Ethereum’s price may seem volatile, but its foundational framework remains strong. Despite the immediate challenges, the network is reinforcing its position in the DeFi sector. ETH is leaving exchanges, resulting in a decrease in the available supply. This moment stands out especially because of who is taking the lead. Institutional players are increasing their involvement, even in a cautious environment. Price and investor behavior are moving apart. Nonetheless, that difference may decrease soon.
Ethereum captures interest as the network currently holds around 68.2% of the global DeFi Total Value Locked, with over $69 billion assigned to its smart contracts. This amount of capital surpasses that of Solana, Tron, BNB Smart Chain, Bitcoin, Avalanche, and all other chains combined. The network’s reach goes well past merely DeFi. The platform features more than $191 billion in stablecoins and holds a dominant position in the tokenized euro market. For institutions, this is important as stablecoins are created in settings where security and reliability are crucial, with Ethereum remaining the preferred settlement layer.
That dominance is leading to real acquisitions, as institutions are quickly increasing their involvement. In the past day, Tom Lee’s Bitmine has obtained almost 68,000 ETH, amounting to more than $200 million. Fasanara Capital has adopted a similar strategy, acquiring ETH, depositing it into DeFi protocols, and using it to facilitate further acquisitions. This indicates a proactive stance. All this buying is happening at a crucial moment for ETH’s price. Ethereum is currently encountering technical difficulties, staying beneath important resistance levels while discovering support near $2,800. On its own, it seems fragile too.
Ethereum’s exchange supply ratio on Binance has decreased to 0.032, reaching its lowest level since September 2024. In simple terms, there is now a smaller quantity of ETH available on exchanges, ready for sale. In this confrontation, if buyers continue to protect support, a limited supply could quickly change the story. Ethereum leads the DeFi space, holding more than 68% of the total value locked. In the meantime, institutional investors are still buying, even with the current price difficulties. A decrease in exchange supply along with more than $200 million in ETH acquisitions could lead to a recovery influenced by supply factors.