Obscure Firms Surpass Ethereum Foundation in ETH Holdings: A New Era of Institutional Accumulation
In a surprising turn of events, two relatively unknown public companies, SharpLink Gaming and Bitmine Immersion Technologies, have outpaced the Ethereum Foundation in ETH holdings. As of July 2025, SharpLink's staggering 280,706 ETH stash, valued at over $1 billion, highlights their aggressive capital-raising efforts and innovative staking strategy, including the publication of an "ETH-per-share" metric. Bitmine, under the leadership of Fundstrat's Tom Lee, has also made significant strides in ETH accumulation. This trend underscores a broader shift in the cryptocurrency landscape, where institutional players are increasingly dominating ETH holdings, potentially signaling new dynamics for Ethereum's future price and market influence.
Unknown Firms Outpace Ethereum Foundation in ETH Holdings
SharpLink Gaming and Bitmine Immersion Technologies, two relatively obscure public companies, now hold more ethereum than the Ethereum Foundation itself. SharpLink's 280,706 ETH stash, valued at over $1 billion, stems from aggressive capital-raising efforts and a unique staking strategy that includes publishing an "ETH-per-share" metric.
Bitmine, led by Fundstrat's Tom Lee, has also surged ahead in ETH accumulation. This trend underscores a broader shift as institutional players increasingly embrace Ethereum through futures, ETFs, and corporate treasury strategies—reshaping the intersection of traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems.
Ethereum Price Momentum Explodes—Is the Path to $4K Wide Open?
Ethereum's price surge above $3,750 signals renewed bullish momentum, with ETH outperforming Bitcoin and eyeing the $3,950 resistance level. A key trend line supports the rally at $3,720, while consolidation above the 100-hourly SMA suggests sustained upward potential.
The breakout past $3,800 resistance confirms market strength, with Kraken data showing a 23.6% Fib retracement holding firm from recent lows. Traders now watch for a decisive close above $3,920 to validate the path toward $4,000—a psychological barrier that could trigger fresh institutional interest.
Coinbase Reports $3.4B in Ethereum Lost Forever Amid Growing Crypto Graveyard
Ethereum's circulating supply is shrinking as user errors and technical glitches permanently remove coins from availability. Coinbase estimates 913,111 ETH—worth $3.43 billion—are now irrecoverable due to mistaken transactions and contract bugs. This figure represents 0.76% of ETH's total supply.
The network's fee-burning mechanism exacerbates the scarcity, having destroyed 5.3 million ETH ($23.4 billion value) since implementation. Combined with lost coins, 5% of all issued ETH is now effectively out of circulation—a 44% increase in lost assets since March 2023.
Coinbase's Conor Grogan notes these conservative estimates exclude forgotten private keys and dormant genesis wallets. Market observers view the trend as underscoring Ethereum's deflationary characteristics, contrasting with traditional fiat systems where central banks can replenish supplies.
Ethereum NFTs Fuel Q3 Bull Run as Market Cap Surges Past $6.8 Billion
Ethereum's NFT market is staging a powerful comeback, with the total market capitalization reclaiming $6.8 billion for the first time since Q4 2023. This resurgence mirrors historical patterns where NFT rallies precede broader crypto bull markets. CryptoPunks and Pudgy Penguins dominate nearly 40% of the market combined, underscoring Ethereum's continued leadership in digital collectibles.
The NFT rebound coincides with ETH's 50% monthly surge, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of capital flows. Gas usage metrics show renewed network activity as traders chase blue-chip collections. Market observers note parallels to 2021's NFT mania, though current volumes remain below peak levels.
Ethereum Buying Pressure Surges Amid New Treasury Wave and ETF Inflows
Ethereum is experiencing unprecedented buying pressure as spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) accelerate inflows and corporate treasuries increasingly allocate to the asset. Framework Ventures co-founder Vance Spencer projects mid-eleven figure demand ($50B-$100B) for ETH over the next 12-18 months, noting this could represent 12.5-25% of the asset's current $400B market capitalization.
Spot Ethereum ETFs in the U.S. have recorded 12 consecutive days of inflows, with $2.2B entering the products in just the last five trading days. Fidelity's FETH led Monday's $300M inflow surge. Total ETF inflows now approach $7.7B, with BlackRock dominating participation.
The dual catalysts of institutional ETF demand and corporate treasury adoption—including notable allocations from SBET ($5B) and BMNR (5% treasury target)—create what Spencer describes as "structural demand shock" conditions. Daily ETHA inflows now range between $250M-$500M, establishing a new baseline for institutional participation.
Ethereum Eyes $10,000 if Key Resistance Breaks, Analyst Says
Ethereum's path to $10,000 hinges on a decisive breakout above a critical resistance level, according to analyst Ali Martinez. The cryptocurrency has been trading within a Parallel Channel pattern for nearly two years, with its upper trendline now serving as a make-or-break threshold.
Technical analysis reveals ETH recently rebounded from the channel's lower boundary, reinforcing the pattern's validity. A weekly close above the current resistance could trigger a bullish cascade toward five-figure territory. The setup mirrors classic consolidation breakouts, where sustained momentum beyond a key level often precedes accelerated price action.
Market participants are watching the $3,500-$3,800 zone as the immediate battleground. Ethereum's ability to convert this resistance into support WOULD confirm the bullish thesis, potentially unlocking what Martinez describes as "blue sky territory" for the second-largest cryptocurrency.