Ethereum’s Institutional Surge: BitMine and SharpLink Gaming Lead $675M Treasury Strategy

In a bold move mirroring MicroStrategy's Bitcoin strategy, institutional players are now turning their focus to Ethereum. Fundstrat's Tom Lee and ConsenSys founder Joe Lubin are at the forefront of this shift, with BitMine, chaired by Lee, announcing a $250 million private placement dedicated to ETH acquisitions. The mining firm is set to pivot to holding ethereum as its primary reserve asset, targeting a July 3 closing date. Meanwhile, SharpLink Gaming, where Lubin serves as chairman, is also making waves in the Ethereum accumulation space. This $675 million treasury strategy signals growing institutional confidence in Ethereum's long-term value proposition, potentially setting the stage for significant price appreciation in the coming months.

The 'MicroStrategy' of Ethereum Emerges with $675M Treasury Strategy

Fundstrat's Tom Lee and ConsenSys founder Joe Lubin are spearheading institutional Ethereum accumulation strategies mirroring MicroStrategy's Bitcoin playbook. BitMine, chaired by Lee, announced a $250 million private placement dedicated to ETH acquisitions, targeting a July 3 closing date. The mining firm will pivot to holding Ethereum as its primary reserve asset.

SharpLink Gaming, where Lubin serves as chairman, has already amassed 198,167 ETH ($475 million) through strategic purchases. The company added 9,468 ETH last week at an average price of $2,411, cementing its position as the largest publicly traded ETH holder. Together, these moves represent a $675 million institutional endorsement of Ethereum's treasury potential.

Ethereum Rebounds $200 as Bulls Target $2.6K Breakout Amid Institutional Demand

Ethereum surged $200 from its $2,400 support level, with traders now eyeing a decisive breakout above $2,600. The recovery follows a brief consolidation period, fueled by accelerating institutional inflows and growing Layer-2 adoption.

The network continues to dominate decentralized finance with $62.6 billion in total value locked—53% of global DeFi TVL. Its 1.45 million daily transactions underscore Ethereum's position as the preferred blockchain for smart contracts, dApps, and Layer-2 innovations.

BlackRock Expands Ethereum Holdings with $54.8M Purchase

BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has acquired 22,058.53 Ethereum tokens worth approximately $54.8 million. The transaction, executed via Coinbase Prime, underscores the firm's deepening commitment to digital assets. Blockchain analytics from Arkham reveal the purchase as part of a broader pattern of institutional accumulation, with individual transactions ranging from $23 million to $61 million.

The asset manager now holds an estimated 1.4 million ETH, positioning it among the top institutional holders of the cryptocurrency. Ethereum's market activity remains robust despite price volatility, with futures open interest holding steady NEAR $2,450 and a market capitalization of $295 billion.

This move follows BlackRock's established trajectory in crypto markets, complementing its earlier Bitcoin-related investments. The purchase signals continued institutional confidence in Ethereum's long-term value proposition amid evolving regulatory landscapes.

Whale Flips to $70M ETH Short After $3.56M Long Liquidation

A high-stakes Ethereum trader has dramatically reversed course after suffering a multimillion-dollar loss. Whale wallet "0xFa5D" deposited $15.66 million USDC into Hyperliquid to open a 28,679 ETH short position with 10x leverage, equivalent to $70.1 million at $2,443.92 entry price.

The aggressive MOVE comes immediately after the whale absorbed a $3.56 million loss on a 15-day long position. Market observers note the liquidation threshold sits at $2,930.62, with the position currently showing a slight 0.23% unrealized loss as ETH trades at $2,444.50.

Such extreme leverage shifts among institutional-scale traders often signal heightened volatility ahead. The whale's abrupt pivot from long to short suggests potential turbulence in ETH markets, though whether this represents a calculated hedge or outright bearish conviction remains unclear.

Robinhood Advances Crypto Strategy with European Expansion and Tokenized Assets

Robinhood's stock surged past $100 for the first time despite its exclusion from the S&P 500, as the company doubles down on its cryptocurrency ambitions. The trading platform is aggressively expanding its crypto offerings in Europe, leveraging a new Ethereum-based layer-2 blockchain to enable round-the-clock trading.

During an exclusive event on the French Riviera, CEO Vlad Tenev unveiled plans to tokenize traditional assets like stocks, ETFs, and private equity shares. "We're demonstrating what's possible when crypto technology fully integrates with traditional finance," Tenev told CNBC. The initiative includes tokenized shares of OpenAI and SpaceX, granting European investors access to pre-IPO tech companies.

Robinhood Crypto lead Johann Kerbrat hinted at scaling the program to "thousands of tokens" representing diverse financial instruments. The move signals Robinhood's pivot from chasing mainstream validation to pioneering crypto-native financial products.

Ethereum Price Surges 8% as Bitwise Predicts $10 Billion ETF Inflows

Ethereum (ETH) rallied 8% to $2,590 following bullish predictions from Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan, who forecasts $10 billion in inflows for spot ETH ETFs in the second half of 2025. The projection comes as the products recorded three consecutive days of net inflows totaling $150 million, including $40.68 million on Tuesday alone.

"Flows into Ethereum ETFs will accelerate significantly in H2," Hougan stated, citing the growing institutional appeal of Ethereum's tokenization and stablecoin narratives. The recent launch of tokenized stocks on Arbitrum and regulatory progress for stablecoins via the GENIUS bill have further bolstered sentiment.

Technically, ETH appears poised to test the upper boundary of a symmetrical triangle pattern after its recent surge. June's $1.16 billion net inflows into US spot Ethereum ETFs marked the second-best monthly performance on record, signaling sustained institutional interest.