to breach three different times this cycle. However, the next try could cause a breakout if Ethereum continues to build on the growing bullish signals with the Fib level and the 50 EMA. Once Ethereum clears the ascending triangle’s upper resistance, the next primary price target would be around $4,867, its current all-time high.

At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading at $2,760, up by 1.1% in the past 24 hours.

Featured image from Ethereum, chart from Tradingview.com

Ethereum has been attempting to reclaim the $2,800 level for days, but bears continue to apply selling pressure, keeping the price below this key resistance. Despite this, demand remains strong, with bulls successfully holding ETH above the crucial $2,600 support level. The short-term outlook for ETH remains uncertain, as investors speculate on whether the current consolidation phase will lead to a breakout or further declines.

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Despite this, there is a growing sentiment that Ethereum could soon recover. Top analyst Jelle shared a technical analysis on X, revealing that ETH recently took out the lows, retested the key trendline, bounced off key support, and held above the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA). According to Jelle, this confirms that the uptrend structure remains intact, suggesting that ETH still has bullish potential.

While price action remains sluggish, Jelle’s analysis highlights that Ethereum is still holding critical levels, which could lead to a strong move upward. If ETH reclaims $2,800 in the coming days, momentum could build toward a push above $3,000. However, if selling pressure continues and ETH loses $2,600, a deeper retrace could be expected. For now, patience is key as Ethereum hovers near crucial technical levels.

Ethereum Price Signals Potential Recovery Phase

Ethereum has been attempting to reclaim the $2,800 level for the past few days, with bulls struggling to confirm a recovery rally into higher supply zones. Price action remains uncertain, as investors watch closely to see whether ETH can push past this resistance or if selling pressure will drive it lower. The ongoing volatility has kept traders on edge, with some fearing that Ethereum might continue to drop further, testing lower support levels before any potential recovery.

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Market sentiment remains divided, with one side expecting a prolonged consolidation or further correction, while the other believes ETH is on the verge of a breakout. Analysts suggest that Ethereum is at a critical juncture, and the coming days could define its short-term trajectory.

Jelle’s technical analysis explains that ETH’s recent price action took out its previous lows, retesting the key trendline and holding above the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA) are all good signs. Jelle says the uptrend structure remains intact despite the slow price movement. He acknowledges that this may be one of the slowest uptrends Ethereum has ever experienced, but he still sees bullish momentum building.

Jelle also doubts that bears will be able to defend the $4,000 level once more if Ethereum gains strength. As ETH continues to hold key support levels and attempts to reclaim the $2,800 mark, a breakout could lead to a significant rally in the coming weeks. Investors are advised to remain patient as Ethereum navigates this critical phase, with many closely watching for potential trend confirmation.

ETH Testing Short-Term Supply

Ethereum is trading at $2,805, attempting to hold this level and push higher to confirm a recovery rally. Bulls are trying to establish support at this key price zone, aiming to regain momentum after weeks of consolidation. The price is just 7% away from the critical $3,000 mark, which sits slightly above the 4-hour 200 Moving Average. A break above $2,950 and a successful hold above this level would likely trigger an aggressive bullish recovery, pushing ETH toward higher resistance levels.

However, if Ethereum fails to hold above $2,800, the bullish momentum could weaken, leading to another round of selling pressure. In that case, ETH could drop back toward the $2,600 demand zone or even lower. This level has previously acted as strong support, and losing it could indicate further downside risks.

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For now, Ethereum remains at a pivotal point, where bulls must step up to maintain short-term strength. A breakout above resistance could fuel renewed optimism among investors, while failure to sustain current levels may lead to continued market uncertainty. All eyes are on ETH’s ability to reclaim and consolidate above key resistance levels to determine its next major move.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView