Ethereum (ETH) Daily Market Analysis 23 February 2026

Ethereum faces a classic contrarian setup – here's the latest: • BlackRock filed for a staking-enabled Ethereum ETF (23 February 2026), a major structural bullish catalyst for institutional adoption • Price consolidates near $1,955 with critical support at $1,896; a break below risks a fall toward $1,398 • Extreme fear index hits 8/100, but retail traders are 73.7% long, creating a bearish contrarian signal • Spot ETFs see $130M in net outflows, showing institutional selling pressure despite retail accumulation • Vitalik Buterin sold 1,694 ETH in 1.5 days, adding near-term supply concerns amid a divided community sentiment