Investor interest in leveraged Ethereum products has surged, with VolatilityShares’ 2x Ether ETF seeing a 160% increase in exposure since early November, holding over half of CME’s ETH open interest. This rise mirrors a broader trend in Ethereum markets, with Ether futures open interest (OI) reaching a record $21.22 billion, highlighting strong market activity and potential volatility.
Ethereum’s price has gained 38% in the past month, reaching $3,620 and coming within 26% of its all-time high. Analysts credit this to a combination of technical and fundamental factors, including key resistance levels at $3,350 and $3,400 being surpassed. Technical indicators, such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI), point to further growth potential, though any failure to maintain momentum could see prices drop to $3,250 support levels. Stablecoin inflows into exchanges have hit record highs, providing liquidity and supporting Ethereum’s upward trend. Currently, stablecoin activity on Ethereum exceeds $60.3 billion, underscoring its importance in decentralized finance.
Bitcoin’s recent price stagnation, hovering below the $100,000 mark, may also steer attention towards Ethereum. Analysts suggest that Ethereum’s rally is driven by spot buying rather than speculative trading, as indicated by the implied volatility of one-day options. Additionally, the ETH/BTC exchange rate appears to be bottoming and rebounding, suggesting stronger relative performance for Ethereum.
Demand for leveraged ETFs has emerged as a significant driver, with analysts predicting Ethereum could reach $4,000 in the short term and potentially $15,000 in the next bull cycle. Ethereum’s dominance in decentralized finance, commanding over half of the total value locked (TVL) in the sector, further supports these projections. Data from DefiLlama shows the TVL in Ethereum-based protocols remains substantial, despite being slightly below its 2021 peak.
The recent U.S. presidential election, specifically Donald Trump’s victory and pro-crypto stance, has also bolstered market optimism. Expectations of favorable regulatory policies have led to four consecutive days of net positive inflows into Ethereum ETFs, totaling over $90 million. This, combined with heightened whale activity and large-holder inflows, has strengthened bullish sentiment.
Analysts highlight a potential breakout above $4,000 as a key milestone, with charts suggesting a possible long-term move to $15,000. Declining Bitcoin dominance, which has dropped from 61.53% to 59.01%, indicates a shift in liquidity towards Ethereum, further fueling its growth trajectory. Ethereum remains well-positioned for continued gains as investor interest and adoption accelerate.