Recently, the focus of the cryptocurrency market is gradually shifting from Bit to Ethereum. According to the latest research report released by Standard Chartered Bank, institutional investors are accumulating Ether at an unprecedented rate, yet the market seems to still underestimate the potential of ETH and its reserve companies.

According to data, since June of this year, the Ethereum treasury company has acquired approximately 2.6% of the circulating ETH. Along with the buying volume of spot ETH ETFs, a total of about 4.9% of the circulating Ethereum has been absorbed. This trend directly propelled Ethereum to set a historical high of $4,955 on August 24.

Despite ETH's price subsequently falling below $4,500, Geoff Kendrick, Standard Chartered's Head of Global Digital Asset Research, still maintains his year-end price target of $7,500. He believes that the current pullback presents a great entry opportunity for long-term investors.

It is worth noting that, compared to spot ETFs that are restricted by U.S. regulations and currently not allowed to participate in staking, Ethereum vault companies have a significant advantage in their operating model. These companies can not only directly stake their held ETH to participate in validation nodes, earning annualized returns ranging from 3% to 14%, but they can also further optimize returns through decentralized finance (DeFi) strategies.

With the continuous influx of institutional investors, the development prospects of the Ethereum ecosystem have become increasingly clear. However, investors still need to carefully assess risks and closely monitor market trends and changes in the regulatory environment. In the future, whether Ethereum can continue to attract institutional funds and achieve breakthroughs in technological innovation and application deployment will be key factors determining its long-term value.