Ethereum’s Resurgence: Daily Transactions Approach 2021 Highs Amid DeFi Revival

Ethereum is experiencing a significant surge in daily transactions, reaching levels comparable to those seen during the 2021 bull market. With average transactions exceeding 1.2 million, the network is witnessing renewed activity, driven by the recent Pectra upgrade and consistently low gas fees. Analysts are now speculating whether this momentum could push Ether (ETH) beyond the $2,600 resistance level. ethereum developer Arjun Bhuptani attributes the smoother network performance to these developments, hinting at a potential revival of decentralized finance (DeFi) on the platform. As of July 2025, the crypto community is closely watching Ethereum's trajectory, with many bullish on its future prospects.

Ethereum Daily Transactions Near 2021 Highs: Return of DeFi?

Daily activity on Ethereum is surging, with average transactions exceeding 1.2 million—levels last seen during the 2021 bull market. The rebound follows April's Pectra upgrade and sustained low gas fees, now hovering around six gwei compared to over 300 gwei at the previous peak.

Analysts speculate whether this momentum can propel Ether (ETH) past the $2,600 resistance. Ethereum developer Arjun Bhuptani attributes the smoother network performance to recent scaling efforts, noting, "We scaled the chain." Meanwhile, stablecoin supply on Ethereum hit a yearly high, and Binance futures data show top traders increasing long ETH positions from 52% to 64% since July.

Will BlackRock’s $100M Buy Propel Ethereum to $3,500?

Ethereum is back in the spotlight as bullish signals mount, fueled by institutional interest and on-chain whale activity. Analysts now eye a potential breakout toward $3,500.

BlackRock's reported $100 million ETH accumulation over seven days signals aggressive institutional positioning. On-chain data confirms sustained buying from wallets holding 1,000-100,000 ETH since mid-May.

A record short position on CME ETH futures has analysts anticipating a potential squeeze. The convergence of institutional accumulation and extreme bearish speculation creates conditions for volatile upside.

Robinhood’s New Blockchain Targets NYSE Dominance: Galaxy Digital

Robinhood is launching "Robinhood Chain," a blockchain system built on Ethereum and Arbitrum Orbit, poised to disrupt traditional stock exchanges like the NYSE. The platform could generate over $150,000 daily by retaining transaction fees, mirroring Coinbase’s Base rollup strategy. This approach transforms Robinhood’s blockchain into a developer-friendly environment for apps leveraging tokenized assets, including digital stocks.

The recent acquisition of Bitstamp enables trading beyond standard market hours, challenging established exchanges. However, unmonitored price fluctuations during off-hours introduce risks and may erode traditional exchange fee revenues. Regulatory hurdles remain, as the SEC’s stance on Robinhood’s Europe-focused but U.S.-linked initiative is unclear. SIFMA has warned against allowing tokenized trades outside existing frameworks.

Tokenization unlocks unprecedented flexibility, accelerating innovation in decentralized finance and pressuring legacy exchanges to adapt. CEO Vlad Tenev unveiled the platform at a conference, highlighting direct blockchain trading of digital stock versions—bypassing conventional market hours.

Ethereum Adopted as Primary Treasury Reserve Asset by SharpLink Gaming

Ethereum (ETH) is being positioned as a foundational LAYER for global finance, with SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (SBET) making a bold $500 million bet on the cryptocurrency. The firm announced on July 4, 2025, via X that it has become the first publicly listed company to adopt ETH as its primary treasury reserve asset. SharpLink's strategy includes accumulating ETH, staking it, and growing ETH-per-share to deliver long-term shareholder value.

At the time of writing, Ether is trading at $2,505, up 0.56% in the past 24 hours, according to CoinDesk Research. The broader crypto market, as measured by the CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20), rose 0.34% during the same period.

SharpLink, a Minneapolis-based leader in sports betting and iGaming, emphasized that its approach goes beyond mere holding. The company plans to actively deploy ETH through native staking, restaking, and yield strategies within Ethereum's decentralized finance ecosystem. ETH's productivity, composability, and scarcity were highlighted as key advantages for corporate treasury adoption.