Ethereum ETFs (exchange-traded funds) began trading on Tuesday, generating significant volume within the first 2 hours of trading. Interestingly, the Ethereum ETFs ranked among the top 1% regarding ETF volume. Related Reading: Analyst Says Solana Price Will Surge 1,000% To $1,800, Here’s When Ethereum ETFs Surpass Traditional Launch Volumes According to Bloomberg ETF expert Eric Balchunas, the ETH ETFs traded $361 million in the first 90 minutes on launch day, surpassing the typical volume seen at the launch of traditional ETFs. Blachunas said: Here’s where we at after 90 minutes. $361m total. As a group that number would rank them about 15th overall in ETF volume (about what $TLT and $EEM trade), which is Top 1%. But again compared to a normal ETF launch, which rarely see more than $1m on Day One, all of them have cleared that number and then some. Matthew Sigel, head of digital asset research at asset manager VanEck, highlighted the significance of these figures in the first hours of trading, noting that Ethereum ETFs saw more than 50% of trading volume compared to Bitcoin’s $610 million on day one, indicating strong investor interest in Ethereum. However, how these numbers will fare at the close remains to be seen. Bitcoin ETFs saw $4.6 billion in volume on their first day of trading in January, which may indicate the future performance of these newly approved index funds for the second-largest cryptocurrency on the market. ETH’s Price Targets Soar Crypto analyst Doctor Profit shared a report highlighting a potentially massive parabolic move for Ethereum’s price this year in the wake of the expected inflows in the new Ethereum ETF market. While some anticipate a correction due to the “sell the news” phenomenon, Doctor Profit argues that the market has already factored in the ETF launch but has yet to consider the significant inflows of USD that will flood into the Ethereum ETFs. With Ethereum’s market cap being three times smaller than Bitcoin’s, Doctor Profit believes that every dollar invested in ETH is expected to have three times the price impact compared to Bitcoin, positioning Ethereum favorably for substantial price gains. Furthermore, the analyst contends that while Ethereum’s Grayscale ETH Fund sell pressure is comparable to the Bitcoin ETF launch, the impact is expected to be less severe. Related Reading: Helium (HNT) Rockets In Value With 41% Rally – Here’s Why Looking ahead, Doctor Profit has set expected price targets for Ethereum in the coming months, including a potential target between $4,500 and $5,500 by Q3 2024, indicating steady but modest growth. Moving into Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, the price range is expected to expand from $5,500 to $8,000. However, it is in Q2 2025 that Ethereum is expected to significantly jump, with price targets ranging from $8,000 to $14,000. At the time of writing, ETH is trading at $3,444, showing sideways movement with no significant change from yesterday’s price, despite the hype surrounding the launch of the ETF market. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
While the US markets are not yet prepared for an Ether staking ETF, the European markets might lead the way by introducing the first staked exchange-traded fund.
The crypto industry is on the verge of a potentially significant development as key figures in the sector hint at the imminent approval of a spot Ethereum ETF in the United States, possibly triggering a notable price rally for ETH. Nate Geraci, president of The ETF Store, shared insights into the expected timeline for the launch of the first spot Ethereum ETF. According to Geraci, current forecasts by Bloomberg predict a mid-July launch. He detailed the procedural timeline via X, stating, “Wen spot eth ETF? BBG sticking w/ mid-July. Amended S-1s due July 8th. Potential final S-1s by July 12th. Would theoretically mean launch week of July 15th.” In parallel, Steve Kurz, head of asset management at Galaxy Digital, confirmed to Bloomberg on July 2 that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) might greenlight a spot Ethereum ETF before the month’s end. Related Reading: ETH Price Dips As Ethereum ETF Approval Faces Delay Kurz emphasized the extensive groundwork laid in collaboration with the SEC, drawing parallels between the proposed Ethereum ETF and Galaxy’s existing spot Bitcoin ETF (BTCO), created with Invesco. Kurz expressed confidence in their preparedness, remarking, “We know the plumbing, we know the process… The SEC is engaged.” Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas also chimed in, aligning with the mid-July expectations. He highlighted the SEC’s recent instructions to Ethereum ETF issuers for amending their S-1 registration forms by July 8, suggesting possible further amendments. Notably, the SEC approved rule changes under 19-b4 in May, facilitating the listing and trading of such funds, though the issuance of funds remained pending final approvals. Ethereum Price Holds Above Key Support The anticipation of these approvals appears to be having a stabilizing effect on Ethereum prices. Crypto analyst IncomeSharks, commenting on Ethereum’s current price trajectory via X, noted optimism for a near-term breakout, stating, “ETH – Looking more optimistic for a Q3 breakout. Liking the chances of a run towards $4,000 this or next month.” According to the chart shared by him, ETH price needs to hold the region of $3,300 to $3,350 in order to rally to $4,000. Supporting this sentiment, Cold Blooded Shiller highlighted the crucial need for Ethereum to demonstrate momentum at the current price levels, specifically around the $3,400 mark, as a key indicator for a potential high-time-frame impulse. Related Reading: Ethereum Suffers 3rd Straight Weekly Outflows, Becomes 2024’s Worst Performer “ETH is still in a fine position but it really needs to start showing some momentum soon. LTF divergences around this $3400 low are probably where I take one stab at trying to capture any HTF impulse away from the consolidation,” he remarked via X. Adding historical perspective, analyst Jelle (@CryptoJelleNL) compared the current market phase to Ethereum’s long consolidation in 2016-2017 before its massive rally, urging persistence and optimism: “In 2016-2017, ETH consolidated for 50+ weeks before rallying nearly 12000 percent. Today, people are giving up after less than 20 weeks, with ETH ETFs right around the corner. Stick to the plan boys. The best is yet to come.” At press time, ETH traded at $3,353. Featured image created with DALL·E, chart from TradingView.com