Experts Suggest Institutional Demand Drives Ethereum Gains While Retail Investors Remain Cautious

Key Points

1. Institutional demand for Ethereum reached record ETF holdings of $21.52 billion in July 2025, with corporate treasuries like Bitminer holding 833,000 ETH valued at $3 billion.

2. Institutions view Ethereum as a strategic hedge against macroeconomic risks and a long-term store of value, leading to aggressive accumulation during market dips.

3. Retail investors remain underallocated in Ethereum, adopting defensive strategies and sidelining during price dips, as shown by declining ETH futures long/short ratios since April 2025.

4. Bitminer’s Chairman, Tom Lee, emphasized their strategy of using Ethereum to enhance NAV per share, reflecting corporate treasuries' leading role in Ethereum accumulation.

5. Ethereum’s market dynamics in 2025 highlight a growing divide between institutional accumulation and retail caution amid market volatility.