Ethereum ETFs See Record Inflows as ETH Closes on $3K

BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) led the charge with $80 million in net inflows, signaling strong investor demand. Why is Ethereum Witnessing an Uptick in ETF Inflows The last time Ethereum ETF inflows topped $125 million was on February 2, when investors poured $276 million into BlackRock’s ETHA with the altcoin trading at $2,900 then. Spot Ethereum ETFs have raked in $745 million during an 11-day surge, pushing total net inflows since their July debut to $3.5 billion. Product and regulatory milestones are part of the factors igniting the Ethereum ETF fire. For instance, Invesco recently filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to allow staking within its ETH ETF, which would give investors both price exposure and yield. Furthermore, Ethereum’s recent Pectra upgrade has the potential of boosting ETF interest by improving wallet usability and transaction efficiency. Therefore, a mix of regulatory optimism like staking in ETFs, technical upgrades, and consistent institutional flows are propelling Ethereum into the spotlight right now. Coupled with its dominant DeFi infrastructure and strong price dynamics, Ethereum ETFs are attracting fresh capital at scale. Ethereum’s Institutional Momentum Gains Steam Even though ETH is experiencing a pullback at the $2,530 level, the second-largest cryptocurrency based on market capitalization continues eyeing the psychological price of $3,000 . Where is Ethereum getting its backing from? Well, institutional demand is surging as Ethereum overtakes Bitcoin in derivatives markets, with sophisticated investors betting on ETH’s long-term growth and its pivotal role bridging traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). The COO of crypto exchange OKX Lennix Lai acknowledged, “Ethereum is overshadowing BTC on our perpetual futures market, with ETH accounting for 45.2% of trading volume over the past week. BTC, by comparison, sits at 38.1%.” Ethereum Futures Open Interest Smashes $20B Barrier Ether futures open interest has surged to an unprecedented all‑time high, now exceeding $20 billion. Leading on-chain metrics provider Glassnode acknowledged , “ETH futures open interest (cash-margined) just hit a new all-time high – topping $20B. Despite a slight pullback from the $2.8K levels, leverage continues to build as traders load up using stablecoins.” What’s Driving the Spike? Heavy Leverage & Speculation Traders are increasingly employing cash‑margined futures with stablecoins, layering on more leverage. This can be shown by the fact that open interest is at historic-high levels. Institutional Inflows & Whale Activity Institutional investors, most notably BlackRock, are ramping up ETH accumulation—some $163.6 million in the last two weeks alone. On‑chain analytics firm Lookonchain reports major whale distributions and withdrawals from exchanges, indicating a shift toward long-term stakeholding. Retail Engagement Retail traders appear to be returning, with futures trading frequency among small investors climbing above the one-year average. This resurgence is in stark contrast to diminished activity in Bitcoin’s on‑chain metrics. Price Context and Outlook Despite the surge in open interest, ETH remains below its key resistance of $2,800–$3,000, trading at the $2,500 zone . Analysts suggest that breaking above $2,800 could open the way toward $3,000 and beyond, though heightened risk awaits should the market cool. Conclusion With all eyes glued to ETH $3,000, the largest altcoin continues to enjoy various bullish on-chain metrics ranging from skyrocketing ETF inflows to historic high open interest. Even though a bullish June 2025 outlook is taking center stage, thanks to robust sentiment and potential upside, holding the psychological price of $2,500 will be key when it comes to determining the next move that Ethereum makes.

Source: Coinpaper