Ethereum has once again shown that institutional interest in it is still strong. FalconX has transferred 78,891 ETH, valued at $358 million, to four new wallets that may be connected to BitMNR over the last 30 hours. These massive transfers highlight the reality that institutions and whales are still covertly amassing ETH, even though individual traders may be hesitant.

ETH stays consolidated

Following a rally that saw it rise from sub-$3,000 levels only months ago, ETH is currently consolidating at around $4,580 on the price chart. Ethereum has escaped a sharp correction, staying well above its 20-day EMA at $4,290, in contrast to many other altcoins. This tenacity demonstrates how consistent demand is driving its upward trajectory.

The momentum is still very bullish. With the RSI hovering just above 60, which indicates strength without displaying overbought warnings, there is potential for another upward push. Based on the current structure, ETH may retest $4,800 and possibly move toward the psychological $5,000 mark as long as it stays above the $4,200-$4,300 support zone. The volume has also remained comparatively high in comparison to the beginning of the year, indicating robust market participation.

Institutions push more

An important background here is provided by institutional flows, such as the FalconX transfers. They serve to mitigate downside risks by demonstrating that demand is still robust at higher levels, in addition to reaffirming Ethereum’s standing as a long-term strategic asset. This stands in stark contrast to Bitcoin, which has recently faltered around $110,000 and has had difficulty keeping up its momentum.

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In summary, Ethereum is thriving rather than merely existing. Ethereum’s case for reaching new heights is becoming stronger every day as institutional wallets take in hundreds of millions of ETH, and technical indicators show continued strength. The underlying trend indicates that Ethereum is not dying but rather getting ready for its next chapter above $5,000, even though volatility will always be a part of the story.

Crypto fundraising is on pace to break records in 2025, with $16.5 billion raised in the first half alone, according to a report from CEX.IO.

According to the report, this has already surpassed the $12.2 billion recorded across all of 2024 and also exceeds the $10.9 billion raised during the 2021 bull run, the industry’s most active fundraising year to date.

Moreover, the substantial fundraising made up 5.3% of global venture capital activity in Q2 2025, the highest share in three years.

CEX.IO noted that this rising number showcases renewed interest following growing adoption trends and a post-election regulatory shift. It also suggests a rebound in investor confidence despite global venture markets remaining cautious.

Tokenless projects gain traction

One of the clearest trends in 2025 is the shift toward quality over quantity. Investors are putting larger sums into fewer projects, with the average deal size reaching nearly $20 million.

This signals growing confidence in experienced teams with sound business models, rather than speculative bets on early-stage ventures.

Meanwhile, another striking development this year is the rise of tokenless fundraising. So far this year, 82% of funded projects raised capital without launching a token.

According to CEX.IO, this shift suggests investors are prioritizing real products, sustainable revenue, and long-term fundamentals.

In contrast, 85% of token-funded projects in 2025 are underperforming on key metrics, a trend that has reinforced caution among investors.

CEX.IO concluded that the move away from token launches and toward operational businesses illustrates a maturing market. According to the firm, investors are now backing ventures that aim to build sustainable products before exploring token models.

Where the money went

finance-related projects, including CeFi and DeFi, received the lion’s share of funding. The projects raised $4.9 billion across 171 deals, or 51.4% of total investments during the period.

Other sectors like infrastructure-focused ventures, including hardware, security, oracles, and bridges, secured 17.9% of the funding.

Meanwhile, consumer-facing applications, artificial intelligence, and DePin projects followed, attracting 14.7%, 5.0%, and 3.1% of funding, respectively.

Another interesting point was that M&A activity has quietly surged, crossing the $6 billion mark, more than triple last year’s figure. CEX.IO pointed out that these deals now account for 36.7% of all crypto transactions.

According to the report, this growth emphasizes the industry’s shift toward consolidation, with companies acquiring existing platforms and technologies to accelerate user growth and strategic positioning.