Ethereum (ETH) is showing signs of renewed strength in June 2025, as institutional buying continues to drive trading volumes higher. ETH is now outperforming Bitcoin (BTC) in the derivatives market, signaling growing confidence among professional investors. Experts suggest this surge in activity could push Ethereum toward the $3,000 mark sooner than expected.
According to recent data shared by OKX Chief Commercial Officer Lennix Lai, Ethereum now accounts for 45.2% of the perpetual futures trading volume on the platform. In contrast, Bitcoin currently represents 38.1% of the same volume. This trend highlights a significant shift in institutional behavior, with ETH gaining the upper hand in one of crypto’s most liquid and leveraged markets.
This observation is also supported by data from Deribit, another major derivatives exchange, which shows similar activity patterns among institutional traders.
ETH is trading around $2,770 at the start of the Asia trading day on June 12, reflecting an 11% increase over the past month. Bitcoin, by comparison, has risen 5% during the same period, showcasing Ethereum’s growing momentum.
There are several reasons why institutional investors are favoring Ethereum:
Bridge Between DeFi and TradFi: Ethereum’s position as a gateway between decentralized finance (DeFi) and traditional finance (TradFi) is a key factor. Its smart contract capabilities make it easier for institutions to access tokenized assets, on-chain lending, and other financial tools that are increasingly being regulated.
Perceived Structural Growth: Analysts believe Ethereum has a more sustainable growth structure compared to Bitcoin. With ETH staking, Layer-2 solutions, and Ethereum’s ongoing roadmap, long-term adoption and utility are expected to grow.
ETF and Regulatory Optimism: Ongoing discussions around Ethereum spot ETFs, combined with increasing regulatory clarity in the U.S. and Asia, have made ETH a more attractive option for risk-managed exposure.
Despite Ethereum’s rising dominance, Bitcoin remains a favorite among long-term holders (LTHs). A report from Glassnode reveals that LTHs recently realized over $930 million in profits per day during market rallies, a level seen in past bull market peaks. However, instead of mass selling, many chose to continue accumulating BTC, which suggests confidence in long-term price growth.
Glassnode noted this behavior is “atypical for late-stage bull markets,” where profit-taking usually leads to declining supply. Instead, Bitcoin’s long-term holder supply is growing, indicating investor conviction.
While macroeconomic risks persist—such as inflation uncertainty, global tensions, and political instability—analysts like Lai believe ETH is on track to hit $3,000. Institutional conviction remains strong, and the current rate of accumulation suggests more upside potential in the near term.
“Macro uncertainties remain, but $3,000 ETH looks increasingly likely,” Lai told CoinDesk in an interview.
The broader crypto market is also seeing a surge in stablecoin inflows, especially on the Tron network. According to CryptoQuant, the total stablecoin market has hit a record $228 billion, with $50 billion held on centralized exchanges.
Most of the recent growth is driven by rising USDC reserves, which have grown 1.6x in 2025. Tron’s fast settlement times and deep integration with stablecoin issuers like Tether (USDT) have made it a leading chain in liquidity flows.
In contrast, Ethereum and Solana experienced stablecoin outflows, likely due to a lack of new yield opportunities or major protocol upgrades.
Beyond market prices, another major theme gaining attention is the emergence of AI agents. As these autonomous digital assistants begin handling end-to-end tasks—from booking flights to data sourcing—they require a seamless payment infrastructure.
A recent essay by a16z Crypto emphasizes that blockchains are well-suited to serve as a foundational layer for these agent economies. With composable smart contracts and decentralized rails, Ethereum and similar chains could play a key role in enabling machine-to-machine transactions in the future.
Early projects like Halliday and Catena are already building protocol standards that combine AI and crypto, while Coinbase has stepped in to support related infrastructure.
As Ethereum continues to attract institutional interest and gain dominance in the derivatives space, the narrative is clearly shifting in favor of ETH. While Bitcoin remains a strong store of value, Ethereum’s versatility, smart contract capabilities, and position in regulated DeFi are giving it an edge in 2025.
With ETH trading above $2,700 and momentum building, analysts see $3,000 as a realistic short-term target. If current trends continue, Ethereum could soon cement its status as the top institutional gateway into decentralized finance.
Pankaj is a skilled engineer with a passion for cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. With over five years of experience in digital marketing, Pankaj is also an avid investor and trader in the crypto sphere. As a devoted fan of the Klever ecosystem, he strongly advocates for its innovative solutions and user-friendly wallet, while continuing to appreciate the Cardano project. Like my work? Send a tip to: 0x4C6D67705aF449f0C0102D4C7C693ad4A64926e9
Get the latest Crypto & Blockchain News in your inbox.
Join Now