Arthur Hayes scoops up $5.4M in Ethereum after Iran deal

Ethereum has surged nearly 6% and attracted fresh whale buying after a reported U.S.-Iran peace agreement improved risk sentiment across global markets.

According to on-chain tracker Lookonchain, a wallet possibly linked to BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes received 3,000 ETH worth approximately $5.42 million from market maker Flowdesk on June 15. The transfer came as Ethereum rallied alongside other cryptocurrencies following signs that tensions in the Middle East may be easing.

The purchase follows a period in which Hayes had been reducing exposure to several altcoins. In his June 8 essay titled Reality Test, the Maelstrom chief investment officer disclosed that he had sold positions in Hyperliquid, Near Protocol, Worldcoin, and Zcash.

Hayes described the moves as a defensive response to macroeconomic risks rather than a rejection of those projects, while noting that Bitcoin and Ethereum remained among his core holdings.

Ethereum extends gains as risk appetite returns

Support for risk assets strengthened after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a peace deal with Iran had been completed. Trump said shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had resumed and that vessels carrying oil were once again moving through what he described as a secure route.

The development triggered a sharp decline in energy prices. Crude oil fell more than 5% to around $80.53 per barrel, easing concerns that disruptions in one of the world’s most important energy corridors could fuel inflation and weigh on financial markets.

Ethereum responded strongly to the change in sentiment. At press time, ETH traded near $1,828 after climbing almost 6% over the previous 24 hours. The move pushed the asset to its highest level in more than a week and helped it outperform several major cryptocurrencies during Monday’s session.

Large investors appeared to be adding exposure during the rally. Separate data shared by Lookonchain showed that wallet address geministar.eth purchased 21,136 ETH worth roughly $37.05 million from Binance through a series of transactions on June 15.

Technical indicators point toward $1,850 test

Price action has also improved from a technical perspective. On the daily chart, Ethereum has broken above a descending trendline that had capped rallies since late April. The move places ETH above the upper boundary of a bearish flag structure that had formed during the decline from roughly $2,400.

Ethereum daily price chart — June 15 | Source: crypto.news

Momentum indicators have started to recover as well. The daily MACD has produced a bullish crossover, while the Chaikin Money Flow indicator has been moving higher, signaling that selling pressure is fading.

Additional upside could depend on whether Ethereum clears a key resistance zone near the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level around $1,858. A successful move above that area would strengthen the argument that the recent breakout is invalidating the bearish flag pattern rather than confirming it.

Meanwhile, crypto analyst Ali Martinez pointed to a potential ascending triangle breakout on Ethereum’s four-hour chart. According to Martinez, confirmation of the pattern projects a move toward $1,850, placing the target almost directly in line with the resistance area currently being tested.

Even before the latest purchase, Hayes had maintained an optimistic outlook on Ethereum. In a June market thesis, he projected that ETH could reach between $10,000 and $20,000 before the current market cycle ends, citing expected liquidity growth and Ethereum’s position within decentralized finance.