The market for Ethereum shows persistent price pressure during 2026, yet several network indicators point to steady accumulation by long-term investors. Ethereum (ETH) trades near $2,113, a level that sits roughly 30% below the yearly opening price of $2,990.
While the price struggles to break the $2,100–$2,200 resistance zone, balances held in accumulation wallets continue to expand. Such addresses usually belong to holders who historically avoid selling their coins, which makes rising balances a useful signal of confidence in the asset’s long-term value. Since early January, the amount of ETH stored in accumulation addresses has increased by 32%, representing an additional 6.5 million coins held by long-term participants.
Network activity strengthens the same narrative. During February, daily active addresses climbed to roughly 1.1 million, the highest reading since December 2022. Moreover, the figure jumped from 370,390 to 672,170 active addresses within a single week, an increase close to 80%. Analysts from the data platform CryptoQuant link the surge in activity to buying pressure that appeared after Ether briefly fell below the $2,000 level.
Capital flows into accumulation wallets do not occur in isolation. Since mid-2025, daily inflows of ETH into those addresses follow a steady upward path. In November last year, inflows reached 1.14 million ETH in a single day, marking the highest reading recorded. Throughout 2026, daily averages remain close to 200,000 ETH, while occasional spikes exceed 350,000 coins within a 24-hour period.
Because of those sustained inflows, accumulation wallets now hold about 26.55 million ETH, compared with 20.1 million at the start of the year. Rising balances indicate that many investors prefer holding their positions over extended periods rather than selling through exchanges.
From a technical standpoint, the $2,100 to $2,200 region continues to act as a strong barrier that has restrained price advances during the past month.
Source: On-chain data and market analysis from CryptoQuant
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency markets remain highly volatile, and investors should evaluate risks carefully before making financial decisions.
