Ethereum reserves drop 18% as holders withdraw during rally
Ethereum (ETH)
Editor:
Eugene Serbin
bitcoinethereumnews.com reports that Ethereum exchange reserves have fallen by 18% since June, dropping from 7.69 million to 6.28 million ETH. This decline coincides with a 27% price surge to $2,528, defying the typical pattern where holders withdraw assets during downturns. Santiment analysts note that 1.4 million ETH have moved into self-custody and staking, with outflows accelerating during the rally.
Since August 16, the asset climbed to $2,528, and another 275,000 coins left exchanges after August 19. Unlike Bitcoin, which saw reserves rise by 0.25%, Ethereum holders are prioritizing native yield over immediate liquidity. The share of ETH staked on the network now exceeds 35%, indicating a preference for long-term holding.
Technical charts show the price rebounding within a consolidation phase, with resistance between $2,497 and $2,585. Scarcity could accelerate price increases if buying pressure persists. Buyers must secure a hold above $2,600 to break the current bearish trend.
How the market reacted
Whalio's own Binance spot order flow for ETH, measured when this story was written up on 27 August 2026. Not the outlet's figures.
ETH is trading at $2,506.78, with a 1-hour buy ratio of 36.6% indicating short-term selling pressure. However, the 4-hour buy ratio stands at 50.3%, suggesting a balance between buyers and sellers over a slightly longer timeframe. The 24-hour buy ratio is 51.2%, showing that buying has slightly outweighed selling over the full day. Volume delta data reveals a net outflow of $16 million in the last hour, contrasting with a net inflow of $14.7 million over 24 hours. This shift suggests that immediate selling pressure has eased, allowing the daily average to remain positive. The market is currently absorbing recent volatility with a neutral-to-slightly bullish sentiment on longer timeframes.
The latest daily buy ratio of 46.8% sits at the 16th percentile of the last 322 days, against a median of 49.5% - weaker buying than most days.
Twenty-four hours later
What ETH did over the 24 hours after the story broke. The market moves for its own reasons; this is what happened, not what the story caused.
Was that an ordinary day?
The same Binance spot measurements for ETH, averaged over the days leading up to the story.
Over the preceding week, the 7-day average buy ratio was 51.4%, which is slightly higher than the current 24-hour reading of 51.2%. Daily volume over the past week averaged 0.48x the typical level, indicating subdued trading activity compared to historical norms. The coin experienced an 11.3% price increase over eight days, driven by a total volume delta of $343 million. This week saw net buying on six out of seven days, reflecting consistent accumulation. The current 24-hour metrics align closely with the weekly average, suggesting a continuation of the established trend rather than a sudden shift.