Ethereum Surges 4.17% as Institutional Investment and Regulatory Developments Drive Price

Ethereum's latest price was $3747.53, up 4.171% in the last 24 hours. This surge in price can be attributed to several factors, including significant institutional investment and regulatory developments.

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin recently tweeted about the significant support for raising the L1 Gas limit to 45 million, with nearly 50% of stakers voting in favor. The Gas limit has since started to increase and is currently at 37.3 million. This development is expected to enhance the network's capacity and efficiency, potentially driving further adoption and investment.

VanEck, along with other industry players, has urged the SEC to restore a "first-to-file" process for Ethereum ETF approvals. This request comes amid concerns that the current bulk decision policy favors larger incumbents, reducing investor choice and market efficiency. Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck, emphasized that this policy undermines the SEC's mission and the competitive landscape of the market. The push for fairness in processing reflects the ongoing battle for market share and regulatory consistency in the cryptocurrency industry.

VanEck's advocacy efforts highlight the need for equitable access through consistent application scrutiny. The potential outcomes of this push include shifts in trading volumes as ETFs restructure to align with SEC endorsements. Analysts predict changes in ETH reserve asset status and regulatory stances, impacting on-chain governance and market flows if VanEck's plea is honored.

Ethereum ETFs have surpassed $7 billion in inflows, with BlackRock leading the charge. BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust holds a dominant position, recording over $394 million in one day. CEO Larry Fink emphasized the growing role of cryptocurrencies in portfolios, adding that they have a role in portfolio construction when structured under regulatory frameworks. Other participants include Fidelity and Grayscale, with BlackRock and Fidelity driving a considerable $726 million inflow in a single day. The increased investment has caused a notable rise in Ethereum's market value, reinforcing its appeal. BlackRock's Ethereum ETFs see significant inflow, pushing ETH to the forefront, while Bitcoin continued to experience parallel, albeit less significant, inflows. Analysts note this as Ethereum surpassing Bitcoin's past ETF launches in pace and interest, marking a pivotal moment for crypto finance. Prospects of financial growth appear positive, with institutional recognition signaling strategic shifts.

US Ethereum spot ETFs recorded a substantial inflow of $21.82 billion this week, highlighting growing investor interest in Ethereum as a viable asset. Major U.S. asset managers, including BlackRock, Grayscale, and Fidelity, are at the forefront of administering these Ethereum spot ETFs. Their involvement underscores the growing acceptance of Ethereum within institutional investment environments. The SEC's approval paved the way, allowing these products to enter the market recently. The flow of $21.82 billion into US Ethereum spot ETFs this week signals a shift in investor interest toward Ethereum, potentially increasing on-chain demand and liquidity. Market reactions include positive sentiments from industry analysts and market participants. The recent $21.82 billion inflow into US Ethereum spot ETFs marks the highest weekly inflow recorded for Ethereum-related ETFs, overtaking Bitcoin ETF inflows for the first time in history. The Coincu research team highlights that Ethereum’s robust inflows could have significant effects on financial markets, as large capital shifts prompt better price stability and long-term resilience. The increased institutional participation may attract further regulatory scrutiny while also driving blockchain innovations and technological advancements.

Ever since Strategy, previously Microstrategy, began putting bitcoin into its company coffers, a significant number of other businesses have followed suit. Currently, various organizations are incorporating leading alternative coins into their financial holdings. This growing trend might help explain the upward push on ETH prices, fueled not just by interest in spot ether exchange-traded funds but also by corporate demand. With that in mind, we’ve pulled together a list of companies now loading up on ETH—taking a page from Michael Saylor’s bitcoin stacking playbook. At the moment, one of the biggest ETH holders is a publicly traded company that got its start mining bitcoin and jumped into ETH accumulation earlier this year. As of July 17, 2025, Bitmine disclosed it holds 300,657 ETH—60,000 of which were picked up through options backed by $200 million in cash, while the rest sits directly on its books. Close behind is Sharplink Gaming, which holds about 280,706 ETH, according to its latest filing. With fresh capital recently secured, Sharplink’s looking to grow that stash even further. Rounding out the list is Bit Digital, which has quietly become a heavyweight in the ETH treasury game. As of July 20, 2025, the firm holds 120,306 ETH, following its latest pickup of 19,683 ETH using proceeds from a $67.3 million direct offering to institutional investors. Bit Digital runs its own validators and stakes the bulk of its stash—cementing its place among the largest ETH holders in public markets. Next in line is Ether Capital Corporation, with 46,274 ETH on the books according to its Q1 2024 report. While 98% of that was staked at the time, there’s been radio silence since—no updates, no new filings—so that figure still stands as the latest public tally. Then there’s BTCS Inc., holding 29,122 ETH as of July 11. The company takes a mixed approach: 4,160 ETH staked via Rocket Pool, 6,300 via solo nodes, and 4,382 waiting in the queue. The rest—14,280 ETH—is posted as collateral on Aave. With a debt-to-assets ratio of 24%, BTCS is working both the defi and TradFi angles with some room to maneuver. Meanwhile, Intchains Group clocked in with 7,023 ETH as of Mar. 31, 2025—a 23.2% jump from the previous quarter. No fresh updates have hit since, so that number still holds as the most reliable snapshot of its holdings. Gamesquare Holdings recently threw its hat into the ring with a $5 million ethereum buy at a weighted average price of $2,749 per coin, totaling 1,818.84 ETH. The deal was made public on July 10, and though Gamesquare just closed a $70 million offering with plans to buy more, nothing beyond that initial grab has been confirmed. Exodus Movement Inc. trails with 2,729 ETH in its treasury, a figure last updated at the end of June. Vault Ventures PLC, on the other hand, is inching up with a fresh purchase of 58.45 ETH, pushing its total to 711.93 ETH as of July 18. And finally, Mogo Inc. wraps things up with a modest 146 ETH, based on its June report. The firm’s attention lately has leaned heavily toward bitcoin, leaving its ETH play on pause for now. From mining roots to staking empires, these firms are making ethereum a cornerstone of their treasury strategies. As institutional interest deepens, ETH is becoming a boardroom fixture.

Recent corporate investment trends indicate significant institutional accumulation within the Ethereum ecosystem. Available data reveals a substantial quarterly increase of 23.2% in Ethereum holdings among corporations throughout the second quarter of 2025. This pronounced influx of institutional capital represents a notable endorsement of Ethereum's underlying value proposition.

Further evidence of this accumulation pattern emerges with a specific corporate entity, SharpLink, executing a significant acquisition. Utilizing proceeds from a substantial $67.3 million capital raise directed towards institutional investors, SharpLink acquired an additional 19,683 Ether. This strategic purchase, occurring recently, elevates their total Ethereum holdings to 120,306 ETH, reflecting a clear institutional strategy of increasing exposure to the Ethereum network.

Concurrent with this heightened institutional interest, Ethereum achieved a significant valuation milestone. Monitoring shows that Ethereum's total market capitalization ascended to $461.49 billion, setting a new peak for the year 2025. This valuation firmly solidified Ethereum's status as the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap globally, underscoring its pivotal role within the broader digital asset landscape. Subsequently, this valuation experienced a modest adjustment to $451.55 billion, still representing a dominant market position.