Ethereum News Today: Ether Surpasses $4,800 as Institutional Demand and Upgrades Spark Bullish Rebound

Ethereum’s native token, Ether (ETH), reached a new all-time high of approximately $4,880 on Friday, surpassing its previous record of $4,878.26 set in November 2021. This milestone marks a significant breakthrough for the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, which has gained over 40% in 2025 year to date, outperforming Bitcoin in terms of price momentum. The rally has been driven by a combination of growing institutional adoption, record inflows into spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and dovish signals from the U.S. Federal Reserve [1].

The surge comes amid increasing interest in Ethereum from corporate treasuries, with companies accumulating significant amounts of ETH as part of their digital asset reserves. According to The Block’s data, the cumulative market cap of public companies holding ETH is nearing $10 billion, with BitMine being the largest Ethereum treasury holder, holding around 1.15 million ETH valued at approximately $5 billion. Additionally, major ETFs such as BlackRock’s ETHA have attracted over $20 billion in assets under management since their approval in July 2024 [1].

The bullish sentiment has also been supported by Ethereum’s technological evolution, particularly the Pectra upgrade in May, which enhanced staking efficiency, user experience, and Layer 2 scalability. Although the upgrade itself did not directly impact ETH’s price, it acted as a catalyst in a market environment where optimism was already building. Luke Nolan, a senior research associate at CoinShares, noted that sentiment had been extremely bearish prior to the upgrade, and the upgrade provided a positive narrative shift that fueled the price increase [1].

Ethereum’s recent price surge has also coincided with a shift in broader market dynamics. Bitcoin’s market share has dipped below 60% for the first time in four months, indicating a growing rotation of capital into alternative cryptocurrencies, particularly large-cap assets like ETH. This trend has been attributed to the Federal Reserve’s dovish stance, as well as the growing perception of Ether as a utility-rich reserve asset rather than a purely speculative token [2].

Analysts are optimistic about ETH’s near-term outlook, with Standard Chartered recently raising its year-end price target for Ethereum to $7,500 from $4,000, and projecting a potential $25,000 level by 2028. Hyblock analysts suggest that strong demand for ETH is outpacing supply, particularly as corporate buyers and ETF inflows continue to support the market. These dynamics have created what some describe as a “perfect storm” for Ethereum, with DeFi growth, stablecoin activity, and the Genius Acts regulatory framework all contributing to increased adoption [2].

As ETH consolidates above the $4,700 level, the question now is whether it can maintain this price action and continue its upward trajectory. The market will closely watch for signs of institutional buying, ETF performance, and macroeconomic signals from central banks in the coming weeks. A sustained close above $4,800 could reinforce the notion that Ethereum is entering a new phase of institutional-driven growth, potentially unlocking further upside in the months ahead.

Source:

[1] Ethereum hits fresh all-time high amid wider market rally (https://www.theblock.co/post/366657/shell-dnp-ethereum-hits-new-all-time-high-price-as-eth-crosses-4900-for-the-first-time-ever)

[2] ETH Soars To New All-time High On Fed Rate Cut Signal (https://cointelegraph.com/news/eth-hits-new-highs-as-fed-turns-dovish-ether-etf-inflows-resume)