Ethereum Nears $4K as ETFs and Upgrades Spark Fresh Bull Run

Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, is powering through a fresh rally, rising over 54% in just the past month and breaking through the $3,800 mark for the first time in seven months.

Institutional demand, surging ETF inflows, and key network upgrades are fueling what many analysts believe could be a sustained move to new all-time highs in 2025.

As of July 21, 2025, ETH is trading at $3,786, continuing its streak of nine consecutive daily gains. Market analysts now eye the critical $4,000 level, a psychological resistance that, once breached, could pave the way for Ethereum to climb as high as $15,000 by year-end.

ETF Inflows and Institutional Interest Reach Record Levels

Ethereum’s rally is largely underpinned by explosive growth in institutional inflows. Spot Ethereum ETFs in the U.S. recorded an unprecedented $2.12 billion in inflows last week alone, driving total crypto investment product inflows to a weekly all-time high of $4.39 billion.

BlackRock, through its ETHA ETF, now holds over $8.9 billion in ETH—roughly 1.5% of the total circulating supply.

This tidal wave of demand is draining available supply from exchanges, with Coinbase’s ETH reserves approaching historic lows. According to Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, Ethereum has become “Wall Street’s preferred choice” for blockchain infrastructure investments, outpacing competing Layer-1 platforms in tokenization and DeFi applications.

Ethereum Network Upgrade: Gas Limit Increase and Scaling Efficiency

Supporting Ethereum’s bullish narrative is the recent upgrade to its gas limit. The Ethereum base layer’s block gas ceiling recently increased from 36 million to over 37.3 million units, with nearly 50% of validators signaling support for raising the limit to 45 million.

This would enhance the network’s transaction throughput, scaling Ethereum to handle up to 18 transactions per second (TPS), up from the previous 15 TPS.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin praised the move as “measured but necessary,” citing improved support for complex dApps and more efficient staking operations. The upgrade comes at a time when daily transactions have climbed from 1.1 million in April to 1.4 million in July, reflecting the network’s surging utility and adoption.

Whale Accumulation and Market Momentum

On-chain data shows that whales have been quietly accumulating ETH throughout July. One whale reportedly purchased $50 million worth of ETH over the weekend, while over 500,000 ETH were acquired by institutional wallets in the past two weeks.

Technically, Ethereum is trading within a steep ascending channel, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) nearing overbought territory at 78. The price recently crossed above both the 20-day and 200-day moving averages, signaling strong bullish momentum. Analysts are watching the $4,200 and $4,500 levels as the next key resistance zones.

Token6900 and the Meme Coin Resurgence

Ethereum’s rise has also reignited the meme coin sector, with total market cap for memecoins jumping 42% in 30 days. Leading the charge is TOKEN6900, which has raised over $900,000 in presale funding.

Marketed as the first “Non-Corrupt Token,” TOKEN6900 has no mint function, no dev wallets, and no private deals—qualities that have resonated with a skeptical retail crowd eager for transparency.

While Ethereum remains the backbone of the Web3 ecosystem, TOKEN6900 is capturing retail interest in a way reminiscent of early DOGE and PEPE rallies. With a starting price of $0.0064, it’s drawing speculative attention as the next potential 100X memecoin.

Ethereum Price Predictions: $10K to $15K in Sight?

Ethereum’s bullish fundamentals have analysts projecting lofty price targets. Fundstrat expects ETH to reach $4,000 by the end of July, with medium-term forecasts targeting $10,000 to $15,000. Long-term models see ETH rising as high as $18,000 based on tokenization growth, staking, and institutional adoption.

Key price levels:

• Short-Term (July-August 2025): $3,900 – $4,500
• Medium-Term (Q4 2025): $6,000 – $15,000
• Long-Term (2025–2026): $8,000 – $18,000

Is Ethereum the Best Crypto to Buy Now?

Ethereum’s blend of institutional inflows, ETF momentum, rising network utility, and whale confidence make it one of the strongest contenders for crypto investment in 2025. The ongoing gas limit upgrades and record ETF inflows suggest that ETH’s climb is more than just a short-term spike—it’s a reflection of deeper structural demand.

As the crypto market enters what many see as a late-cycle phase, Ethereum’s dominance signals a shift in capital from speculative altcoins to foundational infrastructure. Whether you’re a retail trader or institutional investor, ETH remains a top pick for exposure to the future of Web3.