Ethereum Bull Run: Trump-Backed WLFI Amasses $293M in ETH Amid Strategic Shift

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a DeFi venture linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump, has made headlines with its aggressive accumulation of Ethereum (ETH) during the recent market rally. On-chain data reveals that WLFI purchased 10,013 ETH, worth approximately $30 million, over a six-day period. This buying spree marks a significant shift from its previous strategy in April, when the firm sold off $8 million worth of ETH. With these latest acquisitions, WLFI's total Ethereum holdings now stand at an estimated 80,000 ETH, valued at around $293 million. The move underscores a bullish stance on Ethereum, leveraging the current price surge to bolster its portfolio. This strategic pivot highlights WLFI's confidence in ETH's long-term potential, aligning with broader market optimism. The firm's actions could signal further institutional interest in Ethereum, reinforcing its position as a leading asset in the cryptocurrency space. As of July 2025, WLFI's substantial ETH holdings position it as a key player in the DeFi ecosystem, with potential implications for future market dynamics.

Trump-Backed WLFI Accumulates $30M in ETH Amid Market Rally

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a DeFi venture with ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, has aggressively increased its ethereum holdings during the recent price surge. On-chain data reveals the firm purchased 10,013 ETH worth approximately $30 million over six days, bringing its total stash to an estimated 80,000 ETH ($293 million).

The buying spree marks a strategic pivot from April's $8 million ETH sell-off, which followed steep losses during the crypto winter. WLFI's original 67,498 ETH acquisition cost $210 million before valuations plummeted $125 million. Eric Trump has publicly framed the current 50% monthly ETH rebound as validation of the venture's long-term crypto thesis.

Ethereum Liquidity Surges 41% as US Exchanges Regain Parity

Ethereum's order-book liquidity has expanded dramatically since April, with aggregated 2% market depth climbing from $278.35 million to $393.34 million—a 41% increase. The growth stems from accumulating resting orders on both sides of the book, signaling stronger market Maker participation and improved resilience during volatile trading sessions.

Despite the liquidity buildup, a July 21 trading surge compressed depth-to-volume ratios to multi-month lows, revealing lingering limitations in absorbing rapid flows. Bid/ask data from that day showed a slight sell-side skew ($209.99 million asks vs. $183.35 million bids), suggesting tempered bullish momentum as traders likely took profits after ETH's recent rally.

In a notable shift, US exchanges now command 50.29% of global 2% market depth, erasing offshore platforms' previous dominance. This resurgence marks a reversal from April's distribution and reflects evolving institutional engagement with Ethereum's liquidity landscape.

Institutional Ethereum Adoption Reaches New Heights as ETF, Corporate Treasuries Drive Demand

Ethereum is witnessing unprecedented institutional demand, fueled by spot ETF inflows and corporate treasury strategies. July 22 marked a watershed moment with $533.87 million in net inflows—the third-largest single-day volume since launch. Total ETF assets now stand at $19.85 billion, representing 4.44% of ETH's market capitalization.

BlackRock's ETHA dominates with $426.22 million in fresh capital on July 22 alone, pushing AUM past $10 billion. The fund now controls 2.24% of circulating supply—a concentration unthinkable two years ago. Fidelity's FETH and Grayscale's ETH fund followed with $35.01 million and $72.64 million respectively, while other providers saw minimal activity.

The institutional embrace reflects a fundamental shift in digital asset valuation. Market participants now treat ETH as a strategic treasury reserve alongside traditional assets. This pivot mirrors Bitcoin's 2020 institutional breakout, but with Ethereum's smart contract utility adding unique value propositions.

'Tokyo Beast' Crypto Game Shuts Down Abruptly Amid Operational Challenges

Tokyo Beast, an Ethereum-based combat game launched on Immutable zkEVM in June 2025, will terminate services on August 24—just 11 weeks after its debut. Producer Naoki Motohashi cited unsustainable operational costs as the primary reason for the shutdown, marking one of the fastest failures in crypto gaming history.

The project had initially garnered attention with promises of a $1 million prize pool tournament. Compensation plans for NFT holders and TGT token investors are underway, though details remain sparse. This closure follows a broader trend of crypto gaming projects struggling to maintain viability despite heavy initial marketing.

Aave Faces Liquidity Strain as Justin Sun's Massive ETH Withdrawals Trigger Market Stress

Aave's Ethereum reserves are under significant pressure following large-scale withdrawals linked to Justin Sun and HTX. Over $1.7 billion in ETH exited the protocol this week, causing borrowing rates to spike above 10% and exposing DeFi's vulnerability to uncoordinated whale actions.

Marc Zeller, an AAVE contributor, likened Sun's transactions to "grocery shopping"—unpredictable and disruptive. The liquidity crunch coincides with Ethereum's validator exit queue surpassing 625,000 ETH, creating 10-day wait times as traders capitalize on the recent price rally.

Wallets tied to Sun withdrew $646 million, while HTX removed another $455 million. Additional exits by entities like Abraxas Capital ($115 million) forced Aave into an unplanned stress test. "I tried to get advance notice for liquidity coordination," Zeller noted, highlighting the systemic risks posed by such movements.

Ethereum Primed for Major Rally Amid Supply Crunch, Says Bitwise CIO

Ethereum's market dynamics are signaling a potential breakout as institutional demand dramatically outpaces new supply. Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan points to a 32-to-1 acquisition ratio by ETH ETFs and treasury firms since mid-May, absorbing 2.83 million ETH while only 88,000 new tokens entered circulation.

The second-largest cryptocurrency faces technical resistance NEAR $3,800 after a 160% quarterly surge, with current consolidation around $3,618 reflecting short-term exhaustion rather than bearish reversal. Key support levels at $3,470 and $3,200 provide downside buffers should profit-taking accelerate.

Market structure tells the compelling story: spot ETF inflows and corporate treasury strategies are creating what Hougan describes as 'a textbook supply shock.' This fundamental pressure persists despite overheated momentum indicators, setting the stage for the next leg up when liquidity returns.