- Ethereum whales have increased their holdings by 3.72%, signaling strong institutional confidence, while retail investors are taking profits amid sideways price action.
- At the same time, spot ETH ETFs saw record inflows and whale activity surged across DeFi and Layer 2 ecosystems, highlighting growing strategic engagement with Ethereum.
Ethereum Whales Accumulate While Retail Cashes Out
Ethereum’s largest holders are on a quiet buying spree. According to data from Santiment, wallets holding between 1,000 and 100,000 ETH have added 1.49 million ETH—worth roughly $3.79 billion—over the past 30 days. This 3.72% increase highlights growing institutional confidence in Ethereum, even as retail investors take profits amid a mostly sideways market. The strategic accumulation by these whales now represents nearly 27% of ETH’s circulating supply.
DeFi, ENS, and Layer 2s See Whale Frenzy
Whale activity isn’t limited to holding ETH. Ethereum’s broader ecosystem is seeing a surge in high-value transactions. Ethereum Name Service (ENS) saw a 313.5% jump in whale activity in early July, while DeFi lending platforms spiked 203.8%. Layer 2 networks like Arbitrum and Optimism also experienced explosive growth, with significant increases in USDC transfers and protocol engagement on Base. This signals that Ethereum whales aren’t just bullish—they’re betting on the blockchain’s utility and long-term adoption.
Spot ETH ETFs See Record-Breaking Inflows
Institutional sentiment is also evident in the ETF space. Spot ETH ETFs in the U.S. witnessed a 19-day streak of net inflows totaling $1.37 billion, led by BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust. Although the streak recently snapped with a small $2.1 million outflow, the data points to serious institutional appetite for Ethereum exposure.
Ethereum in Corporate Treasuries? Market Reacts Sharply
SharpLink Gaming’s plan to build an ETH treasury sent its shares plummeting 73% after-hours following a misunderstood stock registration filing. Despite the sell-off, the move reflects a forward-thinking strategy, potentially setting the stage for Ethereum integration into corporate finance models. Company leadership clarified the filing was procedural, not a reversal of crypto strategy.
A Tale of Two Markets
As retail investors take profits, Ethereum whales and institutions are doubling down—betting big on ETH’s future. From ETF inflows to DeFi and Layer 2 activity, Ethereum’s ecosystem is thriving beneath the surface. Whether this divergence leads to the next leg up remains to be seen, but the smart money seems to know where it’s going.
