Ethereum’s native token, Ether (ETH), is showing signs of underperformance against Bitcoin (BTC), with a bearish double-top setup emerging just as the US Senate’s failure to advance the CLARITY Act adds fresh uncertainty to the crypto market.
ETH/BTC Double Top Points to 10% Decline
Ether was trading near 0.03167 BTC on Sept. 16, after failing to sustain its latest advance against Bitcoin.
Its neckline sits around 0.03078 BTC, meaning ETH/BTC would need a decisive daily close below that level to validate the breakdown.
If that happens, subtracting the pattern’s maximum height from the neckline produces a downside target near 0.0283 BTC. That would represent a decline of roughly 10% from current levels, signaling further Ethereum underperformance relative to Bitcoin.
ETH/BTC’s daily relative strength index has fallen toward 53 after previously moving above 70, suggesting that the bullish momentum behind its August-September recovery is weakening.
Ether nevertheless remains above its 20-day EMA near 0.03162 BTC. A rebound from the moving average followed by a break above 0.03344 BTC would invalidate the double-top scenario.
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See all Ethereum forecastsCLARITY Act Setback Adds to Crypto Uncertainty
The bearish technical setup comes after the US Senate failed on Sept. 15 to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, legislation intended to establish a broader federal regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies.
The procedural vote received a 50-49 majority but failed to reach the 60 votes required to advance the legislation. A procedural vote switch by Senator Thom Tillis nevertheless leaves open the possibility that the measure could be reconsidered.
The CLARITY Act didn’t advance in the Senate today, which was a disappointment. While it’s possible bi-partisan conversations continue and it lives to fight another day, we can’t wait on Congress anymore.
The SEC and CFTC have the tools they need to create clear rules under…
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) September 15, 2026
Crypto markets weakened following the vote. Bitcoin fell about 4% to around $75,900, while shares of crypto companies including Coinbase and Circle also declined sharply.
The CLARITY Act setback adds to the bearish ETH/BTC setup. Regulatory uncertainty can push traders toward Bitcoin over Ethereum during risk-off periods.
That puts the 0.03078 BTC neckline under pressure. A break below it would confirm the double top and open the door toward 0.0283 BTC.
A move back above 0.03344 BTC would invalidate the bearish thesis.
Binance ETH Inflows Hit Highest Since June
Ethereum inflows to Binance have also surged, adding another bearish signal to the setup.
Daily inflows reached roughly 709,400 ETH on Sept. 11, the highest level since June, according to data resource CryptoQuant. Several recent sessions also saw more than 500,000 ETH move onto the exchange, well above typical July and August levels.
Higher exchange inflows increase the amount of ETH available for trading and can precede selling pressure. They do not confirm that investors are selling, but the spike reinforces the cautious outlook alongside the bearish ETH/BTC double top and renewed regulatory uncertainty.
