Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, has made a strong comeback after dipping below $1,400 not long ago. Now, it’s back above $1,800, a three-week high, and investors are starting to ask, What’s behind this sudden surge?
Let’s take a look at the key reasons.
Ethereum Rises as Short Bets Drop
One major reason why Ethereum’s price has risen recently is that fewer traders are betting against it. Short positions on the CME have dropped to under $500 million, the lowest in 2025.
Previously, traders made money from a large gap between Ethereum futures and its current price. But when Trump’s tariffs eased and the market dropped, that gap became smaller, making the trade less profitable. This led traders to sell their Ethereum, which caused a price drop.
Now, with fewer traders betting against it and less selling pressure, Ethereum’s price is starting to recover.
Ethereum ETF Sees Inflow After 8 Days
Another major boost came from institutional investors. After more than a week of outflows, Ethereum ETFs finally saw positive inflows of $38.8 million. The biggest contribution came from Fidelity FETH with $32.7 million, and Bitwise ETHW added $6.1 million.
This strong inflow shows growing interest from investors, which could mean more price growth.
Bitcoin’s Rally is Lifting Ethereum Too
Let’s not forget Bitcoin’s influence. BTC just hit a seven-week high of $94,000, which naturally sent a wave of positive energy through the entire crypto market. As Bitcoin leads the way, Ethereum, the largest altcoin, is also benefiting from this surge.
Ethereum Faces Little Resistance Ahead
According to on-chain data from IntoTheBlock, Ethereum doesn’t have too many strong price barriers ahead. The biggest possible sell zone sits around $1,860. This means some people might start selling at that level, which could slow down Ethereum’s rise.
ETH added an impressive 12% to its market cap in the last 24 hours.
On-chain data points to only modest resistance ahead, with the largest potential sell wall near $1,860.
If that zone gives way, a move back toward the psychological $2,000 level looks increasingly plausible. pic.twitter.com/SJVKduDvjK
But here’s the good news, if Ethereum breaks through this $1,860 level, there might not be much stopping it from going even higher. And that’s when the big target comes into view, $2,000.
However, if Ethereum can’t stay above $1,800, the price might drop again. The first support level is around $1,765, and a stronger one sits near $1,710.
As Bitcoin flirts with the key psychological threshold of $100,000, derivatives traders are closely watching for signals that could mark the final leg up—and are already positioning for what may follow.
Derivatives experts Gordon Grant and Joshua Lim told BeInCrypto that Bitcoin’s move past $100,000 now reflects a long-term holding strategy, unlike the speculative trading seen when it first crossed that threshold after Trump’s election victory.
Bitcoin Nears $100K: A Different Kind of Ascent?
At the time of press, Bitcoin’s price hovers just below $98,000. As it grows, traders anxiously watch for it to surpass the $100,000 threshold. When it does, it will be the second time in crypto history that this will happen.
According to Cryptocurrency Derivatives Trader Gordon Grant, the current move toward six figures lacks the euphoric energy of past rallies, such as the one after Trump won the US general election last November. However, that may be a good thing.
“This current bounce back feels much more of a low-key, lethargic reclamation of those highs,” Grant told BeInCrypto, referencing Bitcoin’s recovery from lows around $75,000 in early April. “The positioning rinsedown through all key moving averages… was a proper washout.”
He added that this washout, a sharp move lower that flushed out weak hands, cleared the decks for a healthier rebound. A “high-velocity bounce” followed, as Grant phrased it.
“[It] has since responsibly slowed down at the $95,000 pivot—a level at which Bitcoin has been centered, +/- 15%, for over five months now,” he added.
“Current complacency among vol sellers in fading the technical threshold at $100K is markedly different,” he said.
Grant added that, back in December, volatility spiked on expectations of a rapid moonshot toward $130,000–$150,000. Now, however, implied volatility has actually fallen by around 10 points during the final 10% of Bitcoin’s climb—an unusual dynamic that has punished traders holding out-of-the-money options who were betting on big price swings.
This time, the substantial loss of market optimism also contributes to the situation.
The Rise of Institutional Buyers
Market sentiment has shifted significantly since January. The excitement seen during Trump’s election has been replaced by uncertainty. According to Grant, souring macro conditions such as tariff-driven equity selloffs and growing caution among traders have contributed to this mood shift across markets.
“Whereas BTC on first launch to/through $100K was accompanied by euphoria about presidential policies… the re-approach has been marred by malaise,” Grant explained.
In short, the motivation to buy may now be driven more by fear than greed.
Joshua Lim, Global Co-Head of Markets at FalconX, agreed with this analysis, highlighting a notable shift in the primary source of Bitcoin demand.
