Whale Liquidates $15.25M ETH Long Position, Earns $90K Profit Amid ETF Flows

A large Ethereum whale closed a $15.25 million long position on January 15, 2026, realizing a $90,000 profit before a pullback in price. The liquidation followed a week of strong inflows into Ethereum-based ETFs and rising demand from institutional investors.

On January 13, U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs recorded a combined $130 million in net inflows. BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust led the activity with $53.3 million in new capital. Grayscale's ETHE product also saw $3.9 million in inflows, according to Farside Investors' tracking.

At the same time, Ethereum's price pushed above a key triangle pattern near $3,330, signaling potential upward momentum toward $4,000. The move followed a period of consolidation that had lasted several weeks.

Why Did This Happen?

Institutional inflows into Ethereum ETFs have grown steadily in the last month. BlackRock, Fidelity, and Bitwise all reported positive flows on January 13, marking one of the stronger single-day inflows this month. Grayscale's Ethereum Trust also showed a return of capital after several weeks of mixed outflows and inflows.

The inflows reflect growing institutional confidence in Ethereum. Analysts noted that ETFs act as liquidity funnels for major crypto assets, with capital largely flowing into Bitcoin and Ethereum, while altcoins saw limited spillover.

How Did Markets Respond?

Ethereum's price reacted to the ETF inflows with a breakout above a key technical level. The daily chart showed ETH clearing a descending trendline resistance near $3,330, confirming the move to a higher price range. The next major resistance level is now near $4,000.

The market also saw a shift in institutional strategies. Grayscale and BlackRock are now exploring options trading on their ETFs, adding another layer of liquidity and investment tools for traders. NYSE American filed to list options on the Grayscale CoinDesk Crypto 5 ETF, which includes Ethereum among other major cryptos.

What Are Analysts Watching Next?

Market participants are closely following Ethereum ETF inflows and price action. ETH has shown signs of stabilization after falling below $3,000 earlier in January. On-chain data also indicated increased whale accumulation, with large investors acquiring $16.5 million in ETH over the past week.

Analysts remain cautious. Standard Chartered revised its Ethereum price forecast for 2026, cutting its end-of-year target to $7,500 from $12,000. The bank attributed the downgrade to weaker-than-expected Bitcoin performance, which has influenced the broader digital asset market.

Looking ahead, the expansion of ETF and DAT mandates, a potential BTC or ETH rally, and a return of retail investors to crypto from equity markets are expected to shape the 2026 market landscape.