Ethereum (ETH) is exhibiting a promising chart pattern that has historically preceded significant price surges. On the 3-day chart, a MACD golden cross has emerged, coinciding with a 9/21 moving average crossover. This specific configuration has previously indicated the onset of substantial gains for the cryptocurrency.
In three recent instances, the same combination of signals resulted in impressive price increases: ETH experienced a 61% rise in September 2024, followed by a 51% gain in April 2025, and an 89% spike in July 2025. Each of these rallies commenced after the MACD indicator transitioned into positive territory, followed by a short-term moving average surpassing a longer-term one. The current bullish setup began to materialize on December 18, 2025, and both the crossover and MACD momentum have been confirmed to trend upwards.
At the time of writing, ETH is trading near $3,140, with a daily trading volume of $22 billion. Although the price has seen a slight increase today, it remains down by 3% over the past week. Over the last two months, Ethereum”s price has oscillated between $2,600 and $3,350. Analysts are closely monitoring for a breakout above $3,200, which could pave the way for a rally towards the $3,300 to $4,000 range. Conversely, a significant support level is identified around $3,000.
Today”s Consumer Price Index (CPI) data release is anticipated to introduce heightened market volatility. Analyst CW8900 pointed out that there remains a CME gap around $3,000, which could draw price action towards it in the near term. Furthermore, trader Lennaert Snyder has highlighted potential trading strategies based on market reactions at the $3,170 and $3,060 levels.
In addition to Ethereum”s performance against the US dollar, the ETH/BTC trading pair is garnering notable attention. Analyst Alex Wacy has illustrated that ETH/BTC is breaking out of a multi-year downtrend, reminiscent of the pattern observed between 2015 and 2018, which preceded a substantial breakout favoring Ethereum. Currently, the ETH/BTC ratio stands at 0.0343, with projections suggesting a potential move towards 0.15 if the breakout sustains.
Wacy characterized the current ETH rotation as “the biggest $ETH rotation in 8 years,” emphasizing that it tests patience rather than intelligence. This time around, the market dynamics include a larger pool of capital and institutional players. Additionally, analyst Kyledoops reported that Standard Chartered has adjusted its long-term projections for Ethereum, forecasting a price of $30,000 by 2029 and $40,000 by 2030. However, he clarified that these projections are not trading calls but rather reflect Ethereum”s evolving role in on-chain finance.
