Crypto Pundits Go Bullish on Ethereum: Institutional Money Rolling In!
Ethereum (ETH) Value Prediction: Institutional Investors Indicate Possible 22% Surge in Coming Days
Ethereum's price has been bogged down, but smart money traders aren't losing faith. Data from the CFTC indicates these savvy investors see a potential upsurge in Ethereum futures, and they're backing their bets.
Major institutional players like Citadel Securities, Susquehanna International, and Jane Street Capital are making big moves in the crypto markets. They're not just dipping their toes - they're diving in headfirst, and Ethereum is a clear target.
The CFTC's Commitment of Traders (COT) report provides a transparent glimpse into the market's trends. As of March 25, smart money traders believe Ethereum's price of around $2,068 is undervalued, and they've increased their long positions for the past two weeks.
Technical Analysis
Ethereum's price has been holding steady since March, suggesting institutional investors find it a prime time to hoard ETH. Compared to Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies, Ethereum has been underperforming. Over the last three years, Bitcoin's price more than doubled, while Ethereum's dipped by 32%.
Despite the potential for further drops, futures data hints at an imminent 22% surge, pushing Ethereum towards $2,400.
ETH holders have been vocal about their displeasure with the Ethereum Foundation's development priorities. They want faster, cheaper transactions, more Ethereum-native projects, and a more responsive Foundation.
However, the Foundation has focused on research that aligns with core values like open source, privacy, security, and censorship resistance, remaining neutral on Ethereum-native projects.
Despite these challenges, Ethereum holds a considerable advantage in total value locked and stablecoins.
Rob Hadick, General Partner at crypto venture firm Dragonfly, acknowledges Ethereum's underperformance but emphasizes its advantages: "Ethereum still has an overwhelming advantage in terms of the notional value of TVL, value secured, stablecoins, and RWAs."
The Crypto Space Heats Up
The COT report doesn't divulge individual trading firms, but it does reveal the groups that are most active. Dealer firms have witnessed a 336% increase in ETH futures contracts, surging from around 3,500 contracts in early November to over 15,000 now.
Leveraged firms, such as liquidity makers and quantitative trading firms, have also increased their involvement in Ethereum futures trading. This continuous growth reflects a surge in Ethereum futures contracts that began with President Trump's election and continues into 2025, with 11,819 contracts added last year and another 2,700 year-to-date.
In essence, institutional investment in Ethereum futures is escalating, and analysts predict continued growth in the near term. Ethereum could reach $3,000 to $3,500 if the current trend persists, and optimistic predictions suggest it could cross $6,000 by 2025. But keep in mind, the market remains volatile and sensitive to broader economic conditions.
Bitcoin, as a comparison, shows a different trend with its price more than doubling over the last three years, while Ethereum dipped by 32%. However, the continued growth in Ethereum futures contracts, with dealer firms witnessing a 336% increase and leveraged firms getting more involved, indicates institutional investors view Ethereum as a promising investment in the crypto space. The CFTC's COT report suggests that smart money traders find Ethereum's current price of around $2,068 undervalued, increasing their long positions over the past two weeks. With futures data hinting at an imminent 22% surge and Ethereum holding a considerable advantage in total value locked and stablecoins, analysts predict Ethereum could reach $3,000 to $3,500 if the current trend persists, and optimistic predictions suggest it could cross $6,000 by 2025.