The recent events in the cryptocurrency market have had a significant impact on the price of Ethereum, leading to a sharp decline in value. Ethereum, one of the major altcoins, faced a drastic drop below the crucial $3,000 mark, signaling a bearish trend in the market. The market collapse was triggered by the release of substantial payouts from the 2014 Mt. Gox Bitcoin security breach, introducing a surge in supply pressure across various cryptocurrencies including altcoins, meme coins, and AI tokens. The influx of such a large supply overwhelmed the market demand, causing a domino effect on the prices of major cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum.

The Ethereum price performance took a hit as it struggled to find support amidst the ongoing market crash. The downward trend was exacerbated by the release of a whale's significant holdings, resulting in a strategic maneuver to capitalize on the price dip. This move further intensified the selling pressure on Ethereum, pushing its price below key support levels.

The bearish patterns and signals dominating the Ethereum price chart indicated a bloodbath, with a substantial drop of 16.42% in a week. The market sentiment was reflected in the bearish formations, such as the evening star pattern, suggesting a retest at $3,460. As Ethereum breached the long-standing support trendline with a 16% decline over four days, the broader cryptocurrency market also witnessed a downturn, with notable coins like Solana, DOGE, and SHIB experiencing significant losses.

The whale activity added to the downward pressure on Ethereum's price, with a whale selling a large amount of ETH to repay debt and subsequently borrowing USDT to purchase ETH at a lower price. This strategic move aimed to take advantage of the price drop, showcasing the impact of large transactions on cryptocurrency prices.

The market instability raised concerns among Ethereum whales, as some rushed to repay debts and avoid liquidations by depositing significant amounts of ETH on exchanges. This frantic activity highlighted the vulnerabilities of major ETH holders and underscored the potential risks to the overall stability of the crypto market.

As Ethereum faces the possibility of hitting the $2,616 level, the formation of a triple black crow pattern in the daily chart suggests a high likelihood of further downside. The current price of Ethereum hovering around $2,866 indicates a bearish outlook, with a potential extended crash looming. A break below the $2,875 support level could trigger a 10% additional drop, pushing Ethereum towards the $2,616 mark.