Ethereum News Today: Ethereum Surpasses $4,500 on $3 Billion ETF Inflows and Rising Institutional Demand

Ethereum (ETH) is currently trading above $4,500, having reached an intraday high of $4,558, driven by strong institutional inflows and improving market sentiment. However, Steven McClurg, CEO of Canary Capital, remains skeptical about ETH’s long-term potential. Despite the positive price action, McClurg dismissed Ethereum as an “older technology” and has not filed an ETF application for the asset, unlike with XRP, Sui, and Hedera. His stance highlights growing concerns over Ethereum’s competitiveness against faster and cheaper blockchains such as Solana [1].

McClurg's outlook contrasts with more optimistic views from other analysts. Greg Magadini of Amberdata, for example, has likened Ethereum’s developer ecosystem to the iPhone’s app platform and anticipates a significant increase in ETH’s value relative to Bitcoin. If Magadini’s forecast proves accurate, Ethereum could climb to between $8,000 and $10,000 [1].

Institutional demand has been a key driver behind Ethereum’s recent price momentum. In August 2025 alone, spot Ethereum ETFs attracted more than $3 billion in inflows, surpassing the inflows into Bitcoin ETFs during the same period. Major institutional investors, including Bitmine Immersion Technologies and Sharplink Gaming, reportedly purchased over 2 million ETH since June, pushing the price above $4,000. Standard Chartered also revised its year-end ETH price target from $4,000 to $7,500, citing accelerating adoption trends. Thomas Lee of Fundstrat further projected a long-term target of $15,000, emphasizing Ethereum’s growing role in the digital economy [1].

On-chain activity also provides insights into market sentiment. A notable whale recently unstaked 10,819 ETH and transferred it to Kraken, reportedly earning $2.48 million in interest and increasing its holdings by $18.2 million. While such activity could signal short-term selling pressure, it may also reflect long-term confidence in Ethereum’s value proposition [1].

From a technical perspective, Ethereum is consolidating within an ascending channel around $4,557, with strong support at $4,435 (50-SMA) holding steady. The RSI at 57 indicates building momentum without overheating, while the MACD hints at a potential bullish crossover. Resistance levels are currently at $4,610, with further targets at $4,795 and $4,965 if the bulls manage to break higher. A breakdown below $4,435 could trigger a retest of $4,375 or $4,170 [1].

Traders are advised to consider buying above $4,610 with a stop loss below $4,435, targeting $4,965. Conservative strategies may wait for bullish candlestick patterns, such as a hammer or engulfing formation, near key support levels before entering the trade [1].

Steven McClurg’s skepticism contrasts with broader optimism surrounding Ethereum, particularly as institutional adoption and on-chain activity continue to support its price. While the market remains divided, the ongoing ETF inflows and bullish technical setup suggest Ethereum could still see significant upside in the near term [1].

Source: [1] Cryptonews – [https://cryptonews.com/news/ethereum-price-analysis-steven-mcclurgs-outlook-will-eth-fall-behind-as-btc-surges/](https://cryptonews.com/news/ethereum-price-analysis-steven-mcclurgs-outlook-will-eth-fall-behind-as-btc-surges/)