Ethereum’s 10th Anniversary: A Milestone in Institutional Crypto Adoption
Ethereum celebrated its 10-year anniversary, marking a significant milestone in institutional crypto adoption. Cryptocurrency treasury firms collectively surpassed $100 billion in investments, as reported on Thursday.
The anniversary brought renewed corporate interest in Ether (ETH), with the 10 largest corporate crypto treasury firms accumulating over 1% of the total Ether supply since June, according to a report by Standard Chartered. The bank forecasts that corporations could eventually hold 10% of the total Ether supply, potentially driving the cryptocurrency’s price beyond their year-end target of $4,000 per Ether.
Market analyst Enmanuel Cardozo noted that Ether’s corporate adoption is progressing faster than Bitcoin’s early treasury adoption, as Ether offers corporations opportunities to engage in staking and actively generate value, as mentioned to Cointelegraph.
Looking Back at Ethereum’s First Decade
Ethereum’s journey over the past decade has been transformative. It has grown to become the largest decentralized finance (DeFi) blockchain, with a total value locked (TVL) of nearly $85 billion. Co-founded by Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum was conceptualized in 2013 and officially launched in 2015 following an $18.3 million initial coin offering (ICO). Today, Ether ranks as the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, trailing only Bitcoin.
The past decade has witnessed various trends like the ICO boom, DeFi summer, and the rising and falling interest in non-fungible tokens (NFTs), all contributing to Ethereum’s vibrant history.
Corporate Crypto Treasury Holdings Surge to $100 Billion
Corporate cryptocurrency treasury holdings have reached a noteworthy $100 billion, spotlighting the growing institutional interest in digital assets. According to a Galaxy Research report, corporate treasury firms such as Strategy, Metaplanet, and SharpLink have amassed substantial digital asset reserves.
Bitcoin treasury firms dominate with over 791,662 BTC, valued at approximately $93 billion, representing 3.98% of the circulating supply. Meanwhile, Ether treasury firms hold 1.3 million ETH, worth over $4 billion, equating to 1.09% of the total Ether supply.
Corporate buyers are increasingly significant for Ether liquidity, complemented by US spot ETH exchange-traded funds, which recently experienced 19 consecutive days of net inflows, a record for these financial products. Since July 3, these Ether ETFs have gathered $5.3 billion worth of ETH, according to Farside Investors data.
The growing corporate buying and ETF inflows could help Ether surpass the $4,000 mark, aligning with Standard Chartered’s year-end price target, as highlighted in their recent report. The bank anticipates that corporate holdings of Ether might eventually constitute 10% of its total supply, suggesting a tenfold increase from current levels.
Phoenix Group Launches $150 Million Crypto Treasury
Abu Dhabi-based Bitcoin miner Phoenix Group has initiated a $150 million strategic cryptocurrency reserve. This makes Phoenix Group the first publicly listed company on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) to establish a digital asset treasury. The reserve includes 514 Bitcoin (BTC) and 630,000 Solana (SOL), signaling a long-term holding strategy.
Munaf Ali, co-founder and CEO of Phoenix Group, emphasized the strategic alignment with the long-term value these networks represent. Phoenix Group was among the top-traded stocks on the ADX in the second quarter of 2025, with a share price surge of over 72% from April to June.
Metaplanet’s Strategic Investment Plans
Japanese investment firm Metaplanet announced plans to raise 555 billion yen ($3.73 billion) to support its aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy. The company aims to acquire 210,000 Bitcoin by the end of 2027. This strategic move follows the revelation that corporate crypto treasury firms have surpassed $100 billion in investments, with a significant portion attributed to Bitcoin holdings.
Metaplanet’s initiative, alongside efforts from other firms like Strategy, could propel Bitcoin’s price, potentially exceeding $132,000 by the end of 2025, based on its correlation with the global M2 money supply.
Former SEC Official Joins Veda Amid DeFi Expansion
Decentralized finance platform Veda has appointed former US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) official TuongVy Le as general counsel. This move supports Veda’s expansion of crosschain yield products targeting institutional investors.
During her tenure at the SEC, Le played a pivotal role in advising Congress on digital asset legislation and participated in the agency’s early crypto enforcement actions. Her expertise is expected to enhance Veda’s strategic initiatives in the DeFi space.
DeFi Market Overview
The decentralized finance market experienced a challenging week, with most of the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization ending in the red. Solana-native meme token Fartcoin (FARTCOIN) recorded the largest decline, down 28%, followed by the Bonk (BONK) memecoin, which decreased over 23%.
Stay tuned for more updates and insights into the dynamic DeFi landscape as we continue to cover its developments.
