Institutional interest in Ethereum is gaining serious momentum, with recent data pointing to a clear preference among investment giants for ETH over Bitcoin. BlackRock, one of the world’s largest asset managers, appears to be leading the charge with inflows that have notably favored Ethereum.
Arkham Intelligence reported via X that BlackRock has invested approximately $547 million in Ethereum, outpacing its Bitcoin allocation by $50 million. This move represents a subtle but important change in strategy, signaling a renewed institutional confidence in Ethereum’s long-term potential. Data from SoSoValue confirms these inflows, showing that BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF brought in $546.70 million on July 17, compared to $497.30 million for its Bitcoin ETF.
More significantly, when adjusted for market capitalization, BlackRock is allocating five times more resources to Ethereum than to Bitcoin. This follows a steady uptick in ETH-focused investments since the beginning of July, when BlackRock’s holdings in Ethereum were recorded at $156 million, compared to $125 million in Bitcoin.
BlackRock’s growing interest in Ethereum seems to be partly driven by structural changes in its investment strategy. The company recently filed to include staking within its iShares Ethereum ETF, reflecting an evolving approach to maximizing yield. Nasdaq has proposed updates that would remove prohibitive clauses and allow staking of ETF assets. This news has only amplified bullish sentiment around Ethereum.
Ethereum’s ETF also experienced its strongest week of inflows recently, a pattern that suggests growing optimism surrounding the potential approval of staking by the SEC. Should regulatory hurdles be cleared, more institutional funds could follow BlackRock’s lead.
It isn’t alone in this trend. Other publicly traded companies such as Bitmine Technologies and SharpLink Gaming have also been ramping up their ETH acquisitions. This broader institutional movement aligns with recent price surges, as Ethereum currently trades around $3,624. It has gained 6 percent in a day, 21 percent over the past week, and an impressive 46 percent across the last month.
Alongside institutional accumulation, whale activity has resurged. Dormant Ethereum wallets are waking up and adding to their balances, indicating growing confidence across both corporate and large individual investors.
