Ethereum Trades in Tightening Range With Key Levels at $1.74K/$1.6K Down, $2.16K Up

Ethereum is compressing into a tight range between descending resistance and rising support, with downside zones at $1.74K and $1.6K and a potential bullish momentum flip on a reclaim above $2.16K, Merlijn The Trader said on Feb. 18, 2026. ETH has been rejected at resistance while grinding along support; as the corridor narrows, bounces have weakened and pullbacks tightened, with the asset around $1,980 after falling from $4,960 last August, and broader crypto conditions also softened as Bitcoin slid from $126,300 to $68,000. Onchain data show strengthening staking participation, with more than 777,000 ETH added to staking contracts over the past 30 days and a staking ratio of 30.7%, a record high, StakingRewards data show. If support breaks, $1.74K and then $1.6K could come into play, whereas a decisive reclaim of $2.16K would flip momentum in favor of buyers; squeezes rarely persist and often precede expansion, and the next move could define the coming weeks.