Here’s the Crucial Level Ethereum Needs to Break to Avoid Cratering Lower

Ethereum has been moving in close tandem with Bitcoin over the past couple of days
This has made it exposed to seeing intense downside, and it is now stuck beneath the $240 region
ETH is now at risk of setting lower lows according to one analyst, but there is a way bulls can stop this from happening
The trader noted that $242 is a key high time frame level that bulls must flip before tomorrow’s weekly candle close takes place
A failure to do so could be grim

Ethereum has been struggling to recapture the $240 region following its latest selloff. This decline came about in tandem with that seen by Bitcoin, which was rejected at $9,500 earlier this week.
BTC now appears to be entering another consolidation phase as it trades around $9,200, and this could either provide a backdrop for altcoins to run against or could cause ETH and its peers to continue trading sideways.
In the near-term, how the cryptocurrency trends could be largely determined by its reaction to one crucial level prior to its weekly candle close tomorrow.
One trader believes that this level sits at $242, and a failure to close above it could put Ethereum at risk of setting lower lows.
Ethereum Declines Beneath $240 as Market-Wide Momentum Slows
At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading down just under 1% at its current price of $239. This is around the price at which it has been trading throughout the past day.
Following ETH’s rejection at $250 that caused it to slide lower in tandem with Bitcoin, it has been establishing a trading range between $236 and $242.
The resistance at $242 appears to be slowly shifting lower, as it has been struggling to surmount $240 over the past day.
One analyst recently stated that it is imperative for Bitcoin’s buyers to catalyze a sharp movement that sends the cryptocurrency past $242 this weekend.
He explained that a close above this level could send it up towards $370, whereas a rejection here could cause it to reel lower.
“ETH HTF Update: Price really needs to flip $242 on the weekly level,” he said.

Image Courtesy of Cactus. Chart via TradingView.
ETH Could Be on the Cusp of Setting Lower Lows 
As Bitcoinist reported yesterday, the analyst also mused the possibility that Ethereum could soon plunge lower if it breaks below $238.
“ETH HTF Update: Currently PA is testing $238 which previously was a strong level of resistance… this is super critical for bulls to hold. If we break down from here likely we see a lower low,” he said.

Image Courtesy of Cactus. Chart via TradingView.
How Ethereum responds to its support at $238 and its resistance at $242 heading into the weekly close should set the tone for the week ahead.
Featured image from Shutterstock.
Charts via TradingView.