Avalanche (AVAX) continues to trade under the critical $9 level at the time of writing on Thursday, marking its fourth consecutive daily decline. The weakness comes at a surprising moment: VanEck’s spot ETF, VanEck Avalanche ETF (VAVX), just recorded its largest single-day net inflow since launching in January.
This divergence between institutional inflows and short-term price action highlights a growing disconnect in the market — one that is fueling debate among traders about whether AVAX is quietly building a base or preparing for another leg down.
Institutional Demand Fails to Lift AVAX Price
According to data from SoSoValue, VAVX attracted $4.26 million in net inflows on Tuesday — its strongest daily intake since inception. Under normal circumstances, such inflows would be expected to support bullish momentum.
However, AVAX showed little reaction.
This muted response suggests that broader market sentiment remains cautious. Spot demand from institutions appears insufficient to offset persistent sell pressure from short-term traders. The lack of an immediate price breakout indicates that confidence has not fully returned, even with visible capital entering through regulated investment vehicles.
For many market participants, ETF inflows are typically viewed as a leading indicator. But in this case, the market seems to be waiting for stronger confirmation before committing to aggressive long exposure.
Mixed On-Chain and Derivatives Signals Create Market Standoff
Data aggregated from CryptoQuant presents a more nuanced picture.
On one hand, whale accumulation activity has increased, and broader market conditions appear to be stabilizing. Spot and futures positioning slightly favors the bulls, suggesting that longer-term participants may be positioning for recovery.
On the other hand, derivatives metrics reveal lingering hesitation.
Open Interest (OI) in AVAX futures has declined to $397 million as of Thursday, extending its downtrend since mid-January. This figure now sits not far above the February 11 low of $378 million. Falling OI typically reflects reduced speculative participation and shrinking risk appetite — a sign that traders remain defensive in the short term.
Yet there is a notable bright spot: the funding rate has flipped positive since Monday, rising to 0.0052% on Thursday. A positive funding rate indicates that long traders are willing to pay short sellers to maintain positions, signaling a gradual return of bullish sentiment.
Together, these data points paint a market in equilibrium — optimism from certain segments balanced by widespread caution. This tension may continue to suppress volatility until a decisive catalyst emerges.
Technical Outlook: Could AVAX Retest $7.55?
Technically, AVAX previously found strong daily support around $8.78 on February 11, staging an 11% rebound over the following three sessions. However, the recovery quickly lost momentum over the weekend, and the asset reversed lower, shedding nearly 5% by Tuesday.
At the time of writing, AVAX trades near $9.08.
If selling pressure intensifies, price may revisit the $8.78 support zone. A daily close below this level would significantly increase downside risk, potentially opening the door to a deeper correction toward the February 6 low at $7.55.
Momentum indicators remain mixed:
RSI currently sits at 37, below the neutral 50 level and trending downward, signaling bearish momentum dominance.
MACD, however, maintains a bullish crossover formed last Friday, suggesting that upside potential has not been fully invalidated.
Should buyers regain control, AVAX could attempt a move back toward the psychologically important $10 level — a threshold that may act as both technical resistance and a sentiment pivot point.
Market Sentiment: Accumulation Phase or Pre-Breakdown Consolidation?
The key question dividing the market is simple:
Are institutional players accumulating early while retail hesitates — or is the ETF inflow merely a temporary anomaly in a broader downtrend?
With shrinking Open Interest but improving funding rates, the market appears to be compressing ahead of a potential volatility expansion. Whether that expansion favors bulls or bears will likely depend on broader crypto sentiment and liquidity conditions.
For now, AVAX remains trapped between cautious optimism and structural weakness.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and reflects personal market observations. It does not constitute financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research before making any investment decisions.
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