Key Takeaways
Ethereum (ETH) finally broke into uncharted territory on Sunday, Aug. 23, hitting a new all-time high of $4,953—its first since 2021.
The surge sparked calls across the market for ETH to smash through the psychological $5,000 level. However, momentum cooled quickly, and the price has since slipped back below $4,700.
At first glance, the pullback might look like a stumble. To seasoned traders, it looks more like a setup.
Ethereum’s retreat from $4,950 resembles a pause rather than a breakdown—an intermission before the next push through resistance, just as it has done many times before.
Looking at the weekly chart, the Ethereum ATH came after it broke out of a symmetrical triangle. This pattern forms when price action squeezes between a series of lower highs and higher lows, creating a converging triangle.
The setup indicates a period of consolidation where buyers and sellers battle for control, with pressure building as the range tightens.
A breakout above the upper trendline typically signals that bulls have seized momentum, leading to explosive rallies — exactly what played out for ETH.
At the same time, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) confirmed the positive change in momentum.
As seen below, the 12-day EMA (blue) crossed above the 26-day EMA (orange), forming a bullish crossover.
This crossover, if sustained, suggests that Ethereum’s price might break the overhead resistance soon.

From an on-chain perspective, rising ETH exchange outflows also drove Ethereum to its all-time high.
Data from Glassnode shows that yesterday, the net transfer volume of ETH from/to exchanges stood at -138,656.
A negative exchange flow indicates that more ETH leaves exchanges than enters, which typically signals reduced sell pressure. As of this writing, the number of ETH flowing into exchanges has yet to increase.
As long as this continues, Ethereum’s price might breach the overhead resistance and rally above $5,000.

Adding to the bullish outlook, whales on Binance have been actively accumulating ETH, a move that strengthens the case for continued upside.
Large-scale buying by whales not only reduces available supply but also signals strong confidence in Ethereum’s long-term trajectory.
This accumulation has fueled speculation that a rally beyond $5,000 is possible.
Supporting this view, pseudonymous crypto analyst Darkfost noted that Ethereum’s price may continue climbing as whale activity aligns with the bullish technical setup.
“Whales act differently and often prefer to enter positions after a positive trend has been well validated, which is clearly observable here as these orders only started after the trend reversal. However, this does not make them immune to panic or sometimes arriving too late. This strong accumulation thus supports the upward movement and will likely provide enough momentum to push ETH toward the $5 000 level,” The analyst posted via CryptoQuant.
Looking at the 4-hour chart, Ethereum’s price will likely hit another ATH soon. The recent pullback has carved out a bull flag pattern, a bullish continuation setup that often precedes another leg upward.
Reinforcing this outlook, the Supertrend indicator’s green line has flipped below the price, confirming ongoing buy signals. At the same time, the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) has climbed above the zero line, signaling strong capital inflows and growing buy-side momentum.
Should this trend remain the same, ETH’s price might break the resistance at $4,950, forcing the cryptocurrency above $5,000.

In the long run, institutions like BlackRock and SharpLink Gaming might continue to buy ETH. If that happens, the next ATH could be $6,708 before this cycle ends.
On the contrary, if selling pressure increases and demand fades, this might not happen. If that is the case, Ethereum’s price might drop to $4,321.