#ETHBreaks3k Ethereum recently broke the $3,000 mark, reaching a high of $3,029.55 on July 11, 2025. This milestone is significant, as it marks the first time ETH has hit this level since February. The surge is driven by strong institutional demand, growing network activity, and increased retail interest ¹ ².

*Key Factors Contributing to the Surge:*

- *Institutional Demand*: BlackRock purchased $158 million worth of ETH, while GameSquare acquired over 1,800 ETH for $5 million. A whale wallet invested $25 million to buy more than 9,000 ETH.

- *Network Activity*: Ethereum's total value locked (TVL) jumped from $50 billion to $73 billion, with layer-2 networks like Arbitrum and Optimism growing 15-20% weekly.

- *Retail Interest*: Short-term wallet activity spiked, indicating renewed retail demand. Nearly 80% of ETH holders are now profitable, sparking bullish sentiment ¹ ³ ⁴.

*Future Price Targets:*

- *Short-term Target*: $3,200

- *Mid-term Goal*: $4,287 (previous cycle high)

- *Potential Targets*: $4,885, $5,625, and $6,870, as predicted by analyst Alex Clay

*Market Sentiment:*

The current market sentiment is cautiously optimistic, with 88% of traders and investors bullish on Ethereum. However, potential short-term selling pressure may arise as traders lock in gains ¹ ⁵.