Quick Takeaways
- Ether whales boosted their holdings by 14% since ETH hit $1,472 in April.
- Nearly 3% of all ETH in circulation is now held by institutional treasuries.
- If present trends continue, analysts predict that Ether could hit $15,000.
Ether Whales Are Loading Up And That’s Saying Something
When Ether’s price dipped to its lowest point this year just $1,472 back in April many retail investors panicked. But not the big players. Ether whales those who own 1,000–100,000 ETH saw an opportunity instead. They dove right in.
Over the last five months, these big holders have increased their ETH holdings by 14%, according to Santiment data. That’s a significant move especially when you consider that these wallets are now holding between $4.4 million and $440 million worth of Ether each.
Now that Ether is trading around $4,376, that’s nearly a 200% increase since the low. Clearly, the whales bet right.
Not Every Whale Got It Right, Though
Interestingly, not all Ether whales made smart moves during the dip. One notable wallet sold 2,522 ETH in April for $3.9 million, only to buy back 1,425 ETH for $3.8 million a month later.
Essentially, they sold low and bought high a mistake even seasoned investors can make.
Still, the broader whale trend is clear: they’re buying, not selling. And that kind of activity usually signals long-term confidence in the asset.
Ether Whales and Treasuries Are Piling In Together
It’s not just whales making moves institutions are getting in on Ether too. The first ETH purchases were conducted by BitMine Immersion Technologies and Sharplink Gaming in June, when the price of ETH was ranging from $2,228 to $2,813.
That may seem late to some, but for institutional treasuries, it marked a turning point.
Here’s where they stand today:
- BitMine now holds $8.22 billion worth of ETH.
- Sharplink Gaming has amassed $3.69 billion.
Combined, corporate ETH treasuries now control over $15.83 billion, which is about 2.97% of the total ETH supply, according to StrategicETHReserve.
ETF Inflows Are Backing Up the Bullish Case
The action doesn’t stop there. In August, Ethereum ETFs saw a massive $3.87 billion influx. Meanwhile, Bitcoin ETFs lost $751 million. That’s a dramatic flip, and it shows that some investors might be shifting their focus from Bitcoin to Ether.
But there’s a twist. Despite this Ether love, the ETH/BTC ratio (which compares how ETH is doing against BTC) dropped 2.27% last week. And according to blockchain firm Arkham, institutional investors recently sold $135 million in ETH and bought $332 million in BTC.
What’s happening, then? It can just be portfolio balance or short-term profit-taking. Ether is still outperforming year-to-date, but Bitcoin remains the go-to name for conservative institutions.
Could Ether Really Hit $15K? Some Think So
If you think Ether’s rally is impressive now, some experts believe it’s just getting started. By the end of the year, Ether might reach $12,000 to $15,000, according to Sean Farrell, head of Fundstrat’s digital asset analysis.
That’s a bold call, but he’s basing it on three key things:
- Strong ETF inflows
- Institutional treasury accumulation
- Whales continuing to stack ETH
If these forces keep pushing in the same direction, Ether could break into five-digit territory sooner than many expect.
