Ethereum drops and consolidates: whales buy, retail sells

Ethereum drops to $1,872 after inflation data. Exchange reserves rise, whales accumulate, and retail holders sell. Price remains range-bound between $1,800 and $2,000.

Ethereum (ETH) continues to trade within a consolidation range of $1,800 to $2,000, reflecting cautious investor sentiment and weak on-chain activity. Following the release of the U.S. Consumer Price Index, ETH's price fell by 2.4% to $1,872, though the data did not surprise the market. Exchange reserves for ETH increased slightly to 15.13 million, a level that historically signals potential selling pressure. Retail wallets distributed 160,000 ETH, while whales accumulated approximately 100,000 ETH, indicating a shift in holdings from smaller to larger investors. Last week, U.S. Ethereum ETFs recorded $244.9 million in net inflows, but this week saw minor outflows. Technical analysis points to support at $1,875 and resistance between $1,920 and $1,955. While institutional demand is gradually improving, persistent selling pressure and limited momentum keep ETH range-bound.