ETH Overtakes BTC in Derivatives Market Volume
Ethereum (ETH) is gaining serious institutional traction as it now accounts for 45.2% of perpetual futures trading volume, overtaking Bitcoin (BTC), which stands at 38.1%. This shift signals that ETH is becoming the preferred asset among sophisticated investors, especially those looking to access regulated decentralized finance (DeFi) services.
“Ethereum is overshadowing BTC on our perpetual futures market,” said a top executive from a major crypto trading platform.
The current ETH price hovers around $2,770, marking an 11% increase month-to-date, compared to Bitcoin’s 5% gain during the same period.
Institutional Activity Driving Price Momentum
Institutions are clearly accumulating ETH, treating it as a bridge between traditional finance (TradFi) and Web3 infrastructure. Market data confirms that long-term holders (LTHs) are also stepping up across the crypto space. In fact, realized profits have hit over $930 million per day, a level typically seen during major bull market peaks.
What’s unique this time is that the LTH supply is increasing instead of shrinking, signaling confidence in the asset class.
This behavior is rare in late-stage bull markets, highlighting maturation and accumulation over distribution.
Macro Risks Linger but Sentiment Stays Strong
Despite the bullish trend, macro uncertainty and geopolitical risks—including unpredictable political developments—continue to impact sentiment across global markets.
Events such as high-profile disputes or black swan events can trigger short-term volatility, but the underlying conviction among institutional investors remains resilient.
ETH’s growing institutional presence suggests it is becoming the go-to asset for regulated DeFi exposure.
$3,000 ETH Becomes a Realistic Target
The combination of rising institutional demand, strong derivatives activity, and increasing long-term accumulation points to one clear outcome: Ethereum is on track to hit $3,000.
“Macro uncertainties remain, but $3,000 ETH looks increasingly likely,” said a leading crypto exchange executive.
As ETH strengthens its position as a foundational asset in the Web3 ecosystem, its appeal to both institutions and retail investors continues to grow.
Summary
Ethereum is outpacing Bitcoin in derivatives volume as institutional investors lean heavily into ETH. With strong long-term accumulation, rising trading volume, and growing DeFi relevance, the case for ETH at $3K is stronger than ever.