Ethereum News Today: Ethereum Surges 7% on Institutional Activity, Outpaces Bitcoin

Ethereum (ETH) has emerged as a standout performer in the cryptocurrency market, reaching a five-month high of $3,418 on July 15 and maintaining strength despite broader volatility. As of July 17, ETH traded at $3,599.10, reflecting resilience amid sector-wide corrections. The asset’s 24-hour gains surpassed 7% on July 15 [1], fueled by institutional activity and speculative momentum. Mike Novogratz, co-founder of Bloomberg Intelligence, forecasted that ETH could outperform Bitcoin (BTC) for six months, attributing this to its dominance in decentralized finance (DeFi) and layer-2 scaling solutions [2]. This optimism is underscored by major institutional moves, including BitMine’s $2.5 billion stock sale to purchase ETH and Galaxy Digital’s strategic sale of large BTC positions, indicating a shift in crypto portfolio allocations [1].

The broader crypto ecosystem is witnessing unprecedented liquidity and speculative activity. Stablecoin supply is projected to surge by $75 billion, according to Bank of America, as demand for liquidity intensifies [1]. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and altcoins have also seen renewed interest, with ETH briefly approaching $3,860 on July 23 amid a broader altcoin rally. However, profit-taking has since tempered gains, highlighting the sector’s sensitivity to short-term volatility [2].

Institutional adoption in Asia is accelerating, exemplified by Tokyo-based Quantum Solutions planning to purchase 3,000 BTC. Meanwhile, the Celestia Foundation committed $62.5 million to acquire TIA to enhance blockchain infrastructure [1]. Regulatory scrutiny has tightened, with U.S. authorities addressing risks tied to surging trading volumes and speculative flows.

Crypto capital inflows remain robust, with U.S. inflows hitting $60 billion year-to-date [1]. Diverse funding strategies are emerging, such as WindTree Therapeutics raising $520 million to buy BNB. Expanding use cases are evident in Zircuit’s AI trading engine and Christie’s $1 billion real estate division for crypto assets. However, security challenges persist, as demonstrated by the $12 million hack of Woo X [1].

While ETH’s dominance offers short-term momentum, macroeconomic factors like the Federal Reserve’s uncertain rate-cut timeline and regulatory actions pose risks. The divergence between BTC’s dip and ETH’s resilience reflects shifting investor sentiment, with altcoins and DeFi protocols attracting speculative capital amid a fragmented regulatory landscape [1].

Sources:

[1] [ETH LEADS, MONEY SUPPLY HITS ATH, PUNKS CONTINUE TO SURGE](https://decrypt.co/videos/interviews/t3trb4gJ/eth-leads-money-supply-hits-ath-punks-continue-to-surge)

[2] [Bitcoin Flirts with $120K, Altcoins Surge, Regulators Strike...](https://ts2.tech/en/bitcoin-flirts-with-120k-altcoins-surge-regulators-strike-nft-mania-returns-crypto-roundup-july-23-24-2025/)

[4] [Ethereum Price, ETH Price, Live Charts, and Marketcap](https://www.coinbase.com/price/ethereum)