Ethereum’s momentum in institutional markets just hit a major roadblock. After months of enthusiasm surrounding spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs), new data has shown that ETF flows have sunk to their worst monthly total since their launch. The sharp drop reflects a broader cooldown in investor demand, as market volatility and shifting risk appetite weigh on crypto allocations. Will Staking ETFs Emerge To Stabilize Flows? In an X post, a crypto analyst known as Milk Road revealed that the Ethereum ETFs had just printed their worst month on record since launch, which is roughly $1.4 billion in net outflows, the largest single-month withdrawal that ETH has ever encountered. Related Reading: Ethereum Shows Signs Of Accumulation As CVD Strengthens And Correlation Stays Elevated Historically, ETF flow reversals tell more about liquidity pressure in the broader financial system than the long-term fundamentals of the asset itself. When redemptions spike this hard, it’s usually a sign that broader risk sentiment is cracking, not that the asset itself broke. Meanwhile, most investors don’t know that while ETFs were handing back, Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) stepped in as aggressive buyers. BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) quietly added over 300,000 ETH, worth nearly $800 million at the time, to its treasuries. If the ETF outflow continues to accelerate, the near-term price action will remain choppy as liquidity gets strained at the edges. However, if DAT inflows continue scaling, it builds the foundation for a tighter supply setup into 2026. The tension between this panicked short-term selling pressure and the quiet structural long-term accumulation is the most important dynamic for positioning. Why ETH Reserves Are Becoming Strategic Corporate Assets Crypto trader Bull Theory has noted that last week, BitMine bought an astonishing 138,452 ETH, worth $437.7 million. This single transaction solidifies their position as the largest ETH treasury in the world, holding 3.86 million ETH, valued at $12.4 billion and accounting for 3.2% of the entire circulating supply. Related Reading: Here’s Why Ethereum Emerges As The Global Capital Rails For On-Chain Finance The true source of rising ETH demand is that Wall Street is quietly building on ETH. BlackRock, with $13.5 trillion AUM, has launched tokenized funds on ETH and has filed for a staked ETH ETF. JPMorgan, with $4 trillion, Deutsche Bank, with $1.1 trillion, and Standard Chartered, with $800 billion, are developing tokenization and DeFi infrastructure using ETH and its Layer-2 networks. Institutions like Amundi, HSBC, BNY Mellon, Coinbase, Kraken, and Robinhood are all using ETH rails for custody and settlement or rollup infrastructure for scaling and security. Furthermore, large companies are now holding and staking ETH for yield. BitMine alone expects to generate $400 million+ a year in staking revenue from its position. Tom Lee believes that as staking demand grows and institutions scale tokenization increases, ETH could reach $12,000 in 2026. “A Bitcoin miner is now the largest Ethereum whale, Wall Street is building on ETH, and treasuries are shifting toward yield. ETH is quickly becoming part of the Global Financial System.” Bull Theory noted. Featured image from Freepik, chart from Tradingview.com
The Ethereum price has spent the past weeks stuck in a wide consolidation zone, testing bullish momentum as analysts anticipate its next big breakout. One market expert has highlighted a critical level for ETH, suggesting that as long as the second-largest cryptocurrency can hold above this level, its path to surpassing the $5,000 milestone remains intact. Ethereum Price Faces Critical Level At $4,400 According to market expert Daan Crypto Trades on X social media, Ethereum’s recent price action has been choppy following two slow weeks of trading. The analyst’s chart shows that ETH has oscillated between $4,100 and $4,800, with several stop hints and liquidity grabs creating false moves on both the bullish and bearish side. Related Reading: This Is The Key Level That Stands Between The Ethereum Price And A Surge To $5,000 Despite these fluctuations, the $4,400 zone, which sits around the 200-day Moving Average (MA) on the 4-hour chart, continues to act as the key support level that stands between ETH and the $5,000 milestone. Daan Crypto Trades noted that this critical support is not just technical but also aligns with strong accumulation levels. The analyst highlighted that Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. (BMNR) has been steadily adding to positions, though at a slightly lower pace as Net Asset Value (NAV) flows ease. This shows that as long as Ethereum can maintain