Crypto whales are making quiet moves in Ethereum (ETH) and Optimism (OP), while accumulation remains stagnant—or even negative—across most other major coins. Between April 4 and 6, both ETH and OP saw a notable increase in large wallet holders despite a harsh market correction.
This behavior often signals early confidence from institutional players, hinting at potential reversals ahead. With ETH nearing $1,400 and OP trading at three-year lows, the next few days could be pivotal if whale accumulation translates into renewed bullish momentum.
Ethereum (ETH)
Between April 5 and April 6, crypto whales accumulated ETH. The number of Ethereum whale wallets—those holding between 1,000 and 10,000 ETH—increased from 5,340 to 5,388, signaling a quiet accumulation phase during the broader market correction.
Tracking these large holders is crucial, as their behavior often precedes major market moves; when whales accumulate, it can indicate growing confidence in the asset’s long-term value and hint at a potential trend reversal.
Number of Addresses Holding Between 1,000 and 10,000 ETH. Source: Santiment.
However, the recent uptick in whale activity suggests some optimism beneath the surface. If momentum shifts and ETH manages to reclaim $1,748, it could rise further toward $1,938 and, with a strong enough rally, even retest the $2,000 mark—restoring a key psychological and technical level for bulls.
Optimism (OP)
The number of Optimism whale wallets—holding between 10,000 and 1,000,000 OP—rose from 4,138 on April 4 to 4,151 on April 6, suggesting that large holders are accumulating despite the ongoing market correction.
This increase in whale activity may indicate long-term confidence in the project, even as the broader market faces heavy selling pressure.
In periods of uncertainty like now, such accumulation can be an early sign of a potential price reversal, as institutional or high-net-worth investors often act ahead of retail sentiment.
Number of Addresses Holding Between 10,000 and 1,000,000 OP. Source: Santiment.
Currently trading near its lowest levels in nearly three years, OP is under significant downward pressure. If the correction persists, the token could break below the $0.50 support level.
However, if the recent whale accumulation reflects a shift in momentum, OP could rebound to test resistance at $0.65.
A breakout from that level may open the path toward $0.77 and, in a stronger recovery, even retest $0.84.
The price of SUI has seen a significant uptick recently, outshining XRP in terms of growth and demand. However, it’s not just the price action that’s noteworthy. In May, SUI has drawn the attention of institutional investors, marking a shift in demand that could have long-term implications for the crypto market.
As institutional inflows flow more freely into SUI, the focus shifts from its price performance to its potential as a Web3-focused ecosystem.
SUI Sees A Surge In Demand
Institutions are increasingly flocking to SUI, as evidenced by $21 million in inflows month-to-date, making it one of the top-performing altcoins, second only to Ethereum. In comparison, XRP, historically an institutional favorite, has seen inflows of just $8.6 million in the same period.
This shift is concerning for XRP as institutions begin to focus more on SUI’s potential rather than its established presence in the market. SUI’s appeal to institutional investors is based on its scalability and focus on the Web3 space, which aligns well with current trends in decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain-based applications.
SUI vs XRP Institutional Flows. Source; CoinShares
SUI’s increasing institutional inflows highlight a growing preference for projects that offer more than just financial transactions. XRP, while still maintaining institutional backing with $263 million in 2025, has not been able to capture as much attention in recent weeks. SUI’s ability to scale decentralized applications (dApps) more effectively than XRP positions it as a better choice for institutions looking to align with long-term trends in blockchain technology.
XRP Makes It To CME
One key factor driving institutions to SUI is its lack of listing on major platforms like CME, unlike XRP Futures, which further solidifies its untapped potential. XRP Futures recently launched on CME, making the token more accessible to a wider range of investors.
However, this development also diminishes XRP’s image as an overlooked asset, giving SUI a unique advantage by remaining relatively underexposed. As more investors seek high-growth opportunities, SUI offers them the chance to get in early before the token is fully accessible on major platforms.
SUI’s decentralized, Web3-focused design also plays a large role in its growing appeal. Unlike XRP, which is predominantly centered around payment and remittance solutions, SUI focuses on scaling dApp ecosystems, a feature highly sought after by institutions entering the Web3 space. This increased focus on scalability and decentralized applications positions SUI as an ideal choice for institutions looking to diversify their blockchain investments.
