As Ethereum (ETH) sees a 12.5% dip, investors weigh the prospects of a buying opportunity. The recent macroeconomic landscape, no longer anticipating a U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate decrease, has contributed to the correction. ETH futures premium has dropped to a three-month low, sparking speculation about underlying pressures.
Ethereum’s upcoming Dencun upgrade, aiming to reduce gas fees for scalability, could revive positive momentum. Successful tests were announced by core developer Tim Beiko, with the mainnet expected by March. Layer-2 solutions surpassing BNB Chain in total value locked indicate scalability progress.
Despite these developments, the appetite for bullish ETH leverage positions has waned among professional traders. Monthly futures contracts’ premium has trended down, but historical data suggests a neutral premium doesn’t guarantee a negative price swing.
Options markets reflect uncertainty, with the 25% delta skew briefly hinting at bullish sentiment. Ether bulls focus on the potential approval of a spot Ether ETF, with the SEC delaying its decision on BlackRock’s proposal. Despite the 7% decline in ETH futures premium, caution is advised against interpreting it as a bearish signal, considering historical examples and upcoming catalysts.
