Ethereum News Today: Whales and Institutions Fuel ETH's Quiet Takeover of the Crypto World

Ethereum (ETH) is currently trading near its all-time high, with substantial accumulation by large holders and rising futures and spot demand reinforcing its bullish momentum. Data from on-chain analytics platforms shows that Ethereum large holders—wallets holding between 1 million and 10 million ETH—have increased their holdings by 210,000 ETH in recent days, while those with 10 million to 100 million ETH added an additional 140,000 ETH. This brings the total accumulation to 350,000 ETH, worth nearly $1.7 billion at current prices [2]. The buying activity is attributed to both spot inflows and strategic positioning ahead of potential price appreciation.

Ethereum’s futures market has also seen robust activity. According to CryptoQuant, Ethereum Futures Trading Volume reached $162.6 billion, accounting for approximately 50% of the total crypto derivatives market. This surge has shifted capital from Bitcoin (BTC) to ETH, as large holders like the “Bitcoin OG” moved 135,265 ETH into long positions, valued at $581 million [1]. Open Interest (OI) in ETH futures has increased from $59 billion to $70 billion, signaling sustained capital inflows into the asset. Additionally, Ethereum Funding Rates have surged to a 7-month high of 0.026, indicating strong long-side demand [1].

On the spot market, Ethereum has shown resilience. Coinalyze reports that ETH’s Buy Volume stood at $90.8k against $85k in Sell Volume, resulting in a Buy-Sell Delta of 5.6k—suggesting accumulation by buyers [1]. Exchange data further supports this trend, with Ethereum recording a negative Exchange Netflow of 26.6k ETH on August 24, indicating outflows from exchanges, typically a precursor to price increases. This is a sign of strong retail and institutional buying pressure.

Whale activity has also intensified. Over 48 hours, Ethereum whales accumulated 500,000 ETH, valued at over $900 million, according to on-chain tracking platforms. This accumulation, driven by growing institutional confidence and Ethereum’s deflationary tokenomics, suggests that whales are preparing for a potential price breakout. Factors like the upcoming Dencun upgrade and Ethereum’s role in DeFi and NFTs are cited as key drivers of this bullish sentiment [3].

From a technical perspective, Ethereum is approaching key Fibonacci levels that could determine its next move. The 0.618 extension at $4,948 has been a strong resistance, and a sustained close above this level could propel ETH toward the $5,496 (1.0 extension), or approximately $5,500 [2]. On the downside, support is seen at $4,610, where accumulation clusters and Fibonacci levels align. A breakdown below this could push ETH toward $4,400, but such a scenario appears unlikely given the current accumulation patterns and institutional interest.

Analysts remain cautiously optimistic. While Ethereum has experienced a slight pullback from its all-time high of $4,948, it has maintained strong buying pressure. Santiment and Glassnode data indicate that large holders continue to accumulate, even as some smaller investors take profits. The liveliness metric, which reflects increased activity in long-held Ethereum coins, has reached its highest monthly reading in months, hinting at potential profit-taking. However, cost-basis clusters between $4,590 and $4,761 suggest a strong base of accumulation that could limit downside risks [2].

Overall, Ethereum’s price trajectory remains closely tied to the behavior of large holders and institutional inflows. The combination of strong futures demand, spot accumulation, and whale buying points to a market that is not only resilient but also positioned for further gains if the current momentum continues.

Source:

[1] Ethereum Futures Lead the Charge – Bitcoin Dominance Takes a Hit (https://ambcrypto.com/ethereum-futures-lead-the-charge-bitcoin-dominance-takes-a-hit/)

[2] Will Ethereum Price Pullback or Rally Towards $5500? (https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1064793-20250825)

[3] Whales Scoop 500K Ethereum in 48 Hours (https://www.bitget.com/news/detail/12560604927929)

[4] Bitcoin Whales Swap BTC for Ether as Trader Sees ETH at $5,5K Next (https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-whales-swap-btc-for-ether-trader-sees-eth-hitting-5-5k-next)