Ethena [ENA] under pressure – Will sellers force one last drop to $0.1315?

ambcryptoPublished on 2025-12-23Last updated on 2025-12-23

Abstract

ENA remains under pressure after a major holder deposited 16.86 million tokens into Coinbase Prime, realizing an estimated $15 million loss. Despite the sell-side liquidity, price action near $0.14–$0.15 remained controlled, suggesting absorption rather than panic selling. However, the scale of losses reflects holder exhaustion. Technically, ENA trades within a descending channel, with sellers in control. RSI below 40 indicates weak momentum, and a drop toward the $0.1315 support zone is possible. A reclaim above $0.165 is needed to break the bearish structure. Despite price weakness, Spot Taker CVD remains positive, showing accumulation during declines, though demand appears defensive. Funding rates turned slightly positive, suggesting reduced liquidation risks but lacking bullish conviction. Liquidation maps show concentrated short leverage above $0.20, meaning upward moves could trigger significant liquidations. Overall, ENA remains biased downward, with a test of $0.1315 likely before any meaningful rebound. Recovery requires strong hold of support and a channel breakout.

Ethena remains under sustained pressure after a major holder deposited 16.86 million ENA into Coinbase Prime, realizing an estimated $15 million loss, roughly 81% below an $18.53 million cost basis.

This transfer introduced meaningful sell-side liquidity, while ENA price traded near $0.14–$0.15, levels last seen several months ago.

However, price action did not unravel sharply following the deposit. Instead, candles remained relatively controlled, signaling absorption rather than disorderly selling.

That response suggests market participants anticipated the move.

Still, the scale of realized losses reflects exhaustion, not confidence. Many holders remain deeply underwater, which increases the likelihood of distribution on any relief rally.

As a result, Ethena [ENA] continues to trade in a fragile equilibrium where exits meet opportunistic accumulation, keeping volatility suppressed but risk elevated.

Ethena consolidates

ENA continues to respect a clearly defined descending channel that has guided price lower since the breakdown from the $0.30 region.

Recent price action shows consolidation near the channel’s upper boundary, yet the structure still favors sellers.

RSI remains below 40, reinforcing weak momentum rather than reversal strength.

Importantly, the channel allows room for a deeper pullback toward the $0.1315 support zone, which aligns with prior reaction lows and channel symmetry. This level represents a key structural checkpoint.

A decisive reclaim above resistance near $0.165 would disrupt the bearish sequence of lower highs.

However, ENA has not achieved that yet. Therefore, the market remains reactive. Buyers defend levels, but sellers still control trend direction until structure decisively shifts.

ENA: What absorbing the downside?

Despite ongoing price weakness, 90-day Spot Taker CVD remains net positive, highlighting sustained buyer aggression during declines.

This divergence matters. ENA has fallen more than 60% from mid-cycle highs, yet taker buyers continue absorbing sell pressure.

That behavior suggests accumulation rather than panic-driven exits among spot participants. However, price has failed to respond constructively.

Therefore, demand appears defensive rather than controlling. Buyers step in to slow declines, but they do not force structural change.

Historically, such divergences weaken bearish momentum without guaranteeing reversal timing. As long as CVD remains positive, downside acceleration loses strength.

Still, without a reclaim of resistance, accumulation alone cannot flip the trend. The signal supports stabilization, not confirmation.

Funding Rates turn positive

The OI-Weighted Funding Rate recently shifted from approximately -0.01% to around +0.005%, marking a notable change in leverage bias.

This transition followed a sharp long-side flush, where Open Interest contracted toward the $55–$60 million range. Funding turned positive, suggesting that traders now pay to hold longs, yet conviction remains cautious.

Rates stay shallow, indicating positioning rather than directional bets. This behavior reduces the risk of cascading liquidations on further downside.

However, funding does not yet support breakout expectations. Instead, it signals balance. Traders anticipate stabilization but avoid excess leverage.

Therefore, leverage no longer drives volatility. Any sustained trend change will require price expansion alongside rising participation, not funding shifts alone.

Short-side liquidity builds above current price

The Binance ENA liquidation map shows a clear concentration of short liquidation leverage above the current price near $0.20, with the densest clusters forming between $0.205 and $0.22.

These levels contain cumulative short liquidation exposure exceeding $5 million, dominated by 25x and 50x leverage positions.

In contrast, long liquidation leverage below price is comparatively thin, with limited clusters visible below $0.18 and minimal exposure extending toward $0.13.

This distribution indicates that recent positioning has favored short continuation bets rather than long leverage buildup.

As a result, upward price movement into the $0.205–$0.22 range would intersect significantly more forced liquidations than a comparable downside move.

The map therefore reflects an asymmetric liquidity profile rather than directional confirmation.

Conclusively, ENA remains structurally biased toward a downside continuation, with price likely to test the $0.1315 support zone before any meaningful rebound develops.

Buyers have absorbed selling pressure, but have not reclaimed control of the trend. Unless aggressive demand steps in ahead of that level, downside risk persists.

A sustainable recovery only becomes credible if ENA holds $0.1315 and then reclaims channel resistance with expanding participation.


Final Thoughts

  • ENA’s structure favors a downside test of $0.1315 before any recovery attempt.
  • A rebound requires decisive buyer intervention and a reclaim of channel resistance.

Related Questions

QWhat was the estimated loss realized by the major holder who deposited 16.86 million ENA into Coinbase Prime?

AThe estimated loss was roughly $15 million, which is about 81% below the $18.53 million cost basis.

QWhat key support level does the article identify as a potential target for a deeper pullback in ENA's price?

AThe key support level identified is $0.1315, which aligns with prior reaction lows and channel symmetry.

QWhat does the recent shift in the OI-Weighted Funding Rate from negative to positive indicate about trader positioning?

AThe shift to a positive funding rate of around +0.005% suggests that traders are now paying to hold long positions, indicating a change in leverage bias towards cautious positioning rather than directional bets.

QAccording to the Binance liquidation map, where is the densest concentration of short liquidation leverage located relative to the current price?

AThe densest concentration of short liquidation leverage is above the current price, specifically between $0.205 and $0.22, with cumulative exposure exceeding $5 million.

QWhat is required for ENA to achieve a sustainable recovery according to the article's conclusion?

AA sustainable recovery requires ENA to hold the $0.1315 support level and then decisively reclaim channel resistance with expanding market participation.

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