“The dominant narrative is more around Microstrategy-type equities accumulating Bitcoin, that’s more consistent buyers than the retail swing traders,” Lim told BeInCrypto.
In other words, more speculative retail buying might have fueled earlier enthusiasm around Bitcoin’s price hitting $100,000. This time, the more consistent and significant buying is coming from large companies adopting a long-term Bitcoin holding strategy, similar to the one adopted by Michael Saylor’s Strategy.
The recent formation of 21 Capital, backed by mega companies like Tether and Softbank, further confirms this shift in motivation.
Consistent institutional buying can also sustain an increase in Bitcoin’s price over time.
Why Are Institutions Increasingly Bullish on Bitcoin?
With growing momentum from sovereign players and corporate treasuries, institutional buying may be critical in sustaining Bitcoin’s next upward trajectory.
Grant highlighted that developing countries seeking to move away from a weakening dollar and towards a more independent asset like Bitcoin could play a significant role. If this were to happen, it’d signify a potentially tectonic shift to global monetary policy.
“The Global South, tiring of wonky and inconstant dollar policies, may be truly thinking about dumping dollars for BTC,” Grant explained, clarifying, “That’s a reserve manager decision, not a spec/leverage position.”
Increased institutional adoption strengthens the idea that Bitcoin now serves as a way to reduce risk against issues pertinent to financial systems, like inflation or currency devaluation.
“The proliferation of SMLR, 21Cap, and many others, including NVDA deciding they need to derisk their balance sheets by rerisking on BTC—even as it approaches the top decile of all-time prices,” Grant pointed to as evidence.
Simply put, even large institutions are choosing to take on the risk of Bitcoin’s price fluctuations as a potential offset to other, potentially larger financial risks.
Despite the excitement surrounding Bitcoin’s approach to $100,000, the true anticipation centers on its continuing development as an increasingly permanent component of the financial system.
Welcome to the US Crypto News Morning Briefing—your essential rundown of the most important developments in crypto for the day ahead.
Grab a coffee and read what experts say about Bitcoin (BTC), which is progressively emerging as a focal point for investors seeking asymmetric opportunities. Amid rising institutional adoption, we see a growing narrative that Bitcoin could offer unparalleled returns relative to the risks involved.
Crypto News of the Day: Bitcoin As The Asymmetric Bet to Redefine Investment Portfolios
Bitcoin has emerged as a focal point for investors seeking asymmetric opportunities. Lawrence Lepard, a prominent figure in the investment community, recently reiterated his stance on the pioneer crypto.
Lepard, famous for his staunch advocacy of sound money principles and author of The Big Print, described Bitcoin as the most asymmetric bet he has encountered in over four decades of investing.
“I’ve long contended that anybody who has zero Bitcoin is really really missing the most asymmetric bet that I have ever seen in forty-plus years of making,” TFTC reported, citing Lepard in an interview with KITCO News.
Lepard’s argument centers on the concept of an asymmetric bet, where the potential reward significantly outweighs the risk. Financial analyses support this perspective and highlight Bitcoin’s ability to diversify portfolios.
This assertion reflects the growing narrative that Bitcoin could offer unparalleled returns relative to the risks involved.
Lepard’s comments come after Bitcoin’s role as a hedge against inflation and economic instability is increasingly recognized. A recent US Crypto News publication cited Bitcoin’s role as a hedge against traditional finance (TradFi) and US treasury risk.
Bitcoin has demonstrated the potential for exponential growth, with early investors witnessing significant returns.
“By 2025, Bitcoin’s price has surged to over $105,000, a 1,400% increase from the $7,000 mark in 2017,” a user on X noted.
Despite its volatility, the pioneer crypto’s capped downside risk, limited to a 100% loss, contrasts sharply with its unlimited upside potential. According to Lepard, this makes it an attractive option for risk-tolerant investors.
“Every commodity in the world, if you increase its price, supply goes up. If gold went to ten thousand tomorrow, we’d mine more gold. If corn went up, if oil went to two, three hundred dollars a barrel, we drill for more oil. You would get a higher price. You would get more. No matter where the price of Bitcoin goes, the issuance schedule is set. There’s not going to be any more,” Lepard added.
Lepard’s endorsement of Bitcoin aligns with broader market trends. Once skeptical, institutional investors are increasingly integrating Bitcoin into their portfolios, driven by its decentralized nature and fixed supply of 21 million coins.
This shift is part of a larger conversation about Bitcoin’s role as a store of value, akin to gold, especially in the face of global economic uncertainties. With this, Lepard says owning a single Bitcoin (1 BTC) will not be easy in a few years.
“Being a wholecoiner is going to be an enormous deal in a few years,” he stated.
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