Ethereum Breaks Its January High: Whales Are Waking Up

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Ethereum broke above $2.63K on Friday. That’s its highest price since January. Whale transactions are climbing too. Large holders are getting more active as ETH breaks higher.

The Data Behind the Move

Santiment’s insight post covers the full picture. Ethereum now has a record 207.17 million non-empty wallets. That’s an enormous ownership footprint. It holds even after months of uneven price action.

Ethereum Breaks Its January High: Whales Are Waking Up — *Image Via Santiment.*

Rising whale activity doesn’t confirm buying or selling on its own. But it shows large holders are paying attention again.

A Familiar Pattern in Whale Behavior

This isn’t the first time whale activity has spiked around a major Ethereum move. Ethereum whale accumulation went parabolic earlier this year.

Large wallets kept adding ETH even during choppy price action. The current spike in whale transactions fits that same pattern.

Staking and DeFi Keep ETH Parked

Staking remains a big reason ETH stays locked up long term. More than 40 million ETH is staked right now.

Pooled staking lets smaller holders earn rewards too. They don’t need to run their own validator.

DeFi adds another layer of utility on top of that. Ethereum secures roughly $50 billion in DeFi TVL, according to DefiLlama’s live chain data.

Stablecoins, lending, DEXs, and liquid staking all give holders a reason to use ETH. That’s different from simply speculating on price.

The Weekly Chart Shows Strong Momentum

A TradingView weekly chart created on September 19, 2026, at 11:07 UTC shows ETH/USD at $2,639.42. That’s up 1.05% on the week.

The chart shows a sharp climb from below $1,700 in July to above $2,600 now. RSI sits at 62.53. That’s a bullish reading.

It flagged a bearish divergence back in late 2024. This time, momentum looks stronger and more confirmed.

Ethereum’s staking queue also flipped earlier this year, with entries far outpacing exits. That shift helped set up the supply conditions behind this current rally.

What Happens From Here

Record wallet counts and rising whale activity don’t guarantee more upside on their own. But they show real participation behind this move. Not just short-term hype.

With staking locking up supply and DeFi giving ETH real use cases, the next resistance test near $2,800 will likely show whether this rally has the demand to keep building.

Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. The views expressed are based on publicly available data, market observations, and the author’s interpretation at the time of writing. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and unpredictable, and past performance or current technical setups do not guarantee future results. Readers should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. TechGaged does not accept liability for any losses incurred based on the information presented.

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