Ethereum's surge past $4,200 has once again made co-founder Vitalik Buterin an on-chain billionaire. His public wallet holdings now exceed $1.03 billion, directly driven by ETH's 22% gain.
With Ethereum's price surge above $4,200, co-founder Vitalik Buterin has once again become an on-chain billionaire. His public wallet holdings now exceed $1.03 billion, driven primarily by ETH's 22% weekly gain, which has pushed the network's market capitalization back above $510 billion. This strong growth in Ethereum was driven by three distinct tailwinds.
In his own words. What does Vitalik think of all this success? CoinEdition reports on his perspective: Ethereum's Amazing Journey.
Tailwind 1: ETH’s institutional floodgates open
Spot Ethereum ETFs have accumulated over 5.43 million ETH, benefiting from growing institutional confidence. If approved by regulators, these ETFs may soon offer staking returns, further enhancing their appeal.
In addition to ETFs, a new trend of corporate holdings of Ethereum treasuries is emerging. Publicly listed companies like Bitmine, GameSquare, and BTCS are purchasing ETH to bolster their balance sheets. Data from Standard Chartered Bank indicates that these treasury holders have already held 1% of the total Ethereum supply since June and could eventually control as much as 10%.
Tailwind 2: Shocking Washington Support for Cryptocurrency
Regulatory sentiment in Washington, D.C. has also shifted significantly in favor of cryptocurrencies. President Trump recently signed the GENIUS Stablecoin Act, the first major cryptocurrency legislation in the United States.
The House of Representatives also advanced the Anti-CBDC Act and the Clarification Act, which aim to clarify regulatory responsibilities between the SEC and the CFTC. These bills are currently awaiting Senate consideration, while a new executive order opens the door for 401(k) retirement funds to invest in cryptocurrencies.
This series of positive developments has expanded the ETH investor base, adding another source of capital inflows to Ethereum.
Tailwind 3: ETH ushered in a major technological breakthrough
Finally, the price chart showed bullish momentum. Market analyst Mags pointed out that Ethereum made its fourth attempt to break through the $4,000 mark and reached its highest level of this cycle at $4,200.
The move follows a series of higher lows since bottoming out in 2022, supported by an ascending trendline.
A confirmed weekly close above $4,000 could pave the way for a rally to $4,800 and potentially a new all-time high above $8,000. However, if the price fails to hold current levels, a pullback to the $3,200-3,400 support zone is possible.
Ten years in the making. This financial milestone builds on a decade of technological achievements. Here’s our coverage of Ethereum’s tenth anniversary.