SUI vs XRP – Which Has A Better ETF Prospect?
XRP has its own advantages, especially regarding the potential for exchange-traded funds (ETFs). XRP’s status as an established digital asset gives it an edge when it comes to ETF approvals. The ongoing Ripple lawsuit also seems close to a resolution, pending court proceedings, likely boosting XRP’s clean image.
The SEC’s settlement with Ripple would increase investor confidence in XRP, giving it a stable footing in the long term. However, for the time being, SUI’s scalability and Web3 ambitions have won the attention of institutional investors, pushing it ahead of XRP in terms of demand. Nevertheless, XRP ETF will likely see the light of day first.
Furthermore, Juan Pellicer, Head of Research at Sentora, discussed with BeInCrypto the major factors that could push XRP for an early ETF.
“XRP’s decade-long trading record and early ETF filings put it first in the regulatory queue, while Sui still needs deeper liquidity and a longer track-record before the SEC is likely comfortable green-lighting a SUI ETF.”
XRP Price Needs A Boost
XRP has risen by 14% over the last 30 days, but it is still fighting against a macro downtrend. The broader market conditions make a breakout rally unlikely, with XRP struggling under resistance levels.
The current price range for XRP is facing challenges, as a lack of bullish momentum continues to hold it back. However, if XRP follows Bitcoin’s rise and leverages its CME debut hype, it could see an increase in price, potentially reaching $2.56 and beyond. A breakout above this level would end the downtrend and allow XRP to surge higher.
But if XRP fails to breach this resistance level, it risks further consolidation. This would likely send it toward a drop to $2.12, falling through $2.27, invalidating any bullish predictions for the short term.
SUI Price Wins This Round
SUI has shown an impressive 82% rise over the past month, trading at $3.85 at the time of writing. Despite encountering resistance at $4.05, SUI has yet to see a significant correction, suggesting continued bullish momentum.
Given the ongoing demand for SUI, its price is expected to stay above $3.59, allowing it to break through the $4.05 resistance. A breach of this level could propel SUI towards $4.35 or higher.
On the other hand, a drop below the support level of $3.59 would suggest that investors are beginning to book profits. In that case, the price could fall to $3.18, invalidating the current bullish outlook for SUI. However, based on institutional demand and SUI’s infrastructure, it appears likely that its price will continue to rise in the short to medium term.
A notorious phishing group known as Inferno Drainer has begun exploiting a new Ethereum feature to launch wallet-draining attacks
The group is taking advantage of Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 7702, a key part of the Pectra upgrade, which allows Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs) to temporarily act like smart contract wallets during transactions.
On May 24, Scam Sniffer, a web3 anti-scam platform, flagged a case where a wallet recently upgraded to EIP-7702 lost nearly $150,000.
According to Yu Xian, founder of blockchain security firm SlowMist, Inferno Drainer carried out the theft using a more sophisticated version of traditional phishing.
Unlike previous scams that hijack user wallets directly, Xian explained that Inferno Drainer used a delegated MetaMask wallet—one already authorized under EIP-7702.
He said this allowed the hackers to approve token transfers silently through a batch authorization process.
Xian furthered that the victim unknowingly triggered an “execute” command within MetaMask, which processed the malicious batch data in the background. The result was a silent but effective token drain.
“The phishing gang uses this mechanism to complete batch authorization operations on tokens related to the victim’s address,” Xian said.
According to him, it shows that attackers are no longer relying solely on old tricks as they’re actively integrating new Ethereum updates into their operations to stay ahead.
“As we predicted, the phishing gangs have caught up… Everyone should be vigilant, be careful that the assets in your wallet will be taken away,” Xian said.
Considering this, he urged users to review token authorizations regularly and check whether their wallet addresses have been delegated to phishing accounts via EIP-7702.
Due to this, security experts have emphasized that crypto users must remain proactive to stay safe from these attack vectors.
Scam Sniffer advised industry players to verify websites before logging in or approving any transactions. They also urge community members to audit their token permissions routinely and avoid clicking on unverified links.
