Ethereum’s Bullish Surge: Whale Accumulation and Supply Drain Signal Strong Upside Potential

Ethereum has reclaimed the $2,500 mark with a 2% surge in early Asian trading, driven by intensified accumulation from institutional buyers. Exchange reserves have plummeted to 18.73 million ETH, the lowest since August 2024, as whales absorbed over 670,000 ETH in just nine days. This sustained supply drain from trading platforms underscores growing conviction among large holders, suggesting a bullish outlook for ETH. Currently trading at $2,710.69, Ethereum’s market structure shows consolidation NEAR key psychological levels, indicating potential for further upside.

Ethereum Regains $2,500 as Whale Accumulation Signals Bullish Momentum

Ethereum surged 2% in early Asian trading, reclaiming the $2,500 threshold as institutional buyers intensified accumulation. Exchange reserves plunged to 18.73 million ETH - the lowest since August 2024 - with whales absorbing over 670,000 ETH in nine days.

The sustained supply drain from trading platforms suggests deepening conviction among large holders. Market structure shows consolidation near the psychologically important $2,500 level, though directional bias remains unclear amid balanced order books.

Ethereum Staking and ETF Inflows Signal Institutional Confidence

Ethereum staking has reached a record high, coinciding with bullish inflows into ETH ETFs. On May 20, 2025, these funds attracted $64.8 million, with BlackRock’s ETHA leading at $45 million and Fidelity’s FETH securing $19.8 million. The surge suggests smart money is accumulating positions ahead of potential market moves.

Depositor addresses for staking hit new highs following BlackRock’s public discussions, reinforcing institutional interest. Notably, Bitwise, 21Shares, VanEck, Invesco, Franklin, and Grayscale saw no net FLOW changes—a divergence that highlights selective capital deployment.

From CeFi to DeFi: How Traditional Trading Features Became DEX Embedded

DeFi is experiencing a resurgence, fueled by bullish market conditions and Ethereum’s upcoming Pectra upgrade, which has reinvigorated the EVM ecosystem. Institutional interest is growing as protocols like Aave and Uniswap hit record total value locked (TVL).

Beyond visible catalysts such as institutional adoption and rising metrics, subtle advancements in decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and perpetual platforms are driving innovation. These on-chain tools now rival traditional finance features, marking a significant leap in usability and functionality.

Ethereum Price Analysis: ETH Challenges Key Resistance, Is $3.5K Next?

Ethereum approaches a pivotal resistance at the 200-day moving average of $2.7K, hinting at a potential bullish reversal. A breakout above this level could catalyze a rally toward $3.5K.

Technical indicators show ETH consolidating below the 200-day MA, with renewed buying pressure fueling upward momentum. A confirmed breach of $2.7K WOULD signal a decisive shift in market sentiment, opening the door for mid-term gains.

Mantle and Republic Technologies Partner to Integrate mETH for Institutional Use

Mantle, a leading sustainable hub for on-chain finance with over $3 billion in Total Value Locked (TVL), has entered a strategic partnership with Republic Technologies, the ETH treasury arm of publicly listed Beyond Medical Technologies Inc. This collaboration marks a watershed moment in institutional crypto adoption, as mETH becomes the first liquid staking token to appear on a public company’s balance sheet.

The agreement will see Republic Technologies delegate a substantial portion of its ETH holdings to Mantle’s mETH Protocol, embracing the yield-generating potential of liquid staking. The MOVE signals growing confidence in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake ecosystem among traditional financial entities.

SUI-Based Cetus Protocol Exploited for Over $260M, Investigation Underway

Cetus, a decentralized exchange on the Sui blockchain, has reportedly suffered a devastating exploit, with over $260 million stolen. On-chain investigator Lookonchain revealed the attacker swapped stolen assets into USDC, bridging roughly $60 million to ethereum and exchanging it for ETH. The exploiter has already spent $58.3 million USDC to purchase 21,938 ETH at an average price of $2,658 per token.

The breach triggered a dramatic collapse in the value of Sui-based tokens on Cetus. Assets like LBTC and AXOL lost nearly all their value, while others such as LOFI, HIPPO, and SQUIRT plummeted over 80% in six hours, according to DEX Screener data. Cetus acknowledged the exploit but provided no further details on mitigation efforts.