Ethereum’s price movements and long-term holder activity point to a potentially explosive move ahead. According to historical data, Ethereum’s $ETH token has gone parabolic in previous bull cycles when long-term holders shifted into “greed mode.” Currently, data suggests holders are only in the early stages of the “belief phase,” signaling the possibility of significant upside in the coming months.
According to crypto analyst Ali Martinez, The chart attached to the analysis divides Ethereum long-term holder behavior into several sentiment phases: Capitulation, Hope-Fear, Optimism-Anxiety, Belief-Denial, Euphoria, and finally, Greed. During each bull cycle, Ethereum has exhibited clear behavioral patterns among its long-term holders. As the price begins to rise, holders move from despair to cautious optimism, reflected in the shift from “Hope-Fear” to “Optimism-Anxiety.” However, the most important signals emerge as investors transition into the “Belief-Denial” phase, where they gain confidence in the price rally and begin holding with the expectation of further gains.
Currently, the chart shows that Ethereum is in the early stages of the belief phase. This phase, historically, has preceded parabolic price movements and coincided with strong bullish momentum.
Ethereum’s Early Belief Phase Signals Growth Ahead
In past Ethereum bull cycles, the transition into the greed phase—marked by widespread market euphoria and heavy profit-taking—was a key indicator of the market approaching a peak. Notably, ETH prices saw massive upward moves when long-term holders entered this phase. The chart reflects two key time periods: 2017 Bull Cycle: Ethereum transitioned from belief to greed mode, propelling prices from under $100 to over $1,400, 2021 Bull Cycle: A similar pattern saw ETH surge from $500 to a record high of $4,800.
Comparing these previous bull cycles to the current market setup, long-term holders are still far from “greed mode,” as indicated by the sentiment remaining in the belief phase. This suggests that Ethereum’s biggest gains in the current cycle may still lie ahead. The behavior of long-term holders is critical for understanding market trends, as it highlights the conviction of large ETH investors. When holders move into belief, they tend to accumulate tokens or avoid selling, effectively reducing the circulating supply on exchanges. This creates upward price pressure as demand for ETH grows while supply remains constrained.
Currently, ETH has been consolidating in a range between $1,800 and $2,200, reflecting early-stage accumulation. If this belief phase strengthens, it could signal that ETH is gearing up for its next major price movement—much like the patterns observed in 2017 and 2021. Another factor bolstering the belief phase is Ethereum’s growing role in the decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset tokenization ecosystems. Institutional interest in Ethereum is rising, with major corporations exploring its network for scalability, decentralized applications, and Layer 2 solutions.
The combination of institutional demand, shrinking exchange reserves, and strong long-term holder sentiment is creating a bullish foundation for Ethereum. This backdrop aligns with the belief phase, supporting the narrative of a sustained upward trajectory.
Will Ethereum Follow Its Historical Path?
While historical trends do not guarantee future outcomes, the parallels between previous bull cycles and the current phase are striking. Long-term holders remain a crucial component of Ethereum’s market structure. Their behavior, as outlined in the chart, suggests that Ethereum has yet to reach the point of euphoria and greed that typically marks a bull market top.
If this historical pattern holds, the “big move” for ETH could be on the horizon as holders move deeper into the belief phase and eventually into greed mode. Traders and investors are watching closely for any breakout signals, particularly as ETH’s price builds momentum toward key psychological levels.
The early belief phase in Ethereum long-term holder activity points to a market still in its growth stage, with significant upside potential. As history has shown, when holders transition into greed, parabolic moves have followed, driving ETH to new highs. Investors and analysts alike will be watching for further signals as Ethereum’s bull cycle progresses.For now, all signs suggest the big move for Ethereum may still be ahead.
