Key Highlights
- Institutions doubled Ethereum holdings since April, now at 6.5M ETH
- Record 36.15M ETH staked, boosting trust and reducing supply
- Ethereum smart contract activity hits 12M daily calls
Institutional Demand Reaches Record Levels
Ethereum is entering a new phase of dominance in the global financial market. According to the latest report from CryptoQuant, September 2025 brought a wave of historic highs for the network, fueled by institutional adoption, massive staking activity, and surging transaction volumes.
CryptoQuant data reveals that funds have doubled their Ethereum reserves since April 2025, raising their total to 6.5 million ETH. Meanwhile, large whales holding between 10,000 and 100,000 ETH now control over 20 million ETH.
“This surge indicates strong institutional participation, but it also suggests that much of the ‘smart money’ is already in play, leaving limited room for short-term growth,” the report noted.
At the same time, major corporate moves are reinforcing the trend. BitMine, for example, recently acquired 46,255 ETH worth over $201 million, pushing its holdings to more than 2.1 million ETH, making it the largest corporate owner of Ethereum.
Staking Records and Network Activity Surge
Ethereum staking has reached an unprecedented 36.15 million ETH, significantly reducing circulating supply and strengthening investor confidence. On-chain activity is also booming, with daily smart contract calls surpassing 12 million, reaffirming Ethereum’s role as the world’s leading programmable settlement layer.
The staking queue itself recently exceeded $3.6 billion, reflecting continued demand to lock up ETH despite already record-high participation.
Price Action and the Road Ahead
Ethereum’s price action reflects these fundamentals. After briefly touching an all-time high of $4,956 on August 24, 2025, ETH is consolidating near the $4,500 level. Analysts highlight $4,400 as a key support zone, while resistance sits around $5,200.
Despite the correction, declining inflows to exchanges suggest weakening selling pressure — a bullish sign for the medium term.
Joseph Lubin, founder of Consensys, argues that Ethereum could become the foundation of the future financial system:
With record staking, institutional accumulation, and whale confidence, Ethereum’s foundations appear stronger than ever. Whether the asset can sustain momentum beyond $5,000 depends on broader market conditions, but 2025 has already proven one thing: Ethereum is no longer just the backbone of decentralized finance — it’s a serious contender for the future of global finance.
