Ethereum Liquidation Wave Crosses $1B — What February Holds for ETH Price?

Key Takeaways

• Ethereum witnessed a massive $1.14 billion liquidation event, with longs accounting for the majority of forced closures.

• ETH price broke down from its $2,620 accumulation zone, triggering a sharp manipulation move toward yearly lows.

• The current structure aligns with a potential Power of 3 (PO3) setup on the higher timeframe.

• A dip toward $2,128 support could act as a final shakeout before a possible trend reversal.

• Reclaiming $2,620 would be a key signal for bullish expansion, opening the door toward $4,500+ targets.

Ethereum ($ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has failed to maintain its early-January recovery momentum. After topping out near $3,400, ETH saw aggressive selling pressure into the month-end. On January 31, 2026, price briefly dipped to a low of $2,247, marking a sharp 9.33% drop in just 24 hours and printing a fresh yearly low.

Source: Coinmarketcap

This sudden downside move caught many traders off-guard and triggered one of the largest liquidation events of the year so far.

Liquidations soar past $1.14 billion

According to data from Coinglass, Ethereum-related liquidations surged to approximately $1.14 billion within a short time window. The breakdown shows a heavy imbalance toward bullish traders:

• Long liquidations: ~$1.08 billion

• Short liquidations: ~$66 million

Ethereum (ETH) Liquidations/Source: Coinglass

This clearly indicates that the majority of traders were positioned for upside continuation, expecting ETH’s January bounce to hold. Instead, the sharp breakdown flushed out over-leveraged longs, accelerating the sell-off and driving price swiftly into lower demand zones.

Historically, such one-sided liquidation events often mark panic phases, where weak hands are forced out of positions — sometimes setting the stage for a trend reset.

Power of 3 setup taking shape on the higher timeframe

Looking at the 3-day chart shared by crypto analyst Crypto-ROD, Ethereum appears to be developing a potential Power of 3 (PO3) structure — a pattern that plays out in three distinct phases: Accumulation → Manipulation → Expansion.

In ETH’s case, price previously ranged inside an accumulation zone near $2,620, where the market spent weeks building liquidity. The recent breakdown below this level marked the start of the manipulation phase, trapping late buyers and triggering cascading liquidations as price slid toward the $2,247 region.

Ethereum (ETH) PO3 Chart/Credits: @Crypto_R0D (X)

This kind of sharp downside deviation often acts as a shakeout, clearing excessive leverage before the market chooses its true direction.

What’s next for ETH in February?

If the PO3 structure continues to play out, Ethereum could see one more downside sweep toward the next support area around $2,128. A reaction from this zone would be critical, as it may attract dip buyers looking for a higher-timeframe reversal.

Should bulls regain control and manage to reclaim the former accumulation resistance near $2,620, that would significantly strengthen the case for a bullish expansion phase. In such a scenario, ETH could begin a broader recovery move with upside projections extending toward the $4,500+ region over the coming months.

On the flip side, a failure to hold above the $2,128 support would invalidate the Power of 3 setup altogether, opening the door for deeper downside and prolonged consolidation.

For now, Ethereum enters February at a crucial inflection point — shaken by massive liquidations, but potentially laying the groundwork for its next major move.

Disclaimer: The views and analysis presented in this article are for informational purposes only and reflect the author’s perspective, not financial advice. Technical patterns and indicators discussed are subject to market volatility and may or may not yield the anticipated results. Investors are advised to exercise caution, conduct independent research, and make decisions aligned with their individual risk tolerance.

About Author: Nilesh Hembade is the Founder and Lead Author of Coinsprobe, with over 5 years of experience in the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry. Since launching Coinsprobe in 2023, he has been providing daily, research-driven insights through in-depth market analysis, on-chain data, and technical research.