Ethereum slides 43% YTD as $1,800 resistance holds and traders watch support zones

Ethereum has fallen about 43% since the start of the year, struggling to break the $1,800 price level that now acts as resistance. Technical indicators show the daily RSI hovering near 40, suggesting weak bullish momentum. Analysts point to $1,400 as a key support area if the $1,800 barrier continues to repel price advances.

On the short‑term chart, ETH is trading near $1,726, with a rising trendline around $1,720‑$1,743 serving as a make‑or‑break point. A successful breach could lift the price toward $1,760‑$1,800, while a failure may push it back to $1,695‑$1,700 and lower.

Derivatives data reveal a split stance: large‑holder “whales” have increased leveraged short positions worth tens of millions of dollars, yet the overall long‑short ratio shows roughly 73% of open positions are long, indicating broader market optimism. Short‑term bullish analysis highlights a support zone near $1,747 and an anchored VWAP around $1,686, with the next upside target around $1,845.

The combined technical pressure, mixed trader sentiment, and historical price weakness underscore the uncertainty surrounding Ethereum’s near‑term direction.