Ethereum price failed to clear the $3,220 resistance and dipped. ETH is now 
attempting to recover and faces an uphill task near the $3,150 level. Ethereum 
started a downside correction below $3,220 and $3,200. The price is trading 
below $3,180 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There was a break above 
a connecting bearish trend line with resistance at $3,100 on the hourly chart 
of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could continue to move up if it 
stays above the $3,050 zone. Ethereum Price Attempts Fresh Increase Ethereum 
price failed to remain stable above $3,220 and dipped further, like Bitcoin. 
ETH price declined below $3,200 and $3,120 to enter a short-term bearish zone. 
The price even dipped below $3,120. A low was formed at $3,050, and the price 
is now consolidating losses. It tested the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the 
recent decline from the $3,308 swing high to the $3,050 low. Besides, there 
was a break above a connecting bearish trend line with resistance at $3,100 on 
the hourly chart of ETH/USD. Ethereum price is now trading below $3,180 and 
the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If the bulls can protect more losses 
below $3,050, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance 
is seen near the $3,150 level. The first key resistance is near the $3,180 
level and the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $3,308 
swing high to the $3,050 low. The next major resistance is near the $3,210 
level. A clear move above the $3,210 resistance might send the price toward 
the $3,250 resistance. An upside break above the $3,250 region might call for 
more gains in the coming days. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the 
$3,300 resistance zone or even $3,320 in the near term. Another Decline In 
ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,180 resistance, it could start a fresh 
decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $3,080 level. The first 
major support sits near the $3,050 zone. A clear move below the $3,050 support 
might push the price toward the $3,020 support. Any more losses might send the 
price toward the $3,000 region. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD 
for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI &#8211; The RSI for 
ETH/USD is now below the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $3,050 Major 
Resistance Level – $3,180

Ethereum Price Inches Higher, Building Pressure for a Follow-Through

The cryptocurrency market recently experienced a brief uptick, but it has once 
again encountered increased volatility, with Bitcoin (BTC) and other major 
crypto assets retracting some of the gains achieved earlier in the week. Amid 
this churning landscape, Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, has 
outlined three essential “checkpoints for a rally,” which he believes must be 
met for a lasting cryptocurrency recovery this year. Key Hurdles For Crypto 
Rally In the report released on January 6, Hougan highlighted the first hurdle 
for a sustained rally: avoiding a repeat of the catastrophic events that 
transpired on October 10, 2025. On that day, the market witnessed the largest 
liquidation event in its history, erasing approximately $19 billion in futures 
positions in just 24 hours. Related Reading: Did Morgan Stanley Orchestrate 
Bitcoin October Crash? Analysts Draw Correlations The aftermath of this event 
raised concerns among investors about the potential long-term health of 
significant market players such as hedge funds and major market makers. Many 
feared that these entities might need to liquidate assets to stabilize their 
operations, a scenario that could weigh heavily on the market. However, Hougan 
expressed a degree of optimism, suggesting that if any major firm were poised 
for a downturn, it likely would have occurred by now. He argues that investors 
have begun to move past the traumatic experience of October 10, contributing 
to the recent rally at the start of the new year. The second checkpoint 
outlined by Hougan is the passage of the crypto market structure bill, known 
as the CLARITY Act, which is currently making its way through Congress with 
the anticipated markup scheduled for January 15. This process involves 
aligning various drafts from the Senate banking and agriculture committees to 
reach a final vote. However, NewsBTC reported on Wednesday that several 
hurdles remain, including differing perspectives on how to regulate 
decentralized finance (DeFi) and stablecoin rewards. Legislative Framework 
Essential Hougan emphasized that the approval of the CLARITY Act is crucial 
for the long-term viability of cryptocurrencies in the United States. Without 
a legislative framework, Hougan stressed that the current pro-crypto stance at 
regulatory agencies could shift dramatically under future administrations. 
Bitwise’s CIO emphasized that passing the crypto market structure bill would 
solidify key regulatory principles into law, providing a sound foundation for 
ongoing growth in the crypto sector. Related Reading: Dogecoin Rapid 
Accumulation Suggests Sharp Upward Sweep Is Coming The final hurdle for a 
sustained crypto rally is maintaining stability in the broader equity market. 
While cryptocurrencies do not operate in lockstep with stocks, a significant 
downturn—such as a 20% drop in the S&amp;P 500—could dampen enthusiasm for all 
risk assets, including digital currencies. Hougan also notes growing concerns 
about a potential artificial intelligence (AI) bubble. However, current 
prediction markets suggest a low probability of a recession in 2026 and an 
approximately 80% chance of gains for the S&amp;P 500. Featured image from DALL-E, 
chart from TradingView.com

3 Vital Factors Needed For A Lasting 2026 Crypto Surge, Bitwise CIO Unveils

A new plan would tie OP token value to network performance by using half of 
all Superchain fee revenue for systematic repurchases.

Optimism floats OP buyback proposal using Superchain revenue

BitFuFu&#8217;s expanded Bitcoin treasury and improved liquidity position enhance 
its financial resilience and strategic flexibility for future growth.
The post Nasdaq-listed miner BitFuFu expands Bitcoin treasury to 1,780 BTC 
appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Nasdaq-listed miner BitFuFu expands Bitcoin treasury to 1,780 BTC

Famous investor Tim Draper predicts a bonanza year, expecting bitcoin to 
finally reach $250,000 as it goes mainstream, alongside a trillion-dollar IPO, 
passenger moon flights, biotech longevity gains, and autonomous transport 
advances. Tim Draper Sees $250K Bitcoin Prediction Finally Reached, Trillion- 
Dollar IPO Ahead Venture capitalist Tim Draper delivered an emphatically 
bullish vision for the year […]

Cryptocurrency price in AED