Learn Live ICYMI: HODL or flip ETH? Here's how you can win both ways
Ethereum activity has been picking up, and thereâs a lot of investor excitement surrounding it. Is this just a period of hype that will quickly fizzle out? Or are we entering a new phase for Ethereum?Â
In the 26th episode of our Learn 101 livestream, we explore HODL or flip ETH, diving into whether itâs time to hold, take profits or stay on the sidelines.
Our series Learn Live ICYMI provides a recap of our Learn 101 livestreams, offering you comprehensive expertise and insights from leading figures in the crypto industry in case you miss the livestream.
Joining the livestream on Jun 5, 2025 were two distinguished guests: Daniel Jordan, Director and Lead Analyst at Chart Champions, and DustyBC, Crypto KOL. Under the moderation of Sabrina Chua, Senior Content Strategist at Bybit, this episode explores HODL or Flip ETH.
Key Takeaways:
According to chart analysis, ETH has hit a point of strong resistance.
Ethereum is still strongly undervalued in comparison to Bitcoin, and has historically lagged behind Bitcoinâs peaks.
While HODLing and flipping ETH are both potentially profitable, investors may yield a greater return for short-term investing with a more volatile cryptocurrency.
ETHâs big move â whatâs fueling the fire?
Since April, Ethereum has seen a strong price surge. While the recent Pectra upgrade has helped fuel excitement, other factors are also driving the rally. According to DustyBC, Ethereum has been undervalued, relative to Bitcoin, and what weâre seeing now is simply Ethereum playing catch-up.
Daniel Jordan, however, takes a more cautious stance. From a technical perspective, he sees heavy resistance at current price levels. While not offering financial advice, Jordan says that he wouldnât open a new long position in Ethereum right now.
When evaluating the market, Jordan puts strong emphasis on order flow â studying they way large buy or sell orders move the market. While big orders may come from institutions or whales, for Jordan, the key is ultimately about volume and the way it shifts market dynamics.
In his analysis, Jordan often focuses on the ETH/BTC pair. Since December 2021, this ratio has remained in a bear trend. Each rally has faced significant resistance, with lower highs forming along the way. The current price action, in his view, still fits within this broader downtrend.
Meanwhile, some have speculated that Ethereum may be decoupling from Bitcoin. DustyBC looks back at previous cycles and disagrees. He points out that Ethereum remains far below its past cycle lows when adjusted for the BTC ratio, and sees this as a potential buying opportunity. In his view, the idea of a decoupling is premature.
On the topic of staking ETFs, Jordan remains skeptical. With current staking yields relatively low compared to Ethereumâs annual price swings, he believes investors may not be adequately compensated for the risk. Even if staking ETFs are approved, Jordan doesn't expect a major influx of new capital. DustyBC broadly agrees on the investment logic, though he adds that regulatory approval for staking ETFs could still have a positive impact on sentiment and prices.
Unlike DustyBC, Jordan strictly bases his trading decisions on charts alone. He deliberately avoids news headlines, focusing entirely on technical setups. In his assessment, although ETF launches have tended to create short-term hype, theyâve actually been a net bearish factor for cryptocurrencies over longer time frames.
The case for holding ETH long-term
Depending upon your profit margin, Jordan states he wouldnât necessarily close out his ETH position to lock in a profit, and might instead take 25% out for profit. In addition, he would use a stop-loss trade to avoid losing money if the price drops. DustyBC says ETH isnât close to the top, so he would keep his entire position open. However, this depends upon when you opened your position and how much profit youâre sitting on.
DustyBC points out that unlike other altcoins, Ethereum has always gone on a crazy run after Bitcoin peaks. In addition, Ethereum has long been in the second position behind Bitcoin, and he doesnât see any other altcoin catching up anytime soon.
Ethereum has gone sideways for the last 25 days, according to Jordan. He sees a small ascending triangle developing, which is bullish. Because this bullish sign is accompanied by tight resistance, he personally would avoid making a trade right now. If the price pulls back, he sees it as a good buying opportunity.
On a short-term basis, Trumpâs statements on tariffs and any scrutiny by the SEC have had a major impact on crypto. On a longer-term basis, these seemingly major hurdles will be overcome. This applies to the implementation of staking ETH.
In the meantime, Jordan isnât holding Ethereum long-term, and DustyBC holds ETH that he has no intention of selling, as he believes ETHâs price will increase over time.
The case for trading ETH short-term
Price volatility plays a key role in short-term trading. As DustyBC explains, as long as thereâs enough price movement throughout the day, any asset can present opportunities for short-term trades. However, for traders who donât plan to hold an asset long-term, targeting more volatile cryptocurrencies tends to offer better short-term potential.
While some investors closely monitor funding rates when making crypto decisions, Jordan believes this metric holds little weight for short-term strategies. In his view, if youâre planning to exit a position within a year, the impact of funding rates is minimal, and is almost negligible for trades with shorter time horizons.
Determining your strategy based on risk appetite
New investors often struggle with FOMO, worried that theyâve already missed the best opportunities to profit. Jordan observes that many newcomers become overly bullish during rallies, jumping into multiple altcoins at once. In his view, a smarter approach is to avoid chasing assets that have already pumped. Instead, focus on coins that haven't yet moved, or wait for a pullback before entering.
DustyBC acknowledges that this is easier said than done. When prices are surging, itâs tough for investors to resist buying into the momentum, fearing theyâll miss out if they wait. He notes that FOMO can be manageable â as long as you're aware you're buying into short-term momentum, and accept that what goes up can also come down.
When it comes to trading strategies, Jordan follows an 80/20 approach â that is, 80% long-term holding and 20% active flipping. DustyBC takes an even simpler route: he prefers to fully HODL, thus obviating the need to monitor the market constantly. In his view, the amount of time you want to spend watching charts should determine how much you commit to active trading versus passive holding.
Closing thoughts
This Learn 101 livestream offered valuable perspectives on whether to HODL or flip ETH. While experts remain divided on Ethereumâs short-term and long-term outlook, one thing is clear: thereâs no one-size-fits-all approach. Technical charts, BTC comparisons and market sentiment each tell a different story. Ultimately, investors need to evaluate the data, consider their own risk appetite and decide on a strategy that aligns with their goals.
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