Ether (ETH), the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network, has surpassed the $4,000 mark as of August 11, 2025, marking its highest price in eight months. This surge represents a 27.02% year-to-date increase for ETH, slightly outperforming Bitcoin's year-to-date gain. The impressive price action is largely attributed to a significant increase in institutional interest and record inflows into Ethereum-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In July 2025, spot Ether ETFs recorded net inflows totaling $5.43 billion, a 369% increase from June, extending a 20-day streak of consistent inflows.
BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) has been a leading force, attracting nearly $576 million in inflows over a two-week period, accounting for 71% of the total during that time. Fidelity's Wise Origin Ether Fund (FETH) also saw substantial investment, with $123 million in inflows, underscoring growing institutional confidence in Ethereum. The positive market sentiment is further supported by recent technological advancements, including the Pectra upgrade implemented in May 2025. This upgrade enhanced the network by increasing the maximum effective balance for validators to 2,048 ETH, streamlining staking operations, and doubling the blob space available per block to support Layer-2 scaling solutions. These improvements aim to increase transaction speeds, reduce fees on Layer-2 networks, and bolster overall network security and user experience.
On-chain data reflects this growing institutional confidence, with large holders acquiring over 1.035 million ETH between July 10 and early August. ETH reserves on centralized exchanges have dropped to their lowest level since 2018, indicating a trend towards long-term holding and reduced selling pressure. A significant short squeeze on August 9, which liquidated over $105 million in short positions, amplified the upward price momentum. Analysts are observing key resistance levels around $4,400-$4,500, with potential support identified between $3,950-$4,000. While longer-term projections vary, some analysts anticipate ETH could reach $16,000 by year-end, while others suggest a more moderate range between $6,800 and $10,000. The sustained institutional demand, coupled with ongoing network development and upgrades, suggests a robust outlook for ether as it matures as a significant asset class.