Ethereum Leverage Climbs After Historic Liquidation Event – New Cycle Starting?

bitcoinistPublished on 2026-03-17Last updated on 2026-03-17

Abstract

Ethereum has reclaimed the $3,200 level amid renewed buying activity, signaling a potential shift in market sentiment after months of downward pressure. Over the past week, Bitcoin rose 8.6%, while Ethereum surged 13.9%, reflecting stronger speculative demand. Analysts attribute the rally to institutional inflows into crypto ETFs and improved risk appetite. A key development is the recovery in leverage within Ethereum's derivatives market. Following the historic liquidation event on October 10—where over $19 billion in positions were liquidated—the Estimated Leverage Ratio (ELR) on Binance dropped 27%. Since then, leverage has steadily rebuilt, with the ELR climbing to 0.69 by mid-March, indicating renewed trader confidence and risk-taking. This leverage reset may support further upward momentum, though it could also increase volatility.

Ethereum has reclaimed the $2,300 level as renewed buying activity begins to push the market higher after months of persistent downward pressure. The move marks a notable shift in short-term sentiment, with traders increasingly pointing to growing bullish momentum across the broader cryptocurrency sector.

Over the past seven days, Bitcoin has climbed approximately 8.6%, reinforcing the perception that the market may be transitioning out of the corrective phase that dominated recent months.

Ethereum, which often behaves as a higher-beta asset within the crypto ecosystem, has responded even more aggressively to the improving sentiment. Over the same period, ETH has surged roughly 13.9%, outperforming Bitcoin and signaling stronger speculative demand from traders.

Analysts note that the move higher is also being supported by strong inflows into crypto-related exchange-traded funds, reflecting continued institutional appetite for digital assets. As liquidity begins to return and risk tolerance improves, Ethereum’s ability to reclaim the $2,300 level is now being closely monitored as a potential pivot point that could determine whether the recovery can extend further in the coming weeks.

Ethereum Leverage Recovers After Historic Liquidation Reset

A recent analysis from CryptoQuant highlights how the Ethereum derivatives market has undergone a significant structural reset following the dramatic liquidation event that occurred on October 10. According to the report, the flash crash triggered one of the largest deleveraging events in the history of the cryptocurrency market.

During that event, the Ethereum Estimated Leverage Ratio (ELR) on Binance dropped sharply from 0.56 to 0.41, representing a 27% contraction in market leverage. The “10/10” event is now widely recognized as the largest 24-hour liquidation cascade in crypto history, with more than $19 billion in leveraged positions forcibly liquidated across the market.

Ethereum Estimated Leverage Ratio Binance | Source: CryptoQuant

Since that reset, leverage levels have gradually rebuilt as confidence returned. The report notes that Ethereum’s ELR has climbed to approximately 0.69 in mid-March, signaling that traders are once again increasing their use of leverage as sentiment improves.

The Estimated Leverage Ratio is calculated by dividing open interest by the amount of ETH reserves held on exchanges. In practical terms, it measures how aggressively traders are using leverage relative to the collateral available in the system.

Higher ELR readings typically indicate growing risk appetite and increased speculative positioning, which can amplify both upward price momentum and market volatility.

As sentiment improves, Ethereum and Bitcoin continue to act as high-beta risk-on assets, while more defensive investors may rotate toward tokenized gold instruments such as PAXG and XAUT.

Trending Cryptos

Related Questions

QWhat key price level has Ethereum reclaimed, signaling a shift in short-term market sentiment?

AEthereum has reclaimed the $2,300 level.

QAccording to the article, what was the approximate percentage increase for Ethereum (ETH) over the past seven days?

AETH surged roughly 13.9% over the past seven days.

QWhat major event on October 10th is cited as causing a historic deleveraging in the crypto market?

AThe flash crash on October 10th, referred to as the '10/10' event, triggered the largest 24-hour liquidation cascade in crypto history.

QWhat does the Ethereum Estimated Leverage Ratio (ELR) measure, according to the article?

AThe Estimated Leverage Ratio measures how aggressively traders are using leverage relative to the collateral available in the system, calculated by dividing open interest by the amount of ETH reserves held on exchanges.

QTo what level had Ethereum's Estimated Leverage Ratio on Binance climbed by mid-March, according to the CryptoQuant report?

AEthereum's Estimated Leverage Ratio had climbed to approximately 0.69 by mid-March.

Related Reads

Must-Watch Events Next Week|CLARITY Act Could Face Senate Vote; SpaceX, Circle to Report Earnings (8.3-8.9)

**Summary: Key Events and Developments to Watch (August 3-9)** The upcoming week is marked by significant financial disclosures, key legislative deadlines, and notable product updates. **Major Financial Events:** Several companies are scheduled to release their Q2 2026 earnings. American Bitcoin (ABTC) will report on August 3, followed by SpaceX and Hut 8 Mining Corp. on August 4, and Circle on August 5. Notably, a significant portion of SpaceX shares (up to 12% of total shares) will be unlocked on August 6 following their earnings release. **Key Legislative Deadline:** The U.S. Senate faces an August 7 deadline to secure 60 votes for the CLARITY Act, a bipartisan bill aiming to establish a federal regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. The Senate may hold a full vote on the bill during the week. **Economic Data:** The U.S. July Non-Farm Payrolls report will be released on August 7, providing crucial labor market data. **Technology & Product Updates:** * **Shutdowns:** DeFi portfolio tracker Zapper and wallet app Ctrl Wallet will cease operations on August 3. * **Upgrades:** LayerZero will deprecate its v1 relayers on August 3. XRP Ledger's new version 3.3.0, featuring five new functions, is expected next week. * **AI:** Elon Musk announced that the advanced Grok 4.6 AI model is set for release around August 7. * **Bitcoin:** The BIP-110 forced signaling for a potential Bitcoin network change is scheduled to begin around August 8. **Other Notable Events:** Chinese robotics firm Unitree Tech has set its preliminary price inquiry for its IPO for August 5. South Korean exchange Upbit will delist AQT and AERGO tokens on August 3.

marsbit4m ago

Must-Watch Events Next Week|CLARITY Act Could Face Senate Vote; SpaceX, Circle to Report Earnings (8.3-8.9)

marsbit4m ago

Stocks Are Plummeting More Sharply Than Cryptocurrencies. Where Has the Money Gone?

