Ethereum News Today: Institutions Drive Ethereum's 6M ETH Treasury as ETFs Outpace Bitcoin

Ethereum's institutional adoption reached a landmark as its corporate treasury holdings surpassed 6 million ETH, driven by record inflows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and aggressive accumulation by treasury companies. The surge reflects growing confidence in the blockchain's utility and its role in reshaping financial infrastructure, with firms like Bitmine Immersion and Sharplink Gaming leading the charge.

US spot Ethereum ETFs saw unprecedented demand in Q3 2025, with $9.6 billion in net inflows, outpacing Bitcoin ETFs for the first time, according to TradingView. Total assets under management (AUM) for ETH ETFs hit $28.6 billion, a 177.4% quarter-on-quarter jump, according to Yahoo Finance. BlackRock's $ETHA ETF alone recorded $71.83 million in inflows on October 27, with $1.4 billion in trading volume, underscoring the product's appeal to institutional and retail investors, per a Phemex report.

The momentum is fueled by Ethereum's broader ecosystem growth. CoinGecko's Q3 2025 report highlighted a 66.6% price surge for ETH, outperforming Bitcoin's 6.4% gain. Network activity, including decentralized finance (DeFi) and tokenization projects, has drawn major corporations to the platform. DeFi's total value locked (TVL) rose 40.2% to $161 billion, while stablecoin market capitalization hit a record $312 billion, driven by Ethena's USDe and Tether's USDT.

Treasury companies have amplified this trend. Bitmine Immersion, a Nasdaq-listed firm, acquired 77,055 ETH ($320 million) in late October, boosting its holdings to 3.313 million ETH—2.8% of the total supply, according to CryptoRank. Sharplink Gaming added 19,271 ETH ($80.37 million), pushing its reserves to 859,400 ETH valued at $3.6 billion, per InvestingNews. These purchases position the companies as top corporate ETH holders, with Bitmine trailing only Strategy Inc's Bitcoin-centric treasury.

The institutional buying spree is reshaping market dynamics. Ethereum's market share climbed to 12.5%, while Bitcoin's dominance fell to 56.9%, signaling a shift toward altcoins. Analysts attribute this to renewed institutional inflows, particularly from treasury companies and ETFs. Tom Lee, co-founder of Fundstrat and Bitmine's chairman, noted that Ethereum's "supercycle" is gaining traction, with open interest levels matching June's highs despite a recent price dip.

Regulatory developments also bolstered the trend. The SEC's Project Crypto and the proposed GENIUS Act are seen as pivotal for legitimizing crypto as an asset class, drawing comparisons to the 1971 gold standard collapse that reshaped global finance. Meanwhile, Japan's launch of a yen-pegged stablecoin and South Korea's regulatory debates highlight Ethereum's expanding influence beyond traditional markets.

Despite optimism, challenges remain. Market volatility and regulatory uncertainties persist, though liquidity improvements—such as Bitmine's $1.5 billion daily trading volume—signal maturation. As Ethereum's treasury grows, its role as a cornerstone of decentralized finance and institutional portfolios appears increasingly entrenched.