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Ethereum has recently climbed to a major high above $3,400, reigniting enthusiasm among market participants and signaling a potential upward trend that may lead to a push above $4,000 toward a new all-time high. This optimism has been met with major speculation of ETH’s price from the crypto community and analysts, who are observing key indicators within the market to assess the asset’s trajectory. Related Reading: Ethereum Weekly Volume Hits $60 Billion As ETH Aims For Yearly Highs Ethereum Rise and Market Sentiment According to a report shared by a CryptoQuant analyst known as ‘ShayanBTC,’ Ethereum’s recent price performance, up by 35% in the past week, has been accompanied by positive sentiment in the futures market, providing a detailed look into potential short-term fluctuations. Shayan pointed out that the funding rates for Ethereum futures have remained positive, demonstrating strong demand and bullish sentiment among investors. Notably, positive funding rates typically indicate buyers are willing to pay a premium to hold long positions, which signifies market confidence. The analyst highlighted that this surge in positive sentiment was especially evident when Ethereum surpassed the $3,000 mark, reflecting a similar pattern observed during the March 2024 rally that culminated in a yearly peak. This pattern now raises questions about whether the current momentum can be sustained or if the market is vulnerable to sudden reversals, just as it did following a major rally earlier this year. What Is Expected While positive funding rates are a favorable sign of market interest, they can also indicate heightened risk when they become too elevated. Shayan particularly noted: Although positive funding rates generally signify healthy demand in a bullish market, elevated funding rates can be a red flag. The analyst cautioned that high funding rates may point to an “overheated” market, which could increase the likelihood of a long liquidation cascade if the price faces significant resistance or experiences even a modest correction. Elevated rates suggest that traders may be over-leveraged, creating conditions where a sharp pullback could trigger a wave of sell-offs as leveraged positions are liquidated. The CryptoQuant analyst further revealed that with Ethereum experiencing high funding rates in the current market climate, investors may need to “exercise caution and adopt strategies to mitigate potential risks.” Related Reading: Ethereum Could Be Set To Explore New Highs As On-Chain Metrics Light Up The analyst emphasized that with heightened funding rates comes an increased chance of market volatility. Rapid price movements could lead to liquidations, particularly if profit-taking or minor corrections unsettle the market. Meanwhile, Ethereum has breached the $3,400 price mark to trade as high as $3,424 earlier today. However, at the time of writing, the asset appears to have seen a slight correction with a current trading price of $3,289, albeit still up by 2.2% in the past day. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView