Ethereum Whales Unleash Historic Buying Spree, Accumulating Billions in ETH

Ethereum whales have demonstrated unprecedented accumulation activity, with massive inflows of Ether (ETH) reaching levels not seen since 2018. This surge in buying by large holders, often associated with institutional funds and early adopters, signals strong confidence in Ethereum's future despite recent price consolidation.

Ethereum Whales Accumulate Billions in ETH

Over the past week, Ethereum whales, defined as wallets holding between 1,000 and 10,000 ETH, have significantly increased their holdings. On a single Sunday, these addresses accumulated over 818,000 ETH, valued at approximately $2.5 billion, marking the largest daily inflow since 2018. This accumulation trend has been consistent, with daily whale accumulation exceeding 800,000 ETH for nearly a week, pushing total holdings in these wallets to over 14.3 million ETH.

• The largest single-day inflow occurred on June 12, with over 871,000 ETH added.

• Total ETH held by wallets with 1,000 to 100,000 ETH has increased by 3.72% over the last 30 days, reaching 41.61 million ETH.

Institutional Demand and Market Parallels to 2017

The surge in whale accumulation coincides with a notable increase in institutional demand for Ether. ETH-focused investment funds attracted $583 million in the week ending Friday, contributing to year-to-date net inflows of $2.28 billion. This institutional interest, coupled with the whales' buying spree, suggests a strong underlying belief in Ethereum's long-term potential.

Analysts are drawing parallels between current market behavior and the 2017 Ethereum breakout. In 2017, ETH consolidated within a narrow range before a significant rally. Similarly, ETH is currently consolidating between $2,150 and $3,600, holding above key exponential moving averages. While the drivers differ (ETFs, staking, tokenization), the technical setup is strikingly similar, leading some analysts to project a short-term target of $4,000 and a potential long-term target of $10,000.

Staking and Shrinking Liquid Supply

Further reinforcing the bullish sentiment, Ethereum staking has reached an all-time high, with over 35 million ETH locked. More than 500,000 ETH were added to staking in the first half of June alone. This increased staking activity, combined with growing accumulation addresses (now at 22.8 million ETH), contributes to a shrinking liquid supply of Ether, indicating growing investor confidence and a potential supply squeeze.

Despite recent price consolidation and minor pullbacks, the scale of whale accumulation and institutional inflows suggests a strategic positioning by large entities, viewing current price levels as an opportunity for long-term growth.

Sources

• Ethereum whales post strongest net buying since 2018, Cointelegraph.

• Ethereum Whales Buy 818,000 ETH Worth $2.5 Billion, Largest Daily Inflow Since 2018; 35M ETH Staked as PriceConsolidates, The Defiant.

• Ethereum whales, sharks keep buying up ETH as retail cashes out, Cointelegraph.

• Ethereum (ETH) Whale Inflows Hit 2025 High as Wallets Add 871K ETH in a Single Day, CoinDesk.

• Ethereum Whale Buying Frenzy Hits Scale Unseen Since 2017, Bitcoinist.com.