Ethereum has had its strongest half year in years. While Bitcoin set a new peak in August, ETH rose even faster — driven by record-breaking fund investments, companies building reserves and major financial players who now see ETH as a cornerstone of the digital economy.
To understand Ethereum even better, we've also created a FAQ, frequently asked questions, and a separate glossary.
Ethereum got a boost this summer few analysts had envisioned. From June 1 to mid-August, the price rose over 70 percent, while Bitcoin, despite new historical peaks, rose only 9 percent over the same period. The relationship between ETH and BTC reached its highest level in over a year — a clear signal that the market rates Ethereum as more than just “number two”.
A key driver behind the recovery is the new US Ethereum funds. In less than three months, they have bought over $9 billion worth of ETH. By comparison, Ethereum's market is less than a quarter of Bitcoin's, which makes the impact of the funds injected even greater.
Unlike previous rallies, which were often driven by small savers, these investments are long-term. When pension funds or university foundations step in heavily, they plan not for weeks -- but for years.
The summer of 2025 also marked the start of a new trend: several technology companies and mining companies have begun to build reserves in Ethereum. BitMine alone has acquired ETH for over $6 billion. That makes them the second largest in the line — beaten only by Strategy, often referred to as “Ethereum's MicroStrategy”.
The reason is simple: While Bitcoin acts only as a passive storage device, Ethereum also offers the ability to earn interest through staking. This makes ETH more interesting as a corporate reserve — it becomes both a store of value and a source of income.
Institutional investors have traditionally bet on Bitcoin first, but now they see Ethereum as a necessary complement. Bitcoin is still referred to as “digital gold” — a macro anchor in troubled times. Ethereum, on the other hand, emerges as the infrastructure that powers DeFi, stablecoins, tokenization and digital payments.
Derivatives markets are showing the same trend: Here, too, demand for ETH has exploded, and asset managers who previously steered clear are now enrolling significant positions in the ETFs.
What distinguishes this year's upswing from previous cycles is that Ethereum is no longer primarily treated as a speculative “altcoin”. It is now highlighted as a building block in the financial system of the future:
Despite the strong momentum, there are pitfalls:
Ethereum is now moving from being a “follower” to becoming an equal leader alongside Bitcoin. If BTC is digital gold, Ethereum is emerging more and more like digital oil and highway at the same time — both the fuel that lubricates DeFi and the bridge that can link traditional and digital finance together.
The summer of 2025 could thus stand as the moment when Ethereum came of age — no longer in Bitcoin's shadow, but as a force of its own in the digital economy.