Ethereum News Today: Ethereum Active Addresses Surge 8.7% as Price Hits 50% Weekly Gain

Ethereum has solidified its position as the fastest-growing blockchain among major public chains, with on-chain metrics indicating a significant surge in user activity. Data from Nansen shows Ethereum’s active address count increased by 8.7% between July 20 and July 27, outpacing Solana’s 1.9% growth and securing first place in the active address ranking [1]. This growth is complemented by robust decentralized exchange (DEX) activity, with Ethereum recording $23.4 billion in DEX trading volume—second only to BNB Chain’s $39.3 billion—highlighting its enduring role in decentralized finance (DeFi) [1].

The rise in Ethereum’s engagement reflects broader institutional and retail demand. Ethereum’s CME futures open interest hit a record $7.85 billion on July 27, signaling heightened participation from institutional investors [2]. This trend aligns with the launch of The Ether Machine, a publicly traded entity combining The Ether Reserve and Dynamix Corporation. The firm began operations with over 400,000 ETH and $1.6 billion in committed institutional capital, aiming to provide scalable yield opportunities through staking and DeFi protocols [3]. Meanwhile, SharpLink Gaming transferred $145 million in USDC to Galaxy Digital’s OTC wallet to acquire 42,788 ETH, valued at $159 million, further underscoring Ethereum’s appeal [4].

Ethereum’s price has mirrored its on-chain momentum, surging 50% in recent weeks and rising 4% to $3,740 following SharpLink’s purchases [4]. Analysts note $4,000 as the next critical price level for Ethereum, with ETF inflows and bullish sentiment cited as key drivers [5]. Over 583,248 ETH—valued at $2.17 billion—has been accumulated by eight new wallets since July 9, reinforcing growing demand [3]. While speculative forecasts suggest a potential $9,000 price target by early 2026 [7], current metrics focus on Ethereum’s structural advantages, including its expanding utility in staking and decentralized applications [1].

The competitive landscape for Ethereum’s leadership is intensifying, with publicly traded entities like The Ether Machine, BitMine Immersion Technologies, and BitDigital expanding their ETH exposure. Co-founder David Merin emphasized the firm’s mission to deliver compliant, scalable access to Ethereum yield, leveraging partnerships with open-source projects [3]. As institutional capital and derivative market activity converge, Ethereum’s role as a core asset in the digital ecosystem appears increasingly entrenched.

Sources:

[1] AInvest, Ethereum News Today: Solana Maintains 28.18M Active Address Lead, Ethereum Surges 8.7%, https://www.ainvest.com/news/ethereum-news-today-solana-maintains-28-18m-active-address-lead-ethereum-surges-8-7-etf-inflows-2507/

[2] AInvest, Ethereum CME Futures Open Interest Hits Record $7.85 Billion, https://www.ainvest.com/news/ethereum-news-today-ethereum-cme-futures-open-interest-hits-record-7-85-billion-institutional-demand-surge-2507/

[3] Cointribune, Ethereum Yield Expansion: The Ether Machine Launches with Massive 400,000 ETH Holdings, https://www.cointribune.com/en/ethereum-yield-expansion-the-ether-machine-launches-with-massive-400000-eth-holdings/

[4] FXLeaders, SharpLink Moves $145M USDC to Galaxy as Ethereum Holdings Set to Grow, https://www.fxleaders.com/news/2025/07/26/sharplink-moves-145m-usdc-to-galaxy-as-ethereum-holdings-set-to-grow/

[5] AOL.com, $4000 Is Ethereum's Last Hurdle Before Price Discovery, https://www.aol.com/4-000-ethereums-last-hurdle-132738178.html

[7] The Economic Times, Ethereum Exit Queue Surges, Investors Watch Closely, https://m.economictimes.com/crypto-news-today-live-26-jul-2025/liveblog/122911908.cms