Ethereum News Today: Institutions Outpace Bitcoin Buys as Ethereum's DeFi Surge Targets $10K

Ethereum's recent performance has drawn significant attention from institutional investors and analysts, with on-chain metrics and market dynamics suggesting the platform could deliver substantial returns. Daily transaction volumes on the Ethereum network surged to 1.6–1.7 million in October 2025, a record high and a 50% increase from earlier in the year, driven by expanding decentralized finance (DeFi) activity and tokenized asset adoptionEthereum Network HIts Record 1.7M Transactions, Analysts^[1]. Total Value Locked (TVL) in Ethereum-based DeFi protocols reached $90.62 billion, up 45% from July 2025, underscoring growing real-world utilityEthereum Network HIts Record 1.7M Transactions, Analysts^[1]. Analysts attribute this surge to Ethereum's role as a foundational infrastructure for DeFi, lending platforms, and Web3 applications, which have translated into sustained network demandEthereum Network HIts Record 1.7M Transactions, Analysts^[1].

Institutional demand has further bolstered Ethereum's price trajectory. Spot ETF inflows totaled $674 million in early October, with Fidelity and BlackRock contributing $202 million and $154 million, respectivelyEthereum Price Forecast - ETH-USD $4,303, $674M ETF Inflows^[2]. BlackRock's Ethereum purchases alone exceeded $547 million in July 2025, surpassing its Bitcoin acquisitions by $50 million, according to blockchain analytics firm ArkhamCoinbase Ethereum Premium Emerges, Why ETH Is Primed for $4K Breakout^[4]. This institutional interest has created a premium for Ethereum on U.S.-based exchanges like Coinbase, where prices temporarily outpaced global benchmarks, signaling strong accumulation by high-net-worth investorsEthereum Set for Q2 Breakout with Strong DeFi and ETF Demand^[7]. Meanwhile, strategic reserves and ETF holdings have grown 250% since April 2025, now totaling 12.15 million ETHEthereum Price Forecast - ETH-USD $4,303, $674M ETF Inflows^[2].

Price forecasts for Ethereum have grown increasingly bullish. Analysts like Crypto Jelle and Darkfost project the token could reach $7,700 in the coming months if current momentum holdsEthereum Network HIts Record 1.7M Transactions, Analysts^[1]. Longer-term models suggest targets of $10,533, a 145% rise from current levels, as ETF inflows, staking yields (3.5%), and scaling upgrades like Dencun (expected late 2025) align with bullish fundamentalsEthereum Price Forecast - ETH-USD $4,303, $674M ETF Inflows^[2]. On-chain data reinforces this optimism: Ethereum's price has risen 82% since July 2025, outpacing Bitcoin's 18% gain during the same period. The token's staking ratio hit 29.5% of circulating supply in Q2 2025, creating deflationary pressureEthereum Price Rally Major Part of DeFi's TVL Recent Surge^[9].

The DeFi ecosystem has also seen a resurgence, with Ethereum's TVL surging 33% in Q2 2025 to $63.4 billion, driven by stablecoin growth and real-world asset (RWA) tokenizationEthereum Price Rally Major Part of DeFi's TVL Recent Surge^[9]. Protocols like Aave, Lido, and EigenLayer saw TVL increases of 58%, 77%, and 66%, respectively, as institutional capital flowed into yield-generating opportunities. However, TVL remains below 2021 peaks due to layer-2 solutions like Arbitrum and Base, which have drawn liquidity away from Ethereum's mainnetDeFi TVL Surges 41% in Q3 to Three-Year High - ^[8]. Despite this, Ethereum's dominance in DeFi lending and tokenized equities positions it as a key infrastructure asset for the tokenization of traditional marketsMonthly Outlook: The Great Ethereum vs Solana Debate - Coinbase^[5].

Market analysts highlight Ethereum's potential as a proxy for broader real-world asset adoption. The GENIUS Act, which legalized U.S. stablecoins in July 2025, is viewed as a catalyst for Ethereum's next rally, with institutions expected to deploy trillions in stablecoins on the networkEthereum Price Rally Major Part of DeFi's TVL Recent Surge^[9]. Additionally, Ethereum's beta to the broader crypto market has climbed to 0.92, making it an attractive hedge against volatility in smaller-cap tokensMonthly Outlook: The Great Ethereum vs Solana Debate - Coinbase^[5]. While short-term resistance remains at $4,270–$4,270, technical indicators suggest a multi-leg rally toward $6,500–$10,000 is plausible if institutional demand and on-chain activity persistEthereum Price Forecast - ETH-USD $4,303, $674M ETF Inflows^[2].