Ethereum’s Bullish Surge: Analysts Predict $15K Amid DeFi Innovation and Institutional Interest

Ethereum's price has surged past $3,600, reigniting bullish sentiment among analysts who now project a long-term target of $15,000. This rally is fueled by growing institutional interest, highlighted by BlackRock's recent Ethereum ETF filing and a 16% price increase in July. While Ethereum dominates the spotlight, an unnamed Ethereum-based DeFi project is gaining traction for its innovative hybrid approach, combining Layer 2 scalability solutions to address network congestion and high fees. As of July 2025, the cryptocurrency market remains optimistic about Ethereum's potential, driven by both macroeconomic factors and technological advancements in the DeFi space.

Ethereum Price Rally Sparks $15K Speculation as DeFi Project Gains Traction

Ethereum's resurgence above $3,600 has reignited bullish forecasts, with some analysts projecting a long-term target of $15,000. The rally coincides with heightened institutional interest, underscored by BlackRock's recent ethereum ETF filing and a 16% July price surge.

While ETH dominates attention, an unnamed Ethereum-based DeFi project is gaining momentum for its hybrid approach—combining LAYER 2 scalability with real-world payment solutions. Traders are reportedly pivoting toward such altcoins as potential high-growth plays for 2025.

Vitalik Buterin's public endorsement of Layer 2 solutions has further bolstered confidence. Technical indicators suggest ETH may test $5,000-$6,000 resistance levels in the NEAR term, though the spotlight increasingly shifts to Ethereum-adjacent innovations like Remittix.

Ethereum Treasury Protocol ‘ETH Strategy’ Secures $46M in Presale Funding

ETH Strategy, an Ethereum-based treasury accumulation protocol, has successfully raised $46.5 million in presale funding. The project closed its round on Sunday after collecting 12,342 ETH through private and public sales, alongside puttable warrants designed for flexible investor participation.

The protocol announced the completion of its prelaunch phase, marking the beginning of a phased rollout. Funds will be allocated with 11,817 ETH dedicated to protocol operations—including staking and liquidity provisions—while 525 ETH will support development, security audits, team compensation, and community initiatives.

STRAT, the native token, is set to launch Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. ET. Liquidity will be deployed on Uniswap v4 via a single-sided pool featuring an ATM mechanism to stabilize earnings per share.

Corporate ETH Treasury Race Intensifies as BitMine Maintains Lead Over SharpLink

Ether holds steady above $3,800 as publicly traded companies aggressively accumulate ETH treasury positions. SharpLink Gaming added 77,210 ETH ($290M) last week, bringing its total holdings to 438,190 ETH ($1.69B). The Minnesota-based firm has generated 722 ETH in staking rewards since launching its treasury strategy in June.

BitMine Immersion Technologies retains its lead with 625,000 ETH ($2.35B) despite SharpLink's rapid accumulation. The Las Vegas company simultaneously announced a $1B share buyback program, with Chairman Tom Lee citing "expected return calculus" in balancing equity repurchases versus additional ETH acquisitions.

The competition highlights growing institutional acceptance of Ethereum as a treasury asset, with both firms collectively controlling over $4B in ETH. Market observers note these developments coincide with Ethereum's sustained price performance amid broader crypto market stability.

Nasdaq-Listed Biotech Firm Pivots to Ether Treasury Strategy as 'ETHZilla' with $425M Backing

180 Life Sciences (ATNF), a Nasdaq-listed biotech company, will rebrand as ETHZilla after securing $425 million in private funding to shift focus toward an ether-centric treasury strategy. The funding round, structured as a private investment in public equity (PIPE), is backed by institutional heavyweights including Polychain Capital and Electric Capital, alongside founders of Ethereum-based platforms like Lido and EigenLayer.

The firm plans to allocate most of the capital toward accumulating ETH as its Core treasury asset, targeting higher yields than traditional staking through an on-chain program combining staking, lending, and liquidity provisioning. Electric Capital will manage the assets, while a newly formed DeFi Council—including Etherealize—will advise on optimizing ETH monetization.

"This pivot positions investors at the nexus of yield generation in stablecoin and tokenized asset markets," said incoming Chairman McAndrew Rudisill. The deal is slated to close by August 1.

SharpLink Gaming Boosts Ethereum Holdings to $1.68B Amid Aggressive Treasury Strategy

SharpLink Gaming (SBET), a Nasdaq-listed crypto treasury firm led by Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, has significantly expanded its ether (ETH) holdings. The company acquired an additional 77,209 ETH worth $297 million last week, bringing its total to 438,190 tokens valued at approximately $1.68 billion.

The Minneapolis-based firm has pursued an aggressive accumulation strategy since late May, staking its ETH holdings to earn rewards—generating 722 ETH so far. Funding for these purchases came partly from a $279 million share sale via an at-the-market equity facility, despite SBET shares trading 84% below their 52-week high of $124.

SharpLink recently appointed former BlackRock executive Joseph Chalom as co-CEO, signaling continued institutional commitment to cryptocurrency treasury management. The move underscores growing corporate confidence in ETH's long-term value proposition, even amid volatile market conditions.

eToro to Tokenize U.S. Stocks on Ethereum in Blockchain Expansion

eToro announced plans to tokenize U.S.-listed equities on the Ethereum blockchain, marking a significant step toward blockchain-based market infrastructure. The ERC-20 tokens will represent underlying shares held by eToro, redeemable for traditional stock holdings. This initiative aims to enable on-chain equity trading and compatibility with decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, offering 24/7 market access.

"Tokenizing every asset on eToro—starting with stocks—will allow users to MOVE these assets onto the blockchain and integrate them into the broader DeFi ecosystem," said CEO Yoni Assia. Regulatory frameworks like Europe’s MiCA and the U.S. Genius Act are cited as catalysts for the growing tokenization of real-world assets.

The move aligns eToro with competitors like Robinhood, Kraken, and Gemini, which have already introduced tokenized equity offerings. The platform’s prior experience in tokenization, including its 2019 acquisition of Danish startup Firmo, underscores its strategic push into blockchain-based financial services.