Ethereum price forecast: Ether eyes $4k as whales open long positions

Key takeaways

  • ETH is up 3% in the last 24 hours and is now trading above $3,100.
  • Whales are optimistic of a price surge in the near term.

Whales open bullish positions on Ether

Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, is up 3% in the last 24 hours and is now trading above $3,100 per coin. The rally comes as the broader cryptocurrency market recovered from the slight dip on Sunday.

In addition to that, Ethereum whales are opening long positions as they are optimistic that Ether’s price will surge higher in the near to medium term. The whales are optimistic of a price surge thanks to the upcoming Fed rate decision on Wednesday, with the apex bank expected to reduce its borrowing benchmark by 25 basis points. 

Data obtained from Lookonchain reveals that three whales have opened long positions, totaling 136,433 ETH, worth about $425.98 million.

One whale, BitcoinOG (1011short), has a long position of $169 million in ETH, while Anti-CZ opened another position worth $194 million. The third whale, pension-usdt.eth, opened a long position of 20,000 ETH, worth approximately $62.5 million at current rates.

In addition to these three, other whales have also opened long positions on Ether, with many of them predicting that the cryptocurrency’s price could rally to $4k in the near to medium term. 

Furthermore, BitMine continues to add more Ether tokens to its treasury. Last week, the company added $199 million more ETH, bringing its total holdings to 3.73 million ETH ($13.3 billion), making it the largest corporate holder of ETH. 

Ether could surge to $4k amid growing demand

The ETH/USD 4-hour chart has flipped bullish and efficient as Ether has reclaimed the $3,100 mark at press time, ETYH is trading above $4,100, and could rally higher if the bullish trend continues.

The momentum indicators are bullish, suggesting that buyers are currently in control. The RSI of 62 shows that ETH is currently bullish and could enter the overbought region if the recovery continues. The MACD lines are also within the positive territory, reinforcing the bullish bias.

ETH/USD 4H Chart

If the recovery continues, ETH could surge past Thursday’s high at $3,240 with a decisive close, with the next resistance level at the 200-day EMA at $3,459. However, failure to overcome the $3,240 resistance could see Ether drop below $3,000 and retest the November 21 low of $2,623.

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PI could drop below $0.22 amid a strong bearish trend: Check forecast

Key takeaways

  • PI is down 2% in the last 24 hours and could drop below $0.22 if the bearish trend continues.
  • The technical outlook indicates short-term risk.

PI could dip lower amid poor technicals

Pi Network (PI) has been underperforming over the past three days and risks dropping below a critical support trendline. The on-chain data indicates an increase in supply pressure as Centralized Exchanges (CEXs) experience a surge in inflows. 

Data obtained from PiScan reveals that user deposits over Pi Network’s Know Your Business (KYB)-verified CEXs totaled 2.75 million PI tokens in the last 24 hours. The deposit is far greater than the withdrawals of 1.76 million tokens. Thus, indicating a daily net inflow of CEXs, suggesting that investors might be selling some of their stash. 

 Will Pi Network drop below the $0.22 support line?

The PI/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient as PI has lost 2% of its value in the last 24 hours. The cryptocurrency is retracing toward a local support trendline formed from the October 22 and November 4 lows. 

At press time, PI is trading at $0.2267, with a bearish trend currently in play. The technical indicators are bearish, suggesting further downward movement. The RSI of 37 shows that PI is heading into the oversold region if the trend continues. The MACD lines are also within the bearish region.

PI/USD 4H Chart

If the trend persists, PI could decline below the Monday low of $0.2204, with another major support just around the $0.1919 region. 

However, if the bulls regain control, PI could reclaim last week’s high at $0.2841. An extended bullish run would allow PI to eye the August 1 low at $0.3220.

However, the current market conditions remain bearish, with PI expected to underperform over the next few days.

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Italy orders non-compliant VASPs to exit as MiCAR rules kick in

  • Consob has urged VASPs to secure CASP approval or shut down by December 30, 2025.
  • This comes as the deadline for transitioning to new MiCAR policies approaches.
  • Unauthorised operators will halt their services and return user assets.

Italy’s financial regulator Consob has issued an urgent call to digital assets investors and operators as the nation moves closer to adopting MiCAR policies.

According to the late yesterday press release, Consob emphasised December 30, 2025, as the last day VASPs (Virtual Asset Service Providers) operating under the existing regime will be able to serve without full approval.

Consob has warned that operators who fail to follow this transition risk a ban.

Thus, any VASP operating in Italy should adhere to the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation or exit the marketplace.

The press release highlighted:

30 December 2025 is the last day on which Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs, operators currently offering virtual asset services, such as cryptocurrency exchanges) registered with the OAM (the Organismo Agenti e Mediatori, or Agents and Brokers Organisation) can continue to operate.

MiCAR resets Italy’s regulatory rulebook

Italian regulators have only wanted VASPs to secure the OAM (Organismo Agenti e Mediatori) certificate to operate seamlessly over the years.

Meanwhile, MiCAR brings tougher rules, with only fully licensed Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) permitted to serve the European Union.

Meanwhile, the authorisation procedure involves operational checks, client protection requirements, supervisory controls, and existing monitoring. That’s far stricter than the previous model.

Consob stressed that VASPs will only operate if they apply for CASP certification in Italy or any other European Union Member State by December 30.

Operators who submit applications by this deadline can keep offering services until the final decision, but all entities should adhere to MiCAR by June 30, 2026.

What’s next for investors?

