Ethereum Price Retests Breakout Zone: Will Rally Follow as Staked ETH Hits 30% All-Time High?

Ethereum is currently testing a crucial breakout level while a significant portion of its total supply is locked in staking, reducing liquidity. The price of Ethereum has experienced some fluctuation but remains considerably lower than its all-time high from August. Staking activity is at an all-time high, with nearly 30% of ETH staked, reflecting a long-term outlook among investors.

Key Takeaways

Ethereum's price is trading around $3,162, down 1.3% in the last 24 hours.
Staking on Ethereum has reached a new milestone, with close to 30% of the total supply staked.
Trading volume has decreased significantly, indicating reduced trading activity.
Technical analysis shows Ethereum is consolidating near the $3,350–$3,400 resistance zone.
The overall sentiment remains cautiously optimistic among long-term holders and institutional investors.

Chart showing Ethereum price consolidating

Ethereum Price Overview

As of the latest report, Ethereum is priced at $3,162, down by 1.3% over the last 24 hours. In the past week, the ETH price fluctuated between $3,119 and $3,379. The cryptocurrency has seen a 3.6% increase over the last month, managing to stay above $3,000, but is still far from its record high of $4,946 achieved in August.

The trading activity for Ethereum has slowed down. The total 24-hour trading volume fell approximately 19% to $20 billion, indicating fewer traders are participating at the current price levels. Additionally, futures data from CoinGlass reveals that derivatives volume dropped by more than 22%, with open interest decreasing by 2% to $40.26 billion, suggesting that traders are retreating from leverage and are not expecting a swift price movement.

Record Staking Activity

Although the price action has slowed down, Ethereum's staking engagement is on the rise. Data from Solid Intel reveals that nearly 30% of all circulating ETH is currently staked.

INTEL: $ETH staking reached an all-time high with nearly 30% of the total supply now staked pic.twitter.com/zVleJbJpTA — Solid Intel 📡 (@solidintel_x) January 19, 2026

In total, about 36.2 million ETH, valued at nearly $120 billion based on current prices, is secured within the network. Staking returns have decreased slightly and are now between 2.8% and 4% as more ETH enters the staking system. This, however, indicates that many holders are prioritizing long-term investment over quick profits.

Supporting this observation, queue data shows that over 2.6 million ETH is awaiting staking, while very few ETH is queued for withdrawal. This suggests a strong level of confidence among holders, who seem uninterested in accessing their funds. Notable companies, including BitMine, continue to expand their holdings in staking, reflecting that institutional investors are increasingly viewing staking as an essential strategy. Despite some concerns over centralization, the overall outlook on staking remains positive.

Technical Analysis of Ethereum's Price

Ethereum is currently trading just below the $3,350–$3,400 resistance zone, which has repeatedly restricted price increases. The price movements of ETH are narrowing, signaling a phase of consolidation rather than a clear upward or downward trend.

Ethereum price technical analysis chart
Ethereum daily chart. Credit: crypto.news

The Bollinger Bands are tightening, pointing to reduced volatility. While this does not indicate the direction of the next price movement, such squeezes often precede a strong breakout. ETH is situated near the midpoint of the bands, typically a sign of sideways trading.

Ethereum remains above its 50-day moving average, which has frequently acted as a support level during past price declines. The overall market structure appears stable, as each pullback has attracted buyers, often at progressively higher levels.

While the momentum has not drastically diminished, it has moderated compared to previous phases. The daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits just above 50, indicating a neutral stance that reflects some hesitance among buyers without substantial selling pressure.

Despite low trading volume and limited follow-through on recent upward attempts, a clear daily close above $3,400 could shift the momentum and open the path toward the $3,650–$3,800 range. Conversely, if the price pulls back to the $3,050 to $3,100 zone, where buying interest has shown in the past, repeated resistance failures could occur. Overall, Ethereum is currently in a waiting phase.