ETH drops sharply 0.73% in 15 minutes: market sentiment turns fearful, technical support weakens, triggering short-term sell-off

From 17:15 to 17:30 (UTC) on May 26, 2026, ETH saw a sharp drop of 0.73% within 15 minutes. The price range was 2064.45–2080.13 USDT, with a range of 0.75%. This move occurred in a broader market environment where ETH was under overall pressure. On the day, ETH fell 3.24%, the monthly line decline reached 12.1%, and it is now down 58.3% from its all-time high.

The main driver of this move is that market sentiment is in an extreme fear state. The Fear-Greed Index dropped to 30, into the “fear” range. Investor confidence is severely lacking, and the willingness to sell is significantly higher than the willingness to buy. At the same time, as ETH’s price approached the $2,000 psychological level, automatic stop-loss orders set by technical analysts were triggered in clusters as the price neared key support, creating passive selling pressure.

In addition, multiple secondary factors have amplified volatility through a resonance effect. First, exchange reserves have fallen to 12.5 million ETH (8.6% of total supply), the lowest level since 2023. Tighter liquidity means even small transactions can trigger relatively large price swings. Second, whale behavior is showing clear divergence—large holders bought more than 140,000 ETH cumulatively in May, but some whales transferred assets to exchanges, increasing potential sell pressure. Third, short positions have been building in the derivatives market, and declines in the spot market combined with bearish expectations are forming a negative feedback loop.

Risks still need to be monitored in the short term. The current price is near the $2,050–$2,150 support zone; if it breaks, it may further test $1,800. Going forward, it will be important to closely watch on-chain fund flows, changes in exchange reserves, and macro policy signals. Investors should be wary of volatility risks amplified by tighter liquidity and handle short-term actions cautiously.