While the Ethereum price has been building some positive momentum over the past day, the shadows of the October 10 downturn still seem to be weighing on investor sentiment. A market phenomenon known as the “Kimchi Premium” suggests a few tedious weeks ahead for the second-largest cryptocurrency.
This metric, or the “Kimchi Premium,” shows how much extra Korean traders are willing to pay for a particular cryptocurrency (Ethereum, in this case). When the index is positive, it means that Korean retailers are willing to pay a premium for the crypto assets. Meanwhile, a negative Korean Premium Index signals that the retailers are only willing to buy the cryptocurrency at a discount.
Typically, whales tend to take advantage of the price gap by selling on Korean exchanges when the Korea Premium Index is on the rise. Due to increased selling pressure, the Ethereum price now faces a greater risk of correction.
For instance, the last time ETH saw a Kimchi Premium this high was in January, coinciding with the price fall to around $1,500. With this in mind, investors might want to tread with caution, as the odds of a sustained downward trend are significantly higher.