its price above the $4,400 support level, buyers may remain in control. The chart clearly illustrates this battle for support. ETH’s dips below $4,500 have so far been short-lived, with price consistently bouncing back into the consolidation range. This repeated defense strengthens the case for Ethereum to sustain its momentum and build the foundation for a run above $5,000. For now, patient accumulation within the consolidation zone appears to be the market’s strategy as the cryptocurrency gears up for a potential breakout once broader conditions align. $5,000 Is Only A Matter Of Time In a follow-up analysis, Daan Crypto Trades reinforced his bullish view, noting that Ethereum is essentially in a “$5,000 waiting room.” The analyst’s chart highlights this view, showing ETH rebounding strongly after retesting the $4,400 region. With both the 200 MA and 200 EMA on the 4-hour chart acting as underlying support, the cryptocurrency’s structure appears intact despite short-term volatility. Related Reading: Ethereum Price At Risk Of Crash To $4,000, Is A New ATH Still Possible? Daan Crypto Trades suggested that while a retest of $4,000 – $4,100 is still possible, the market is unlikely to sustain a breakdown below that zone as long as ETH holds $4,400. In other words, maintaining this critical support could pave the way for new all-time highs. The chart also reflected the market’s resilience, with ETH rejecting the lows and quickly climbing back toward $4,600. Such a rebound often signals that bulls may be preparing for the next leg higher. If the momentum continues, Ethereum retesting its former all-time high of $4,868 and breaking above $5,000 may only be a matter of time. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
In a groundbreaking move, BTCS has unveiled plans to distribute the world’s first blockchain dividend to its investors and pay out shareholders with Ethereum. By delivering shareholder rewards directly on-chain, the company is signaling a future where blockchain-native payouts could become the norm across the global financial sector. The Long-Term Signal For Institutional Crypto Adoption Nasdaq-listed BTCS Inc. has announced a landmark move in traditional finance and crypto integration to become the first publicly traded company in the world to issue dividends in Ethereum. According to the announcement on X, the company revealed that it will pay shareholders a one-time blockchain dividend or “Bividend” of $0.05 per share in ETH, breaking away from the traditional cash dividend model and signaling its deep commitment to blockchain adoption. Related Reading: Bitmine And Donald Trump Spent The Weekend Stacking Ethereum, Here’s How Much They Got BTCS is going further to reward loyalty and empower long-term holders, offering a one-time $0.35 per share ETH loyalty payment. Eligible shareholders who transfer their shares to book-entry form with the company’s transfer agent and hold them through January 26, 2026, will unlock this additional benefit. Combined, the bividend and loyalty shareholders could receive $0.40 per share in ETH, which is significantly designed as a reward and structural defense against short-selling. “These payments are designed to reward our long-term shareholders and empower them to take control of their investment by reducing the ability of their shares to be lent to predatory short-sellers,” BTCS stated. BTCS Inc. is excited to make history in the financial landscape with this key strategic move. The company frames this move as more than just a dividend, but also a statement of trust, loyalty, and shared vision for BTCS’s future. Bitmine Ethereum Hoard Signals Long-Term Institutional Confidence While BTCS Inc. is becoming the first publicly traded company in the world to issue a dividend in ETH, Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR), a leading treasury company, has cemented its place in history to become the largest ETH treasury holder in the world and the second-largest crypto treasury globally. Related Reading: SharpLink Poised To Dominate Ethereum Treasury Holdings At Record Pace — Here’s How Marty Chargin, a market expert on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), highlighted that the treasury company disclosed that its crypto holdings now exceed $6.612 billion, led by a staggering 1,523,373 ETH, which is valued at $4,326 ETH each. According to Bloomberg data, BMNR also holds 192 Bitcoin in addition to its ETH stack, signaling a diversified strategy. The firm’s crypto strategy is substantial, with ETH being the company’s core bet. This positions BMNR Bitmine directly behind Michael Saylor’s Strategy (MSTR), which holds an industry-defining 628,946 BTC valued at $74 billion. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com