ETH Bears Lose $113M as Ethereum Climbs Above $1,980 and Eyes $2,000 Breakout

Short Liquidations and ETF Inflows

On Monday, ether (ETH) closed in on the $2,000 threshold after jumping 4.5% amid rising exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows and staking activity. According to Bitstamp data, ETH peaked at $1,980, an increase of more than $100 from 24 hours earlier, making it one of the day’s top gainers.

The surge effectively erased losses ETH suffered starting July 22, when it fell below the $1,900 threshold. The jump also lifted its market capitalization to $237 billion and pushed its seven-day gains to nearly 6%. While the digital asset’s year-to-date losses remain in double digits, the July 27 momentum left it poised to reclaim the $2,000 level for the first time since June 2.

Meanwhile, ETH’s surge proved particularly brutal for bears, as evidenced by $113 million in short bets wiped out in 24 hours compared to $10 million in long bets. According to Coinglass data, short positions wiped out on ETH alone accounted for a third of all shorts liquidated during the period.

While ETH’s rise moved in tandem with the rest of the crypto market, analysts highlighted sustained inflows into spot ETH ETFs over the past few days as one of the primary drivers. Data shows ETFs absorbed nearly $104 million between July 20 and 24, indicating strong institutional support for the digital asset.

Broader market sentiment has also been bolstered by Circle securing final approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust bank. Because USDC—Circle’s flagship dollar-pegged token—operates predominantly on Ethereum as its primary settlement layer, bringing the issuer under federal oversight provides major structural tailwinds for the network. Analysts note that the OCC’s endorsement reduces regulatory friction for institutional players, locking in long-term liquidity and accelerating enterprise adoption across Ethereum’s decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem.

Adding further momentum to the rally, Ethereum’s validator exit queue has reportedly emptied, marking a major turning point for the network’s proof-of-stake health. With on-chain data showing zero validators in line to withdraw their ETH, exit bottlenecks have virtually vanished. The absence of a backlog allows capital to flow in and out of staking protocols frictionlessly and instantly, reassuring investors that market liquidity remains rock-solid.

Despite the recent bullish momentum, some technical analysts urge caution, viewing the current price action as a temporary relief rally within a broader downtrend. According to technical breakdown analysis shared by BitcoinpulseX, ETH is tracking a series of bear flag patterns that suggest the current bounce may ultimately fail.

The outlook anticipates one final capitulation move toward the $1,300 to $1,450 range, where prolonged accumulation is expected to take place before a true trend reversal occurs. If that bottom holds, technical targets project a recovery toward $2,450, with a macro target set at $3,950.