Ethereum News Today: Institutional Staking Shifts Ethereum's Power Balance

A whale address recently withdrew 5000 ETH from Binance, bringing the total amount withdrawn from the platform in recent periods to 12,200 ETH. This activity has drawn attention as part of broader trends in Ethereum (ETH) ownership and large-scale on-chain movements. Binance, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges globally, currently holds around 4.06 million ETH, accounting for approximately 3.3% of the total circulating supply of 120.71 million ETH [1]. The withdrawal aligns with patterns seen in mid-2025, when large transfers and inflows from institutional and whale-level holders were increasingly common across major Ethereum-based platforms [1].

The Ethereum network remains a primary hub for both retail and institutional crypto activity. As of late July 2025, the Beacon deposit contract, a smart contract central to Ethereum’s proof-of-stake mechanism, held approximately 68 million ETH—nearly 56% of the total supply [1]. This contract, which facilitates validator participation by requiring a 32 ETH deposit, has grown in prominence as Ethereum’s consensus model evolved post-2022. However, these massive holdings are not attributable to individual entities but rather to the protocol itself. Despite this, some analysts have raised concerns about the potential systemic risks of concentrating such a large portion of supply in a single contract [1].

Institutional interest in ETH has also intensified, with major players such as BlackRock and Grayscale significantly increasing their Ethereum holdings. BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) has attracted over $9.74 billion in inflows and currently holds more than 3 million ETH, representing 2.5% of the total supply [1]. Similarly, Grayscale’s ETHE product remains a major player, managing 1.13 million ETH. Fidelity’s Ethereum Fund (FETH), launched in 2024, has added $1.4 billion in inflows, further reinforcing the role of regulated financial institutions in Ethereum’s ecosystem [1].

Public companies have also entered the ETH ownership landscape, treating it as a strategic reserve asset with staking capabilities. For example, Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: BMNR) holds over 1.8 million ETH, valued at approximately $7.8 billion, while SharpLink Gaming (NASDAQ: SBET) has accumulated around 797,700 ETH since June [1]. These companies are leveraging Ethereum’s programmability and stablecoin infrastructure to enhance portfolio diversification and generate yield through staking mechanisms. The growing institutional adoption of Ethereum is reshaping its ownership structure, shifting it from early individual adopters toward a more diversified and regulated investor base [1].

The Ethereum ownership landscape is further shaped by the presence of individual billionaires and key figures from the Ethereum ecosystem. Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, holds between 250,000 and 280,000 ETH, valued at approximately $950 million. Other notable figures, including LHV Bank’s Rain Lõhmus and Gemini’s Winklevoss brothers, also maintain substantial ETH holdings [1]. However, these individual wallets represent a shrinking share of the total supply compared to institutional and protocol-level custodians.

On-chain analysis tools such as Nansen’s Token God Mode, Dune Analytics, and Etherscan are essential for tracking these ownership shifts. These platforms use wallet clustering, behavioral analytics, and transaction history to map the largest Ethereum holders and understand the flow of assets across the network [1]. Despite the transparency these tools offer, challenges remain in accurately identifying cold wallets and privacy-driven addresses, which can obscure the true distribution of ETH.

Source: [1] Who Owns the Most ETH in 2025? (https://www.odaily.news/en/post/5206156)