Ethereum News Today: Corporate entities acquire 1% of circulating Ether boosted by regulatory clarity and institutional infrastructure

Corporate entities have accumulated 1% of the circulating Ether (ETH) supply since early June 2025, according to a report from Standard Chartered. The bank attributes this surge to institutional-grade infrastructure improvements and regulatory clarity, which have lowered barriers for corporate participation in digital assets [1]. This marks a significant shift in institutional interest, with Ethereum-focused treasury firms doubling their investment pace compared to Bitcoin-focused counterparts during the same period. The trend has contributed to ETH outperforming Bitcoin in price action, despite remaining over 21% below its 2021 all-time high [2].

Standard Chartered forecasts that continued corporate inflows could push ETH toward its $4,000 year-end target, a level previously projected by the bank [3]. The report highlights that Ether treasury holdings offer unique advantages over Bitcoin, including access to staking rewards and decentralized finance (DeFi) opportunities, which are not currently available to U.S. Ethereum ETFs. This “regulatory arbitrage” perspective suggests institutional demand for ETH could accelerate further, potentially leading to corporate ownership of up to 10% of the total supply—a 10x increase from current levels [4].

Publicly listed entities are already positioning themselves as key players in this space. BitMine Immersion Tech, a Bitcoin mining company, currently holds 0.5% of the circulating ETH supply and has announced plans to acquire up to 5% of the total supply, requiring an additional 6 million ETH tokens [5]. Meanwhile, a newly formed entity, the Ether Machine, aims to establish one of the largest onchain ETH positions by acquiring over 400,000 ETH ($1.5 billion) and seeking Nasdaq listing under the ticker “ETHM” [6].

The institutional adoption of Ether reflects broader market dynamics. Ethereum’s proof-of-stake model has reduced issuance rates, creating a supply tightening effect that could amplify price action if demand continues to outpace new issuance. However, the trajectory of corporate participation remains contingent on macroeconomic stability and regulatory developments. Standard Chartered emphasizes that while the 1% ownership threshold is a tangible benchmark, the 10% forecast remains speculative and hinges on sustained institutional confidence [7].

Current data underscores Ethereum’s evolving role as a strategic asset. Treasury holdings now extend beyond raw ETH to include derivatives and staking products, signaling corporations’ focus on portfolio diversification rather than speculative trading. This aligns with broader institutional trends where digital assets are increasingly treated as hedging tools or alternative stores of value. As traditional markets face volatility, more companies may integrate Ethereum into treasury management strategies, further solidifying its position in corporate portfolios [8].

Sources:

[1] "Ether Treasury Companies to Eventually Own 10% of Supply" (CoinDesk, July 29, 2025) https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/07/29/ether-treasury-companies-to-eventually-own-10-of-supply-standard-chartered

[2] "Ethereum open interest hits 2-year peak in dominance..." (Mitrade, July 29, 2025) https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-994379-20250729

[3] "CoinDesk: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Crypto News and Price Data" (CoinDesk, July 23, 2025) https://www.coindesk.com/

[4] "securities and exchange commission" (SEC.gov, July 14, 2025) https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1829311/0001641172****1194/forms-3asr.htm

[5] "Listed companies adopting crypto friendly strategies" (Facebook, no date) https://www.facebook.com/groups/2028862550588932/posts/3488546511287188/

[6] "Ethereum price nears $4000 and could keep rising" (Facebook, no date) https://www.facebook.com/groups/155****928272656/posts/3716750495284611/

[7] "Standard Chartered Report on Institutional Ethereum Adoption" (Standard Chartered, July 2025) https://cointelegraph.com/news/corporations-acquired-1-ether-supply-standard-chartered

[8] "Ethereum’s Institutional Adoption and Market Dynamics" (Standard Chartered, July 2025) https://cointelegraph.com/news/corporations-acquired-1-ether-supply-standard-chartered