Key Insights:
- Ethereum fell below $2,500 as a whale opened a $110M short at $2,793 with 15x leverage.
- Israel-Iran conflict sparked panic in global markets, sending oil and gold surging.
- ETH Foundation transferred 1,000 ETH, raising concerns amid escalating liquidation pressure.
Ethereum dropped 11% in two days as geopolitical instability and high-leverage shorting triggered panic across markets. A $110 million ETH short coincided with fears of war in the Middle East, sending Ethereum below the $2,500 mark. On-chain data showing ETH transfers from the Ethereum Foundation further unsettled traders.
$110 Million ETH Short Adds Fuel to the Downtrend
Ethereum came under heavy selling after a high-leverage whale opened a $110 million short position. This entry at $2,793.81 with 15x leverage placed the liquidation at $2,938.99. With Ethereum falling below $2,500, the whale’s position is already profitable.

This huge short position occurred against a backdrop of wider market uncertainty, further fuelling the bearish narrative on ETH. As the price fell, technical analysts cited a violation of a major support area, which triggered stop losses and panic selling. Liquidation risk has become a threat to long positions as shorts pick up momentum.

Ethereum price has violated a formerly bullish structure since it could not hold a breakout above the $2,800 resistance level.
The refusal at higher levels resulted in a rapid decline back into a former demand area, challenging the $2,450 -$2,350 area. This key level has become the final significant support to prevent further losses.
War Tensions Hit Global and Crypto Markets Alike
The severe correction also indicates the increase of geopolitical tensions because of the airstrikes of Israel against Iran. The operation, codenamed Operation Rising Lion, saw attacks on military and nuclear installations and caused concerns of a wider conflict in the region. Iran vowed to retaliate, sending the global markets into risk-off mode.
Conventional markets reacted instantly. U.S. equity futures declined by more than 1.5%, and European indices, including the DAX in Germany and CAC 40 in France, declined by 1.6%. In the meantime, oil jumped over 74 dollars a barrel on supply worries and gold reached $3,428 an ounce as investors fled to safe-haven assets.
Cryptocurrency markets were no exception, and Ethereum spearheaded the drop. As the tension grew and the risk of war increased, capital fled unstable assets such as crypto. This change undermined the bullish attitude, and recovery efforts are expected to be challenging in the short term.
Foundation Transfers and Support Levels Draw Focus
To further add to the market anxiety, the Ethereum Foundation has moved 1,000 ETH ($2.47 million) to a Gnosis Safe Proxy wallet a few minutes before the recent crash. It is not a direct sell but historical data indicates that such movements have been a precursor to market moves.

While these transfers have not led to direct sales, historical patterns suggest they precede bearish shifts. On-chain data shows similar weekly transactions throughout the past month. These moves raised speculation about internal planning or pending treasury decisions.
ETH is now testing the $2,350–$2,450 area, a region tied to earlier bullish momentum. If the level breaks, analysts expect a fall to $2,200 or lower. This could trigger another wave of long-side liquidations and deeper drawdowns.
AshCryptoReal said sentiment may recover if support holds. However, without a macro turnaround or de-escalation, the odds of a bounce remain slim.
Until ETH reclaims the $2,650–$2,800 range, volatility may persist. Traders remain on edge as external pressures and technical signals suggest more downside risk.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and provides no financial, investment, or other advice. The author or any people mentioned in this article are not responsible for any financial loss that may occur from investing in or trading. Please do your research before making any financial decisions.
