Ethereum has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the fastest major asset ever to surpass a $500 billion market cap, reaching it in just 5.8 years, significantly moving faster than Bitcoin and global giants like Apple.
Spot Ethereum ETFs reported massive inflows, $12.4 billion since launch, with inflows amounting to $337.6 million on August 22 alone. These funds now account for an estimated 5.2% of Ethereum’s total market capitalization. Ethereum’s price also soared to a new all-time high of around $4,935–$4,946, buoyed by institutional accumulation and sustained bullish sentiment.
According to Glassnode, Ethereum holders are now sitting on significant unrealized profits. The MVRV ratio (Market Value to Realized Value) stands at 2.15, implying that, on average, holders’ gains exceed twice their original purchase cost. Historically, such elevated levels have preceded sharp corrections.
This price momentum underscores Ethereum’s expanding influence, not just as a speculative asset, but as a foundational layer for decentralized finance (DeFi), tokenization, NFTs, and smart contract ecosystems. Institutional investors are increasingly viewing ETH as a yield-earning infrastructure layer, a role traditional asset classes cannot match.
The combination of rapid price gains and elevated MVRV suggests potential near-term volatility as some investors may choose to lock in profits. Still, Ethereum’s rise shows a major shift in how mainstream financial markets value digital infrastructure.”
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