Ethereum News Today: Institutional Bet, Mystery Whale Drive $882M Ethereum Grab

Large Ethereum holders, often referred to as “whales,” have been actively adjusting their portfolios in August 2025 amid evolving price dynamics and growing institutional interest in the asset. According to blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain, two major entities—public Bitcoin mining firm BitMine Immersion Technology and an unidentified whale—have acquired nearly $882 million in Ether through large over-the-counter (OTC) transactions and direct transfers from institutional intermediaries. BitMine alone added 106,485 Ether, valued at approximately $470.5 million, to its holdings, increasing its total ETH stash to 1,297,093 ETH, or about $5.75 billion. This significant accumulation suggests a strategic bet on Ethereum’s long-term value and aligns with broader institutional appetite for the asset.

The unidentified whale, meanwhile, amassed 92,899 ETH, valued at around $412 million, over four days, with the entity creating three new wallets and withdrawing the tokens from Kraken. This move points to a deliberate strategy for long-term storage and underscores the confidence large holders have in Ethereum’s future trajectory. Additionally, the whale activity coincided with BitMine’s $24.5 billion at-the-market (ATM) stock offering and SharpLink’s $389 million capital raise, both of which signal a broader shift toward crypto treasuries as a legitimate asset class for institutional investors. Standard Chartered has revised its 2025 Ethereum price target to $7,500 from $4,000, citing the increased institutional accumulation and faster stablecoin adoption driven by recent U.S. regulatory developments.

Despite the buying frenzy, signs of profit-taking have emerged as Ethereum approaches new all-time highs. Whale group 7 Siblings sold 19,461 ETH, worth $88.2 million, in a 24-hour period, while the Ethereum Foundation offloaded 2,795 ETH valued at roughly $12.7 million. These sales indicate that some large holders are locking in gains amid market volatility. Further, a separate whale deposited 3,492 ETH ($15.57 million) into Binance in 24 hours, realizing a $17.37 million profit, according to on-chain analytics from OnchainLens. The whale still holds 2,650 ETH, valued at around $12 million, suggesting a continued belief in Ethereum’s upside potential despite short-term fluctuations.

Ethereum’s price has seen mixed signals in recent weeks, with a 3.4% drop in the past 24 hours bringing the token to $4,300 after reaching an annual high of $4,788. A significant outflow from U.S. Spot Ethereum ETFs, totaling $59.34 million on August 15, coincided with this decline. While some ETFs like BlackRock’s ETHA continued to see inflows, Grayscale’s ETHE and Fidelity’s FETH experienced withdrawals of $101.74 million and $272.23 million, respectively. Analysts have identified the $4,800 mark as a critical resistance level, with a large liquidity wall on Binance’s ETH/USDT pair potentially determining Ethereum’s next major price movement. If the asset breaks this level with sufficient volume, it could open the door for a move toward new all-time highs, while a failure to do so could result in further consolidation or a pullback.

Looking ahead, Ethereum’s long-term fundamentals remain robust, with analysts like Fundstrat’s Tom Lee predicting a $15,000 target by year-end. This outlook is supported by Ethereum’s deflationary tokenomics post-Proof-of-Stake transition, growing Layer 2 adoption, and rising institutional interest in crypto treasuries. Standard Chartered has also raised its 2026 and 2027 price targets to $12,000 and $18,000, respectively, reinforcing the view that Ethereum’s trajectory is being driven by both macroeconomic and on-chain developments. As whales continue to adjust their positions and ETF flows remain in flux, the coming months will likely offer further clarity on Ethereum’s next major price direction.

Source: [1] BitMine, Mystery Whale Snap Up $882M in Ether Amid ... (https://cointelegraph.com/news/ether-accumulation-heats-up-882m-in-eth-snapped-up-by-bitmine-whale) [2] Ethereum Price Prediction: Whales Are Buying Billions On ... (https://www.barchart.com/story/news/34212446/ethereum-price-prediction-whales-are-buying-billions-on-this-dip-rtx-and-pepe-are-set-to-hit-10x-runs) [3] ETH Whale Deposits 3492 ETH to Binance in 24 Hours, Books $17.37M Profit, Still Holds 2,650 ETH (https://blockchain.news/flashnews/eth-whale-deposits-3-492-eth-to-binance-in-24-hours-books-17-37m-profit-still-holds-2-650-eth) [4] Ethereum Faces Critical Crossroads as Bulls Battle ... (https://www.fxleaders.com/news/2025/08/18/ethereum-faces-critical-crossroads-as-bulls-battle-4800-despite-recent-correction/) [5] Whale Scoops $43M ETH as Pullback Deepens (https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/ethereum-price-forecast-whale-scoops-43m-eth-as-pullback-deepens-1542050)