Bitcoin and Ethereum have gained traction in the last fortnight following an extended period of volatile pricing. Both exhibited notable increases during this timeframe, and their ascent has introduced renewed activity to the market. However, the data underscored divergent trends in exchange inventories for the two largest cryptocurrencies globally. According to Santiment’s latest findings, there is a notable divergence in exchange balances for Ethereum and Bitcoin since June. ETH balances on exchanges decreased by approximately 1.4 million coins during the specified timeframe, declining from around 7.69 million on June 3 to 6.28 million on August 27. The outflow persisted despite the increase in the leading altcoin’s price. Following August 19, an additional 275,000 coins were withdrawn, resulting in exchange holdings reaching their lowest level.
ETH has gained approximately 30% since August 16, suggesting that the withdrawals occurred during the price increase rather than a downturn. Bitcoin, conversely, exhibited a contrasting trajectory over the same 12-week period. Santiment observed that exchange balances rose by approximately 0.25% and stayed close to the upper limit of their recent range. Its price, meanwhile, increased by 26%. The relative strength has prompted a bullish outlook from crypto analyst Credible Crypto, who believes Ethereum could reach $20,000 in the next few years. His thesis is grounded in the altcoin’s five-year trading range, its comparatively weaker performance against BTC, and the potential for capital to shift toward higher-risk assets.
During an appearance on the No Bs Crypto podcast, Credible Crypto noted that ETH has fluctuated between approximately $1,500 and $5,000 for nearly five years, having touched both extremes of this range multiple times. He considers $10,000 a fundamental target, as doubling the previous range high near $5,000 would elevate the asset to that level. A broader expansion of the range could elevate the price to $8,000 or $9,000 prior to considering additional factors. This target is significantly influenced by the performance of Bitcoin. If it remains near $80,000 and the ETH/BTC ratio reverts to its prior peak of 0.156, he anticipates the altcoin will exceed $12,000.
A BTC price of $100,000 would elevate ETH above $15,000, whereas a surpassing of Bitcoin’s prior peak near $126,000 could propel Ethereum to $20,000 or beyond. On the institutional side, CryptoPotato previously reported that institutional demand has reached its strongest level since October 2025 for US-based spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. The funds have experienced nine consecutive days of inflows. BTC funds have drawn in over $3.5 billion in capital to date, whereas ETH products have garnered $1.66 billion. Meanwhile, for those interested in exploring significant forecasts regarding Ethereum, our video below provides valuable insights.
