Ethereum turns positive for the first time since 2023: sign of a breakout

Activity in Ethereum’s derivatives market offers one of the clearest lenses into investor positioning. Current data points to a gradual return of bullish structure, suggesting that early foundations for a potential rally may already be forming. Even so, broader market sentiment remains fragile. Ethereum [ETH] continues to trade within a narrow, neutral daily range, reflecting an ongoing equilibrium between buyers and sellers. Neutral sentiment persists despite improving signals Ethereum’s derivatives market, the primary arena for leveraged positioning, is beginning to reflect a shift in underlying momentum. The change in volume dynamics suggests that market participants are slowly adjusting their bias. According to data from CryptoQuant, net taker volume, a metric that measures which side of the market is exerting more pressure based on executed trades, has broken out of its long-standing negative trend. This marks the first sustained positive reading since 2023, a period largely defined by bearish control and muted price performance. Over that stretch, Ethereum’s upside remained constrained, with price gains limited relative to broader market cycles. At the time of writing, net taker volume has reached $104 million, indicating that buyer activity has overtaken selling pressure over the past 24 hours. Capital flows reinforce the shift The change in volume is not occurring in isolation. Capital flows within the futures market are beginning to align with this emerging structure. For much of the past year, the derivatives market experienced persistent outflows, a signal that traders were reducing exposure and avoiding leveraged positions amid uncertainty. Over a 12-month period, approximately $132.51 billion exited the market, underscoring the scale of risk-off behavior. That trend has now reversed. Over the past 60 days, the market has recorded $6.64 billion in net inflows. The 30-day figure stands at $5.74 billion, while the last 24 hours alone account for $131.7 million in fresh capital entering leveraged positions. Although these inflows do not definitively indicate whether bulls or bears hold control, they reflect a steady rebuilding of market confidence. This shift in participation typically precedes stronger directional moves and supports a more constructive outlook for Ethereum. Ethereum’s liquidation map outlines near-term targets The liquidation heatmap, which identifies clusters of pending liquidations and likely price magnets, highlights four key levels currently shaping Ethereum’s short-term trajectory. On the upside, the first major target sits near $2,070, where liquidity concentration is relatively dense. A secondary level lies around $2,090, though with thinner clustering. On the downside, $2,027 represents the closest level with significant liquidity, followed by a deeper support zone near $2,010. With price action remaining neutral over the past 24 hours, Ethereum continues to sit at an inflection point. Market direction will likely depend on whether momentum builds on the recent inflow and volume shifts or stalls under persistent indecision. Final Summary - Net taker volume has flipped positive after an extended period of negative dominance. - Capital inflows have resumed following a prolonged phase of sustained outflows.