Consob has warned both operators and day-to-day cryptocurrency users.

Investors should promptly confirm whether their desired service provider plans to adhere to the new policies and requirements.

Here, they can monitor two crucial things.

First and foremost, investors should check whether the operator has published its MiCAR transition plans.

Secondly, investors should verify the provider’s regulatory status after the deadline.

VASPs that don’t apply or fail to secure approval will not operate in Italy after December 30, and customers can request a return of their assets upon such developments.

Meanwhile, Consob confirmed warning operators multiple times during the transition phase, highlighting updates in September last year, July 2025, and the October 31 notice to companies still holding only the OAM certificate.

While some operators view MiCAR as the pathway for regulated, international operations, others consider the new regulation as the end of the road.

Meanwhile, digital assets investors should stay alert, check the provider’s regulatory status, and act before the new MiCAR regulations lock them out or pressure them with last-minute withdrawals.

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Pepe memecoin price rise under pressure after website is hacked

  • PEPE memecoin price rises 4.46% despite its website being hacked.
  • Technical indicators signal a bullish momentum for PEPE amid strong trading volume.
  • Retail and institutional interest support the memecoin’s bullish momentum amid broader market trends.

Pepe memecoin price has risen significantly today despite facing a serious security incident following a hack on its official website.

The token is currently priced at approximately $0.000004898, after a 4.46% increase over the past 24 hours.

While the website exploit has not immediately affected the memecoin trading, and it continues to attract attention from retail investors driven partly by technical momentum and ongoing interest in high-beta memecoins, analysts caution that the gains could easily be wiped out if the exploit is left unattended.

Technical momentum lifts Pepe memecoin price

From a technical standpoint, PEPE recently broke above its 7-day simple moving average (SMA) of $0.0000045579 and its 30-day exponential moving average of $0.0000051095.

These technical movements are reinforced by a positive MACD histogram reading and the main MACD line crossing above the signal line, suggesting bullish momentum.

Pepe memecoin price analysis
Pepe memecoin price chart | Source: TradingView

In addition, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 47.08, implying that the token still has room to move higher without being overextended.

As the bullish case builds, short-term traders have interpreted these signals as an opportunity to enter positions, which have contributed to increased trading volume.

Over the past 24 hours, PEPE has recorded approximately $381.5 million in volume, up 26% from the previous day.

However, traders should closely watch the resistance noted at the 23.6% Fibonacci level of $0.0000057928, which could define the next potential target if the momentum persists.

Memecoin enthusiasm and market sentiment

PEPE’s rally also aligns with the broader memecoin trends, as assets like Fartcoin have also recorded double-digit gains.

The Altcoin Season Index stuck at 21 also underscores an increased appetite for risk among crypto participants.

Institutional sentiment has also played a role, with statements from major financial players, including BlackRock’s acknowledgment of stablecoins as a major influence in the market and Bank of America’s recommendation for a modest crypto allocation, buoying the broader market confidence.

Security breach casts shadow over PEPE

The hack on the Pepe memecoin website, identified by cybersecurity firm Blockaid, involved a front-end attack redirecting users to malicious links.

The attack employed a suite of tools known as Inferno Drainer, commonly used for phishing, wallet draining, and social engineering.

Users are strongly advised to avoid the compromised website until the security issues are resolved.

While the breach has not depressed PEPE’s price surge, it underscores the persistent risks in the crypto space.

Analysts note that sustaining the current level above $0.00000500 will be critical to maintaining the bullish setup.

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Bitcoin price forecast: BTC eyes breakout to $100k as technicals improve

Key takeaways

  • BTC is up by less than 1% and is currently trading above $93k.
  • The coin could rally towards $100k if the bullish recovery continues.

Bitcoin reclaims $94k

The cryptocurrency market has recovered from the dip recorded on Monday, with Bitcoin briefly reclaiming the $94k level on Wednesday. The leading cryptocurrency by market cap is up by less than 1% in the last 24 hours and is now trading above $93k per coin.

The positive performance comes as technical indicators improve across the board, suggesting that retail investors are optimistic about a rally in the near term. 

In an email to Coinjournal, Nic Puckrin, investment analyst and co-founder of The Coin Bureau, pointed out that Bitcoin has staged a remarkable recovery over the past 24 hours, driven by a perfect storm of good news that has finally tipped the balance over in favor of the bulls (Vanguard allowing its clients to buy and sell crypto ETFs).

Furthermore, Bank of America is now recommending a 1%-4% portfolio allocation to crypto, which could bring up to $700 billion in extra liquidity into this asset.

“As a result, Bitcoin has shot up to a key resistance level between $93,000 and $95,000, which also acted as a resistance zone back in April. If it pushes through this, it will attempt to breach the $100,000 threshold again, with the 50-week simple moving average (SMA) at $102,000 a key level to watch. It all depends on whether US buyers continue this momentum when the New York market opens this morning,” Puckrin added.

Bitcoin looks to overcome the $93k resistance

The BTC/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient despite Bitcoin performing positively this week. The technical indicators have improved, with the bulls currently in control.

The RSI of 61 shows that Bitcoin could be heading into the overbought territory if the buying pressure continues. The MACD lines also switched bullish on Tuesday, confirming another strong bullish bias.

BTC/USD 4H Chart

If the bullish trend persists, BTC could surge towards the next major resistance level at $96,399 over the next few hours or days. However, if the bulls fail to push higher. Bitcoin could retest the liquidity level just below $91k.

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