Ethereum’s [ETH] rough first quarter has left investors rattled, with the asset shedding nearly 50% of its value amid broader market uncertainty.
While Bitcoin has managed to hold its ground near all-time highs, ETH’s slump paints a starker picture of diverging sentiment within the crypto majors.
Adding to the concern, exchange supply for both assets continues to drop — especially for ETH, which just hit fresh lows.
Taken together, the trend signals not just price fatigue, but a deeper erosion of investor confidence across the board.
ETH diverges sharply from BTC as Q1 drawdown widens
Ethereum bore the brunt of Q1’s crypto correction, shedding 44.83% of its value compared to Bitcoin’s more moderate 14.67% decline, as shown in data from IntoTheBlock.
Source: IntoTheBlock
The divergence underscores Ethereum’s vulnerability as risk appetites shift, regulatory concerns arise, and demand for Ethereum-based assets weakens.
While Bitcoin’s decline reflects broader macroeconomic volatility, Ethereum’s sharper drop indicates a confidence gap. Traders appear to be redirecting capital into Bitcoin, considered the “safer” cryptocurrency option.
Even traditional markets like the S&P 500 outperformed Ethereum, emphasizing its underperformance as one of the quarter’s most notable trends.
Exchange reserves hit new lows
Adding to Ethereum’s concerning quarter is a continued drop in exchange reserves, which have now fallen to just 18.4 million ETH — the lowest level in over three years, according to CryptoQuant data.
Normally, such a decline would be read as bullish, signaling long-term conviction and reduced sell pressure.
Source: Cryptoquant
The continued decline in ETH’s price tells a different story. A reduction in tokens on exchanges has not led to increased buying momentum.
Instead, it may indicate broader investor disengagement, a shift toward passive holding, staking, or even potential exit strategies.
While the supply is decreasing, investor confidence appears to be fading as well.
Ethereum: Caught in no man’s land?
Trading at $1,788 at press time, ETH sat just above a key psychological level of $1,750, with no clear signs of bullish momentum.
The RSI hovered at 36.7 — edging toward oversold territory, yet lacking enough buying pressure to spark a reversal. Meanwhile, the MACD was showing weak upward momentum, with the histogram barely flipping green.
Source: TradingView
The price has been range-bound for over two weeks, hinting at indecision rather than accumulation.
Unless ETH can reclaim the $1,850-$1,900 zone with volume support, downside risk remains. In the short term, a break below $1,750 could trigger a retest of $1,650.
Samyukhtha L KM is a journalist with a keen eye on the ever-changing digital asset landscape - and a soft spot for memecoins. With a Bachelors in Commerce and a Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication, she’s always curious about whether the next big thing in blockchain is hype or history in the making. When she’s not tracking the latest market moves, she’s reflecting on what blockchain adoption really means in a world still largely rooted in traditional finance.