Ethereum Faces Key Resistance in 2026, Yet $5.04 Million ETH ETF Flows Signal Optimism

Ethereum (ETH) is currently showing a bullish trend, remaining comfortably above the support of a well-established ascending trendline. Despite facing a significant resistance point on the 4-hour outlook, enthusiastic ETH ETF inflows on Monday ignite hope for investors.

Key Takeaways

Ethereum price remains bullish, supported by a significant ascending trendline.
On January 12, Ethereum ETFs experienced over $5 million in inflows, ending a three-day streak of outflows.
BlackRock's ETHA ETF saw a reported outflow of $79.9 million, contrasting with positive inflows from other funds such as 21Shares and Grayscale.
The overall net inflows into Ethereum ETFs reached $12.44 billion.
A decisive break above the $3,150 resistance level could pave the way for further gains, while a drop below the trendline support would invalidate bullish sentiments.

Over $5 Million in Ethereum ETF Inflows Boost ETH Price

The Ethereum price continues to display resilience, particularly on the 4-hour chart, buoyed by more than $5 million in ETF inflows observed on Monday. Data from SoSoValue reveals that as of January 12, spot Ethereum ETFs logged a total net inflow of $5.042 million, effectively breaking a three-day outflow trend.

Ethereum ETF Flows. Source: SoSoValue

However, it's noteworthy that while many funds reported positive inflows, including 21Shares with $5 million, BlackRock’s ETHA ETF had a significant outflow of $79.9 million on the same day. Other major players like Fidelity, Bitwise, VanEck, Invesco, and Franklin Templeton recorded no movements in ETF flows. Notably, Grayscale's ETHE and ETH investment products brought in $50.7 million and $29.3 million, respectively.

As of January 12, the total cumulative net inflows into Ethereum ETFs amounted to $12.44 billion, with a total trading value of $940.66 million and total net assets reaching $18.88 billion—a figure that constitutes over 5% of Ethereum’s market capitalization. In a broader context, Bitcoin spot ETFs welcomed a net inflow of $117 million, reversing a four-day outflow trend, while Solana and XRP spot ETFs saw inflows of $10.67 million and $15.04 million, respectively.

Ethereum Price Forecast Following $5.04 Million Inflows

With Ethereum trading well above the ascending trendline's support—an indicator maintained over multiple weeks—the overall trend remains positive. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is also on the rise, suggesting that momentum is building. If this trend persists, ETH could experience additional gains. However, the RSI's positioning near the 50 mark indicates a precarious balance, where the price could be influenced by possible bearish movements.

Despite the immediate resistance at $3,150, positive ETF inflows on Tuesday could reinforce bullish sentiment. Traders analyzing the Ethereum market should watch for a definitive candle close above the $3,150 resistance. A successful retest of this level, where the price breaks above and subsequently holds above it on the 4-hour chart, could initiate a potential target zone ranging from $3,223 to $3,296—a critical bearish order block to navigate as Ethereum approaches previous peak prices.

Ethereum (ETH) Price Performance. Source: TradingView

Conversely, immediate resistance at $3,150 presents challenges, as volume profiles reveal significant opposing forces around the $3,134 level. The distribution of bullish (green horizontal bars) and bearish (red) volume profiles indicates that there are higher bearish nodes compared to bullish nodes, suggesting a possibility of a price pullback, especially if Tuesday’s ETF flows turn negative.

Should a correction occur, the optimistic outlook for Ethereum would be compromised if the price were to break below the support level provided by the ascending trendline, potentially leading to a retest of the $3,058 levels last observed on January 9.