Ethereum Shorting

Definition ∞ Ethereum Shorting involves selling borrowed ETH with the expectation of buying it back at a lower price. This trading strategy permits investors to profit from a declining price in Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency, ETH, by selling assets they do not currently own. Traders borrow ETH, sell it on the open market, and later repurchase it at a reduced cost to return the borrowed amount. The difference between the selling and repurchase price, minus fees, constitutes the profit.
Context ∞ Ethereum shorting activity is a significant indicator of market sentiment regarding ETH’s future price trajectory, often reported in cryptocurrency news. Increased short interest can signal bearish outlooks from traders, while liquidations of short positions can fuel price rallies. The availability and mechanisms for shorting ETH vary across centralized exchanges and decentralized finance platforms.