Ethereum price fell toward $2,475 after a brief move above $2,600 failed, leaving $ETH exposed to weaker momentum and leveraged volatility ahead of two major U.S. events.
Ethereum price falls back below $2,500
According to data from crypto.news, Ethereum ($ETH) price traded near $2,475 on Sept. 15 after dropping approximately 2% over the previous 24 hours. The decline followed a sharp rejection above $2,600, where buyers failed to sustain a breakout.
The daily chart shows $ETH opening at $2,515.72 before trading between $2,465.60 and $2,520 during the latest session. The token was down 1.65% at the time of writing.
Price action remains volatile after $ETH climbed above $2,600 during the prior session and quickly surrendered the entire move. The reversal pushed the token below the $2,500 psychological level and back into the consolidation range that has controlled trading since late August.
Crypto trader Daan Crypto Trades described the move as pre-positioning ahead of the U.S. Senate’s CLARITY Act vote and the Federal Open Market Committee meeting. According to the analyst, the initial rally removed leveraged short positions before the decline forced out traders positioned long.
The pattern shows traders reducing risk before events that could affect both monetary policy and U.S. digital-asset regulation. Failure to advance the bill could produce another move lower before attention shifts to the Fed decision, Daan added.
Weak momentum leaves Ethereum near 4-hour support
On the 4-hour chart, $ETH has moved below the Bollinger Band midpoint at $2,509.64. The lower band stands at $2,469.41, placing the current price close to its first immediate volatility support.
A break below that band would expose the recent intraday lows and the $2,450 area. Buyers would need to recover the midpoint before attempting another move toward the upper Bollinger Band at $2,549.86.
The Average Directional Index is at 17.73. Readings below 20 normally indicate that the prevailing trend lacks strength, meaning $ETH could remain range-bound even as short-term swings become sharper.
Daily indicators also show fading momentum. The relative strength index has dropped to 56.89 from its recent highs and sits below its moving average of 62.14. $ETH is not oversold, leaving room for further downside if sellers retain control.
The daily MACD line remains positive at 72.86 but has fallen below the signal line at 90.93. The histogram has turned negative at -18.07, showing that the momentum behind the August rally is weakening.
Liquidation clusters frame the next $ETH move
CoinGlass’s one-week liquidation heatmap shows a concentration of leveraged positions immediately below the market around $2,450–$2,470. $ETH’s decline toward that area increases the chance of further volatility if the price moves through the cluster.
A stronger pocket of downside liquidity appears around $2,390–$2,410. Failure to hold the current range could draw price toward that zone, particularly if leveraged long positions are forced to close.
Liquidity also sits above $ETH around $2,535–$2,580, followed by brighter concentrations near $2,630 and $2,650. A recovery above $2,550 could therefore trigger short liquidations and support another attempt at $2,600.
The heatmap does not establish the direction of the next move. It identifies areas where forced position closures could accelerate volatility after $ETH reaches those levels.
On the broader daily chart, the 0.786 Fibonacci retracement at $2,253.61 remains the main structural support. The next major upside Fibonacci level stands at $2,833.75, but $ETH must first overcome the nearer resistance between $2,550 and $2,600.
Analysts identify $2,550 as the key resistance
Crypto analyst Ted Pillows said $ETH’s upside would remain capped until the asset reclaims $2,550 on the weekly timeframe. His chart places the first major support near $2,175 and the next resistance around $2,860 if buyers establish a weekly close above the current ceiling.
$ETH broke above the $2,600 again before reversing all the gains.
Until Ethereum reclaims the $2,550 level on the weekly timeframe, the upside will be capped. pic.twitter.com/asmN3rfQnJ
— Ted (@TedPillows) September 15, 2026
The immediate structure provides closer levels for short-term traders. A move above $2,510 would return $ETH to the middle of its 4-hour Bollinger range, while a break through $2,550 would weaken the current bearish setup.
A close below $2,465 would place the $2,450 liquidity area at risk. If sellers clear that zone, $2,400 becomes the next visible target before the larger daily support at $2,254.
Fed and CLARITY Act keep US traders cautious
U.S. macro conditions could determine whether $ETH holds its current support. Oil prices climbed above $107 per barrel while the 10-year Treasury yield moved above 5%, increasing concerns that higher energy costs could keep inflation elevated.
CME FedWatch data showed markets assigning a probability above 90% to a 25-basis-point rate increase at the Fed’s Sept. 16 meeting, according to Reuters. Higher Treasury yields can reduce demand for risk assets by giving U.S. investors access to stronger returns in traditional fixed-income markets.
The Senate’s procedural vote on the CLARITY Act adds a separate regulatory catalyst. Until both events are resolved, $ETH may remain vulnerable to sharp moves through nearby liquidation zones.
