Ethereum’s “Fractal” Signal Meets Record Accumulation as Price Slides

Ethereum is flashing two signals on long term charts. One analyst points to a repeating monthly pattern, while separate data shows the strongest accumulation in years during the downturn.

Trader Tardigrade maps monthly Ethereum “fractal” to prior cycle

A chart analyst known as Trader Tardigrade said Ethereum is tracing a monthly pattern that looks similar to a prior market cycle, arguing the setup points to a rebound after a repeated bottom structure.

Ethereum Monthly Fractal Pattern. Source: Trader Tardigrade on X

In a post on X, the analyst shared an ETHUSD monthly index chart and highlighted what they described as the same sequence playing out twice. The post marked 2019 as a first dip in red, followed by “double dips” in 2020 in yellow, then a rebound.

The analyst drew a matching roadmap for the current cycle, labeling 2024 as a first dip and 2025–2026 as a second set of double dips. On the chart, the marks sit inside rising channel lines and point toward a move higher, using arrows to project a continuation.

The comparison relies on a “fractal” idea, where traders look for repeating shapes across cycles. However, the post framed the chart as a historical rhyme rather than a guarantee, and it did not cite a specific trigger level or timing for the next move.

Ethereum shows strongest accumulation in years as prices fall

Meanwhile, Ethereum saw its heaviest accumulation in years while prices trended lower, according to data shared by X user CryptosBatman and a chart from CryptoRank.io with inputs from CryptoQuant. The chart dated Feb. 18, 2026 shows ETH inflows rising to multi year highs even as the ETH price line moved lower on the right axis.

ETH Accumulation vs Price. Source: CryptoRank.io

The data tracks ETH price against inflow volume over several years. As price weakened into early 2026, inflow bars expanded sharply, signaling a surge in coins moving into accumulation wallets or venues tracked by the dataset. The rise in inflows stands out against earlier periods, when inflow spikes appeared smaller and less frequent during price pullbacks.

The chart frames the current phase as a divergence between price and accumulation activity. While price action reflects a broad downtrend, the volume of ETH moving into accumulation rose to the strongest levels shown on the chart, indicating heavier positioning during the decline rather than during prior rallies.