Ethereum News Today: Institutional Bet on Execution: Ethereum, Polkadot, and BlockDAG Drive Crypto's Next Bull Run

The cryptocurrency market is experiencing a bullish resurgence, driven by institutional inflows, technological upgrades, and growing momentum in altcoin markets. Ethereum (ETH) and Polkadot (DOT) have emerged as key players, while BlockDAG's presale nears $435 million, signaling a shift toward performance-driven projects.

Ethereum's price action has been volatile but supported by strong ETF inflows. Despite a recent dip to $3,947, the asset has rebounded to $4,160, with a 5.2% 24-hour gain, driven by record ETH ETF inflows. US spot ETH ETFs saw a record $9.6 billion in inflows during Q3 2025, surpassing Bitcoin's $8.7 billion. This surge reflects renewed institutional confidence, particularly after Ethereum crossed the critical $4,000 level, according to Crypto Today. Treasury firm SharpLink is further fueling optimism by allocating $200 million in ETH to Linea DeFi protocols, while Coinbase added 11,933 ETH to its holdings in Q3.

The network's upgrade pipeline also bolsters its long-term prospects. The Fusaka upgrade, now cleared for deployment, aims to enhance Layer-2 scaling solutions. Core developers have emphasized rigorous testing, acknowledging the complexity of the technology. Prediction markets like Myriad show 68% of participants expecting ETH to reach $4,500 before falling to $3,100, though this optimism has dipped 15% in 24 hours amid price fluctuations.

Polkadot is also gaining traction, with 21Shares' ETF plan advancing its spot ETF proposal on Nasdaq. The firm, already offering ETFs for XRP and Solana, is positioning DOT as a viable institutional asset. Meanwhile, Bitget announced support for Polkadot's migration to Asset Hub, a network upgrade set for November 4. The exchange will temporarily halt deposits and withdrawals during the transition, underscoring the project's focus on infrastructure efficiency.

However, not all altcoins are thriving. Ether's price dipped to $4,072 after the ETHZilla sale funded a $40 million sell-off to back a share buyback, while XRP and BNB faced declines. Despite this, XRP's open interest has rebounded to $4.51 billion, up from a low of $3.49 billion in late April, indicating a return of retail risk appetite.

BlockDAG presale, a lesser-known but rapidly rising Layer-1 project, is capturing attention with its $435 million presale and deployment of 20,000 hardware miners. The project, now in its 32nd batch at $0.005 per token, is set to list at $0.05 in February 2026. Its hybrid Proof-of-Work and Proof-of-Engagement consensus model aims to balance scalability and decentralization, with 312,000 holders already participating. Analysts compare its trajectory to historical 1000x opportunities, citing its real-world infrastructure and community-driven incentives.

The broader market is also influenced by macroeconomic factors. Bitcoin (BTC) stabilized above $114,000, supported by $149 million in ETF inflows on Monday, while geopolitical developments between the U.S. and China add to rate-cut speculation. Tether's reported $10 billion profit in 2025 further underscores the maturation of crypto's financial ecosystem, with its USDT supply now exceeding $184 billion.

As the sector evolves, the focus is shifting from speculative hype to tangible utility. Ethereum's institutional adoption, Polkadot's ETF ambitions, and BlockDAG's operational scale highlight a market prioritizing execution over promises. With ETF inflows, network upgrades, and real-world applications driving growth, the next phase of crypto's bull run appears anchored in performance-driven innovation.