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Ethereum derivatives metrics show increased activity, indicating higher interest but not necessarily a bullish trend.

Ether (ETH) experienced a 10% correction between July 31 and Aug. 2, retesting the $3,000 support for the first time since July 8. This movement significantly outpaced the broader cryptocurrency market, which declined by 6.8% during the same period. Despite this, Ether futures open interest rose to its highest level in seven months, leading traders to speculate whether a rally to $3,600 is the next probable move.

The increased activity in ETH futures contracts typically indicates institutional investors' interest, as open interest measures the demand for leverage. However, buyers (longs) and sellers (shorts) are always matched, so an increase in open interest does not inherently indicate a positive outlook.

Part of Ether’s decline can be attributed to the lack of net inflows into recently launched Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States. Although there were some inflows, particularly into BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust and the Fidelity Ethereum Fund, these were offset by outflows from the Grayscale Ethereum Trust, which has existed since before the ETF conversion.

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