Ethereum News Today: Bitcoin Whale’s $4B ETH Bet Signals Institutional Exodus From BTC

A Bitcoin whale with a $11 billion portfolio has intensified its shift into Ethereum, accumulating over $4 billion in ETH through a series of large-scale transactions on decentralized exchanges. The whale, identified as an early adopter of Bitcoin and long-term holder, sold 4,000 BTC worth approximately $433 million in late August and converted it into 96,859 ETH, according to blockchain analytics from Lookonchain. This transaction added to the whale’s existing ETH holdings, bringing the total to over 800,000 ETH, or roughly $4 billion, as of early September. The move signals a broader trend of high-net-worth crypto investors reallocating assets from Bitcoin into Ethereum, particularly as institutional interest in the latter grows.

The whale’s strategy appears to be a calculated shift toward diversification. In addition to the large ETH purchase, the entity also sold 1,000 BTC for 19,571 ETH through the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, further expanding its exposure to Ethereum’s ecosystem. This activity aligns with broader on-chain data showing increased whale participation in Ethereum. Over $890 million in large-scale ETH purchases were recorded in recent weeks, with nine additional whale addresses acquiring $456.8 million in ETH through centralized platforms like BitGo and Galaxy Digital OTC. Analysts at Santiment noted that whale transaction volumes for transfers exceeding $1 million spiked in August, coinciding with a price rise in ETH to above $4,300.

Ethereum’s appeal is also being reinforced by its staking capabilities and growing institutional adoption. U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs have attracted over $3.87 billion in net inflows in August 2025 alone, with BlackRock’s ETHA fund acquiring nearly $968 million in ETH. Corporate entities such as BitMine and SharpLink have also bolstered their Ethereum holdings, collectively adding over 2.5 million ETH to their treasuries. This trend contrasts with the net outflows seen in Bitcoin ETFs during the same period, highlighting a shift in institutional capital toward altcoins with higher yield potential.

The whale’s accumulation of ETH now rivals corporate Ethereum holders. At 800,000 ETH, the whale’s holdings exceed those of SharpLink Gaming, the second-largest corporate Ethereum treasury, which holds 797,000 ETH. However, the whale’s position remains about half the size of Bitmine Immersion’s 1.8 million ETH holdings, which are valued at over $8 billion. Nicolai Sondergaard, a crypto intelligence analyst at Nansen, noted that the whale’s actions reflect a “natural rotation” into assets with higher upside potential and underscore the growing appeal of Ethereum’s smart contract infrastructure and tokenized finance opportunities.

Ethereum’s price movement has mirrored the increased investor confidence. As of late August, the asset reached an all-time high of $4,946, gaining approximately 24% for the month. Despite a 7% weekly correction, ETH has remained within a consolidation phase, with technical indicators showing stable price behavior and continued accumulation by large holders. Analysts such as Crypto Patel have suggested that a sustained move above $5,000 could position Ethereum for a potential run toward $10,000, driven by both market fundamentals and the strategic reallocation of capital from Bitcoin to Ethereum.

The ongoing shift by this Bitcoin whale and other institutional actors highlights a maturing market where large investors are seeking higher returns through diversification and yield-generating assets. With Ethereum’s infrastructure and staking incentives continuing to attract long-term capital, the asset appears poised to maintain its momentum, particularly as macroeconomic factors and ETF inflows continue to support its demand.

Source: [1] A legendary Bitcoin whale just made a $3.8B bet on Ethereum (https://ambcrypto.com/a-legendary-bitcoin-whale-just-made-a-3-8b-bet-on-ethereum-details/) [2] $11B Bitcoin whale surpasses SharpLink with $4B (https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-whale-rotates-into-ether-surpasses-sharplink-corporate-holdings) [3] Bitcoin Whale Sells $433M in BTC and Buys Ethereum (https://coincentral.com/bitcoin-whale-sells-433m-in-btc-and-buys-ethereum-amid-price-surge/)