Ethereum ETFs see record inflows, spark crypto market frenzy

Ethereum ($ETH) has made big waves this week as investors poured record amounts of money into US-listed Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

On July 16, the nine Ethereum spot ETFs in the United States saw their largest-ever single-day inflows, pulling in over $726 million. 

This huge amount of capital has sent Ethereum’s price soaring and sparked renewed excitement across the altcoin market.

According to data from SoSo Value, this is the largest single-day inflow for Ethereum ETFs since they launched. 

The majority of this money went into BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), which alone collected nearly $500 million that day. This pushed ETHA’s total assets under management to an impressive $7.7 billion.

Fidelity’s Ethereum Fund (FETH) was also a big winner, pulling in $113 million. Grayscale’s Ethereum-focused funds followed with $87 million. 

Smaller but still notable inflows were seen in Bitwise’s ETHW ($14 million), Franklin Templeton’s EZET ($5 million), Invesco’s QETH ($3.7 million), and VanEck’s ETHV ($3.6 million).

These inflows broke the previous daily record of $428 million set back in December 2024. According to Farside Investors, the July 16 total beat that record by nearly 70%. 

Overall, the US Ethereum ETFs now hold more than five million ETH, accounting for over 4% of Ethereum’s circulating supply.

The past five trading days alone have seen $1.8 billion flow into these funds. For July, total net inflows have reached $2.27 billion, making it the best month for Ethereum ETFs since they were launched a year ago.

Crypto analyst, Matthew Hyland, noted that this surge in interest may mark a shift in the crypto market. 

“If ETH keeps rallying, we might have seen the peak of Bitcoin dominance”, Hyland said. Many investors are now looking to Ethereum and altcoins for the next wave of gains.

Ethereum price hits six-month high

The flood of new money into Ethereum ETFs has had a clear effect on ETH’s price. On 16 July, Ethereum’s price broke above $3,400 for the first time in over six months. According to CoinGecko, ETH was trading around $3,346, up 7.2% in just 24 hours. 

Over the past two weeks, Ethereum has gained nearly 30%, far ahead of Bitcoin’s 8.5% rise during the same period.

BlackRock’s ETHA has been one of the main drivers of this surge. The fund saw $1.25 billion in inflows over just five trading days, making up nearly 20% of its total since launch. 

Trading volumes soared as well, with ETHA recording $1.8 billion in daily trading volume, signalling strong institutional demand.

Analytics firm, Santiment, reported that Ethereum’s market value has grown by more than 50% since late June. The number of non-empty Ethereum wallets has hit 152.03 million, the highest ever recorded, pointing to a growing user base. 

“The crowd has taken note of the major price rebound”, said Santiment, adding that discussions about Ethereum on social media platforms like X, Reddit, and Telegram have reached their highest levels since May 2024.

Data from Ultra Sound Money shows that Ethereum ETFs bought nearly 107 times the amount of ETH issued by the network on 16 July alone. This large-scale buying is tightening supply and pushing prices higher.

According to SwissBlock’s Altcoin Vector report, the ETH/BTC ratio has been steadily rising, suggesting Ethereum is gaining strength relative to Bitcoin. Some analysts now believe Ethereum could soon reach $4,000. 

On-chain analyst, AbramChart, even predicts that ETH might break past $5,200 if Bitcoin dominance continues to fall.

Corporates boost holdings as altcoins rally

It’s not just ETFs that are driving Ethereum’s rally. Corporate treasuries are also adding significant amounts of ETH to their holdings. According to Strategic ETH Reserve, corporations now hold over $5.33 billion worth of ETH, equal to about 1.33% of the total supply.

In June alone, companies added more than $1.6 billion in ETH. SharpLink Gaming has been one of the most aggressive buyers, purchasing $68 million worth of ETH in the past 24 hours and $343 million over the past eight days, according to Lookonchain.

World Liberty Financial, a firm backed by US President Donald Trump, bought another $5 million worth of ETH at $3,266, slightly above its average buying price over recent months. 

Meanwhile, BitMine Immersion Technologies, chaired by Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, disclosed that its ETH holdings have now surpassed $500 million.

The Ethereum rally has helped lift the broader altcoin market as well. XRP jumped 7.6%, Dogecoin climbed 6.9%, Solana gained 5.2%, BNB advanced 3.4%, and Cardano rose 3.5% over the past 24 hours. 

Analysts say this marks the early phase of a new altcoin season, as investors look beyond Bitcoin for opportunities.

Santiment data also shows that social media buzz has shifted from Bitcoin to Ethereum and other altcoins. On 16 July, Ethereum was also the most mentioned crypto asset across major social platforms, with many users setting their sights on a $4,000 price target. 

Altcoin Daily analysts have even called 2025 a “watershed year” for crypto, thanks to institutional money, political changes, and clearer regulations.

Recent political developments in the US are adding to investor confidence. Congress is moving forward with three major crypto-related bills: the GENIUS Act.

It covers stablecoin rules; the Clarity Act, which clarifies how cryptocurrencies are classified; and a bill to block a US central bank digital currency (CBDC). The Genius Act has already passed the Senate and is expected to be signed into law soon.

Analysts say these moves are creating a more supportive environment for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins. Crypto expert, Michaël van de Poppe, believes Ethereum is heading towards the $4,000 mark and suggests that short-term dips should be seen as buying opportunities.

Fairlead Strategies’ Katie Stockton sees Bitcoin topping out at $135,000 based on technical analysis. The founder of Constellation Research, Ray Wang, forecasts Bitcoin hitting $150,000 within six months, citing demand from sovereign wealth funds and regulatory clarity. 

Meanwhile, the CEO of Bitwise offers the boldest prediction, targeting $200,000 Bitcoin by the end of the year. Altcoin Daily has called 2025 a key year for crypto markets, with institutional investment, political progress, and altcoin momentum all lining up for a possible major bull cycle.

Ethereum’s record-breaking ETF inflows, surging price, and rising corporate holdings have put it front and centre in the crypto world. 

With institutional and retail investors showing renewed enthusiasm, and with the altcoin market heating up, Ethereum appears set to play a leading role in the next chapter of the crypto cycle. 

Whether the price hits $4,000, $5,200, or even higher, one thing is clear: Ethereum is back in the spotlight, and the crypto world is watching.