Ethereum Wins Two Days In A Row The ETF Battle

For the second day in a row, Ethereum-backed ETFs attracted more capital than those linked to bitcoin, with $403 million in inflows compared to $363 million. A strong signal, which may mark a turning point in institutional investors’ preferences. Are we witnessing a shift in the established order in the crypto market?

BlackRock leads the charge, Ethereum gains its nobility

On Friday, July 18, 2025, crypto ETFs saw a massive influx of capital, totaling $766 million for the day. But for the second time in 48 hours, Ether took the upper hand over bitcoin, confirming a new and far-from-insignificant dynamic.

With $402.5 million in inflows, Ethereum ETFs outperformed their bitcoin counterparts, which attracted $363.45 million. This shift is not a mere coincidence: it reflects a strategic repositioning by institutional investors.

Leading this wave, BlackRock plays a key role. Its ETHA ETF alone captured nearly $395 million, or more than 98% of the new capital allocated to Ethereum products. A show of strength confirming the rising power of the asset management giant in this segment.

Behind, other heavyweights complete the picture: Grayscale, with its Ether Mini Trust, recorded $65 million in inflows, while Bitwise and VanEck attracted $13 million and $2.6 million respectively.

Only two products, Fidelity’s FETH (-$45M) and Grayscale’s historic ETHE (-$28M), experienced outflows, without undermining the overall upward trend.

This bullish momentum is accompanied by a spectacular jump in trading volume on Ethereum ETFs, now reaching $2.80 billion. As for the cumulative net assets, they amount to $18.37 billion – a historic high for this asset category launched less than a year ago.

Bitcoin resists but loses its institutional monopoly

Bitcoin shows a mixed record. BlackRock’s IBIT stands out with $496.75 million collected. But this individual performance is not enough to mask sector difficulties.

Grayscale’s GBTC experiences massive outflows (-$81.29 million). ARKB (-$33.61 million), FBTC (-$17.94 million), and BITB (-$1.92 million) complete this mixed picture. Only WisdomTree’s BTCW joins BlackRock among the winners with $3.11 million in inflows.

Despite these turbulences, bitcoin retains its firepower. The trading volume reaches $4.62 billion. Net assets hold at $152.40 billion, eight times more than Ethereum. The king of cryptos keeps his crown, but his subjects are beginning to look elsewhere.

This redistribution reveals a deep transformation of the institutional market. Bitcoin is no longer the sole gateway to the crypto universe. Ethereum appeals through its versatility: decentralized applications, smart contracts, stablecoins. A technological richness that speaks to investors seeking diversification.

The movement fits into a broader trend. Bitcoin’s dominance is eroding week by week. It dropped from 65.5% to 61% in just seven days. This rotation of capital toward altcoins could herald the long-awaited “altseason” traders have been waiting for.