[Analysis] Trend Research Buys $34.9M ETH Amid Extreme Fear Market

• Trend Research acquires 11,520 ETH for $34.93 million at $3,041.03 per token.
• Firm's total ETH holdings exceed 580,000 tokens, accumulated since November at $3,400 average.
• Global crypto sentiment registers "Extreme Fear" with score of 24/100.
• Technical analysis identifies $2,950 as Bullish Invalidation and $3,200 as Bearish Invalidation.

NEW YORK, December 29, 2025 — Trend Research, a subsidiary of LD Capital, executed a $34.93 million Ethereum purchase amid extreme market fear, according to on-chain data from Lookonchain. This latest crypto news reveals the firm bought 11,520 ETH at approximately $3,041.03 per token, expanding its total holdings beyond 580,000 ETH accumulated since November.

Market Context & Background

Institutional accumulation during fear periods mirrors 2021's Q3 correction. Market structure suggests smart money positions against retail panic. The current Extreme Fear score of 24/100 indicates maximum capitulation zones. This aligns with historical bottoms where large buyers enter. Related developments include the PBOC's digital yuan liquidity grab and South Korean exchange warnings amid similar sentiment.

What Happened?

Lookonchain data confirms Trend Research's transaction on December 29. The firm began accumulating ETH in November at $3,400 average price. Current purchase at $3,041.03 represents a 10.5% discount to entry. Total holdings now exceed 580,000 ETH worth approximately $1.76 billion at current prices. No official statement from LD Capital accompanies the on-chain activity.

Technical Analysis & Price Action

ETH trades at $3,041.03, up 3.62% in 24 hours. The 200-day moving average sits at $2,850. RSI reads 42, indicating neutral momentum. Volume profile shows accumulation between $2,950 and $3,100. A Fair Value Gap exists from $3,150 to $3,250. Bullish Invalidation level: $2,950 (break below triggers bearish structure). Bearish Invalidation level: $3,200 (break above confirms bullish continuation). Fibonacci support at $2,900 aligns with the 0.618 retracement of the 2024-2025 rally.

By The Numbers

Why It Matters

Institutional impact: Signals confidence in ETH's long-term value proposition despite short-term volatility. Validates $3,000 as psychological support. Retail impact: Contrarian indicator suggests buying fear. Market structure indicates this could mark a local bottom. The accumulation aligns with Ethereum's upcoming EIP-4844 proto-danksharding upgrade, reducing layer-2 costs by 10-100x.

Community Sentiment

Market analysts on X highlight the divergence between on-chain accumulation and retail sentiment. "Large wallets loading while small wallets panic-sell," observes one quant trader. Bulls point to similar patterns preceding 2023's 80% rally. Bears note declining network activity and regulatory uncertainty from SEC actions.

Price Prediction / Future Outlook

Bullish Case: Break above $3,200 invalidates bearish structure. Targets $3,500 resistance. Catalyst: EIP-4844 implementation in Q1 2026. On-chain data indicates whale accumulation could trigger a gamma squeeze above $3,300.

Bearish Case: Failure at $3,200 resistance. Breakdown below $2,950 support. Targets $2,700 next liquidity zone. Macro headwinds include potential Fed rate hikes in 2026.

FAQs

What is Trend Research?A subsidiary of LD Capital specializing in crypto investments.

Why buy ETH during extreme fear?Institutions often accumulate at maximum pessimism for long-term gains.

What is the Fear & Greed Index?A sentiment indicator combining volatility, volume, social media, and surveys.

How does this affect ETH price?Large purchases provide support but don't guarantee immediate upside.

What are invalidation levels?Price points where the current market structure breaks, requiring reassessment.

Source Note: Market data and factual reporting in this article are sourced from original reports. Commentary and analysis provided by CoinMarketBuzz.