Ethereum News Today: Institutions Shift to ETH as ETF Inflows Overtake Bitcoin

Ethereum (ETH) has surged past the $4,200 threshold, marking a significant milestone for the second-largest cryptocurrency and reigniting speculation about its potential to reach $4,500 before year-end. As of press time, ETH traded at $4,229, reflecting a 7% gain in the past 24 hours. Analysts and traders are closely watching technical indicators and institutional activity, which suggest a bullish trajectory despite recent ETF outflows, a Crypto.News report notes.

The price breakout has drawn attention to Ethereum's internal Elliott Wave structure, with pseudonymous crypto analyst Pascal noting that ETH appears to be completing Wave 4 of a broader Primary Wave 3 pattern. This phase, according to Pascal, often precedes a strong upward move. If the pattern holds, Ethereum could enter Wave 5 with potential targets between $5,800 and $6,300, followed by a minor correction toward $5,000, the Crypto.News report added. Shorter-term optimism is also building, as traders eye a push toward $4,600, supported by a bullish MACD crossover on the 1-day chart, analysts said.

Meanwhile, institutional demand for Ethereum is shifting dynamics in the crypto market; a Coinpedia report highlights that Ethereum ETFs surpassed Bitcoin ETFs in quarterly inflows for the first time in the third quarter of 2025, attracting $9 billion compared to Bitcoin's $8 billion. This marks a pivotal shift in institutional strategy, with investors favoring Ethereum's yield-generating staking opportunities and on-chain innovation over Bitcoin's store-of-value narrative. Fund holdings for Ethereum have doubled to 6.8 million ETH this year, signaling sustained accumulation despite market volatility, the report added.

The on-chain activity further reinforces this trend. Whale and shark wallets—those holding 100 to 10,000 ETH—have begun reaccumulating after offloading 1.36 million ETH in early October. This resurgence in large-holder buying aligns with historical patterns preceding multi-month rallies. Coinpedia analysts note that such behavior often indicates confidence in Ethereum's long-term fundamentals.

Technically, Ethereum is testing key support levels near $3,870, which has transformed from resistance to a critical support zone in Q4 2025. If this level holds, the price could climb toward $5,600, a target aligned with the upper boundary of a long-term ascending channel established since 2023, Coinpedia argued. While this exceeds the $4,500 threshold, it underscores the broader optimism surrounding Ethereum's year-end prospects.

The path to $4,500 remains plausible in the short term, supported by immediate technical momentum and institutional rotation. However, longer-term projections hinge on the sustainability of current trends, including ETF inflows and on-chain strength. As the market navigates this transition, investors will likely monitor Ethereum's ability to maintain its upward momentum amid evolving macroeconomic conditions.