ETH is having a bad time in the market just as all the other crypto. It still has over 15% market dominance and is second only to bitcoin. I do not see Ethereum being negatively impacted with the price falling because it is a market wide issue. It is currently trading at $1156 and would not be a surprise if it fell below $950 within days because of the uncertainty surrounding crypto investors.
If whales try to manipulate the market it will not work especially with the prices low compared to the very recent highs. What will they gain from it?
Whales are initiating huge waves in the market: to sell at the high and to buy at the low. When others are in panic they buy, when others are in rush of buying they sell. Making others to do what they want at the moment is that market manipulation they are earning on. So at the moment they are gaining or expecting to gain cheap Ethereum while panic sale.
so basically all whales who are already rich will get richer again because they can control the market and I just give them wealth hahahha