Stock Markets Plunge Deeper Than Cryptocurrencies: Where Did the Money Go? In late July, Seoul's Kospi index triggered circuit breakers for two consecutive days, plummeting over 40% from its June high. The collapse was led by heavyweight stocks like SK Hynix, whose record profits still disappointed investors, and devastating leveraged ETFs, with one major product losing over 83% of its value. This signaled a global, forced deleveraging targeting the most crowded trades. Interestingly, while stocks exhibited extreme volatility akin to crypto markets, Bitcoin rose nearly 15% in July after a prior steep drop. Analysis shows the money fleeing equities did not flow into Bitcoin. Instead, Bitcoin had already absorbed its sell-off in May-June, when U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw historic outflows. The true safe-haven beneficiary was gold, whose price rose over 20% year-on-year, highlighting a decoupling between Bitcoin and gold as "digital gold." The sell-off was a targeted unwinding of leveraged positions in tech and semiconductors, accelerated by broker-dealer risk management and shifts in the AI narrative, including new competition from Chinese memory chipmakers. The retreat path was clear: from high-valuation tech stocks to cash and U.S. Treasuries, then to gold. For Bitcoin to attract sustained institutional inflows, conditions like eased global liquidity pressure, a "soft-landing" Fed rate cut, and U.S. regulatory clarity via legislation like the stalled CLARITY Act are needed. Currently, Bitcoin is not a safe haven but an already-cleared asset. Its low correlation with tech stocks, however, makes it a potential diversification play for institutional portfolios once the storm passes. The money isn't here yet, but the positioning is underway.

marsbit4m ago

Stocks Are Plummeting More Sharply Than Cryptocurrencies. Where Has the Money Gone?

marsbit4m ago

In Conversation with Ray Dalio: We Are Currently in an AI Bubble, with 1% of My Portfolio in Bitcoin

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, warns in an interview that the current AI boom shows classic bubble characteristics, which could lead to significant economic downturns as seen in past cycles like 1929 or 2000. He explains that speculative enthusiasm, fueled by debt and overvaluation, often precedes a crash when rising rates or taxation force asset sales, causing widespread losses and recession. Dalio also outlines his "Big Cycle" theory, describing an approximate 80-year pattern where widening wealth gaps, massive government deficits, and shifting geopolitical power (like China's rise) create internal conflict and global instability. He emphasizes that we are in a late-cycle, transitional phase where traditional powers like the US and UK face decline. For personal wealth protection, Dalio advises diversification beyond cash into assets like stocks, bonds, real estate, and particularly gold, which he prefers over Bitcoin. While he holds about 1% of his portfolio in Bitcoin as a non-printable hard asset, he views gold as more secure from technological or governmental threats. Regarding AI's impact, Dalio believes it will disproportionately benefit capital owners, worsening inequality by replacing both physical and cognitive labor. He suggests that human intuition and emotional intelligence, combined with AI, will be key for future workers. On taxation, Dalio argues that wealth taxes are impractical and risk triggering asset sell-offs, reducing productive investment. He points to the UK as a cautionary example of debt, low productivity, and political strife. Geopolitically, Dalio foresees a more regionalized world, with the US showing weakness in prolonged conflicts like with Iran, akin to past imperial declines. The ideal outcome, he suggests, is coexisting powerful blocs (e.g., Americas, China-Asia Pacific) without major war.

marsbit3h ago

In Conversation with Ray Dalio: We Are Currently in an AI Bubble, with 1% of My Portfolio in Bitcoin

marsbit3h ago

Daily 7.2 Trillion KRW: Foreign Capital's Record Net Buying on Friday! Wall Street Says Headwinds for Korean Stock Fund Flows Have Subsided

South Korean stock market sees a dramatic shift in fund flows. On July 31, foreign investors made a record net purchase of approximately KRW 7.2 trillion in KOSPI stocks, marking a fundamental reversal from the persistent large-scale net outflows seen in previous months. This contributed to a significant narrowing of foreign net selling in July to KRW 9.8 trillion, down sharply from KRW 48.4 trillion in June and KRW 44.5 trillion in May. Simultaneously, domestic institutional pressure eased. South Korean pension funds and asset managers turned to a net buying position in July, purchasing KRW 1.0 trillion worth of KOSPI shares, contrasting with net sales in May and June. Market volatility is expected to be dampened by new financial regulations. Effective July 31, the Financial Services Commission tightened access for retail investors to single-stock leveraged ETFs by raising the minimum cash deposit requirement. Trading volumes for these products subsequently dropped to about 50% of their monthly average. Citigroup Research maintains its year-end KOSPI target of 10,000 points. The firm cites several supportive factors: the substantial easing of headwinds from capital outflows, a robust fundamental outlook for the semiconductor sector, historically low market valuations, strong economic fundamentals, and the potential for policy support from financial authorities if needed.

marsbit3h ago

Daily 7.2 Trillion KRW: Foreign Capital's Record Net Buying on Friday! Wall Street Says Headwinds for Korean Stock Fund Flows Have Subsided

marsbit3h ago

Trading

Spot

Hot Articles

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of ETH (ETH) are presented below.

活动图片