Ethereum News Today: BlackRock’s ETHA Surpasses $10B in 251 Days, Third-Fastest ETF Driven by $5B Inflow

BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum ETF (ETHA) has shattered expectations by crossing the $10 billion assets under management (AUM) threshold in just 251 days, marking a historic milestone as the third-fastest ETF in U.S. history to achieve this feat. The fund, launched with the ticker ETHA, outpaced traditional benchmarks like JPMorgan’s Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ), which took 444 days to reach $10 billion [1]. Only BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) and Fidelity’s Bitcoin Fund (FBTC)—which reached the same threshold in 34 and 54 days, respectively—surpassed ETHA’s speed [2]. This rapid growth reflects a seismic shift in institutional and retail investor appetite for Ethereum, with ETHA capturing 51.7% of the $20.66 billion Ether ETF market [5].

The ETF’s meteoric rise was fueled by a 10-day inflow surge of $5 billion, pushing AUM from $5 billion to $10 billion in an unprecedented timeframe [2]. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas dubbed the move a “God candle”—a term in crypto circles denoting explosive growth—highlighting its historic pace and influence on passive investment flows [2]. Ethereum’s price mirrored this momentum, climbing to $3,850, its highest level since December 2024, driven by surging capital inflows into ETHA [2]. The fund’s success is attributed to Ethereum’s technological advancements, including its proof-of-stake model, energy efficiency, and dominance in decentralized finance (DeFi) and smart contract ecosystems [2].

Strategic innovations further bolstered ETHA’s appeal. BlackRock’s 0.25% sponsor fee and integration with Coinbase Prime streamlined institutional adoption, while recent filings enabling staking—unavailable in Bitcoin ETFs—added revenue-generating potential for investors [2]. These features positioned ETHA as a superior choice over competitors like Grayscale’s Mini ETH and ETHW, which collectively hold the remaining 48.3% of the Ether ETF market [5]. Over six consecutive days, Ethereum ETFs attracted $2.4 billion in inflows, outpacing Bitcoin ETFs’ $827 million, with ETHA capturing 75% of the total [7].

The milestone underscores growing institutional confidence in Ethereum as a mainstream asset. BlackRock’s combined crypto ETF assets (ETHA and IBIT) now total $80 billion, signaling broader acceptance of digital assets in traditional portfolios. Ethereum’s 10-year anniversary coincides with this surge, with analysts noting that ETF-driven growth and technological upgrades could pave the way for DeFi-focused products [2]. Short-term challenges, such as Ethereum’s volatility and rising borrowing costs in DeFi platforms, persist but are seen as temporary hurdles [2].

BlackRock’s ETHA has not only redefined inflow dynamics in the crypto ETF space but also intensified competition with peers like Vanguard and Fidelity. The fund’s ability to attract both institutional and retail capital within months highlights Ethereum’s evolving role as an institutional-grade asset, with implications for governance tokens and Layer 2 innovations [2]. As the market absorbs ETHA’s success, the pressure to innovate and differentiate in the ETF landscape will likely intensify.

Source: [1] [BlackRock Ethereum ETF Approaches 3 Million ETH Milestone Challenges Vanguard in Inflows] https://coingape.com/blackrock-ethereum-etf-approaches-3-million-eth-milestone-challenges-vanguard-in-inflows/

[2] [ETHA Becomes Fastest Non-Bitcoin ETF To Hit $10B] https://financefeeds.com/etha-becomes-fastest-non-bitcoin-etf-to-hit-10b-eric-balchunas/

[5] [BlackRock ETHA secures $440.2M inflow, 16-day streak boosts AUM to $10.69B] https://www.ainvest.com/news/ethereum-news-today-blackrock-etha-secures-440-2m-inflow-16-day-streak-boosts-aum-10-69b-2507/

[7] [Ether ETFs Outpace Bitcoin for Six Straight Days as ETH Demand Surges] https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/07-25-2025-ethereum-news-ether-etfs-outpace-bitcoin-for-six-straight-days-as-eth-demand-surge