What Drove Ethereum's 11% Decline This Past Week?

Core Insights - Ethereum is a dominant player in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, serving as a foundational layer-1 network with significant on-chain application activity [1][2] - The recent decline of 11.8% in Ethereum's value has brought it to its lowest levels of the year, marking a year-over-year downturn as well [3][9] Market Performance - Ethereum experienced a substantial increase, tripling from its April lows to nearly $5,000 per token in the summer, indicating strong bullish sentiment among long-term investors [5] - Despite this bullish trend, the broader macroeconomic environment has shifted, with precious metals gaining traction as safer investments compared to digital assets like Ethereum [6] Volatility and Investor Sentiment - Increased geopolitical tensions and market volatility, as evidenced by the VIX rising above 20, have historically led to mixed returns for Ethereum [7] - Concerns over potential security threats, including large-scale poisoning attacks and preparations for quantum attacks by Ethereum developers, have contributed to a bearish outlook among investors [8]