The cryptocurrency market surged in a dramatic rally on Thursday, with Ethereum (ETH) skyrocketing over 20% in just 24 hours. This explosive growth coincided with a major geopolitical development: the United States and the United Kingdom finalized a landmark trade agreement, easing global trade tensions and fueling investor confidence across both traditional and digital asset markets.
The positive sentiment spilled over into Wall Street, where crypto-related stocks led the gains among U.S. equities. The broader crypto market saw a net inflow of $200 billion**, pushing total market capitalization from **$3 trillion to $3.22 trillion—a level not seen since March 2025. Alongside Ethereum’s surge, other major digital assets posted strong gains: Dogecoin (DOGE) jumped over 12%, Solana (SOL) rose by 10%, Ripple (XRP) gained 8%, and Bitcoin (BTC) climbed more than 5%.
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Trade Deal Sparks Market Optimism
The U.S.-UK trade agreement marks the first formal bilateral trade deal since the implementation of reciprocal tariff policies under the previous U.S. administration. Key components include:
- The U.S. maintaining a 10% base tariff on UK goods
- A tiered tariff system for British auto imports
- Removal of steel and aluminum tariffs on UK exports
- Zero tariffs on U.S. agricultural products entering the UK
This breakthrough has significantly reduced trade uncertainty, encouraging institutional and retail investors to re-enter risk-on positions. Analysts note that improved macroeconomic clarity often precedes strong performance in high-beta assets like cryptocurrencies.
Ethereum’s Momentum Builds on Fundamentals and ETF Hype
While macro factors provided the spark, Ethereum's price surge was also driven by strong internal fundamentals and growing anticipation around regulatory developments.
On Thursday, ETH traded above $2,500, buoyed by a report from digital asset pricing provider CF Benchmarks, which highlighted that the upcoming Pectra upgrade will enable Ethereum-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to efficiently generate staking yields—without compromising liquidity standards. This advancement removes a critical barrier for institutional adoption, making ETH ETFs more attractive to large-scale investors.
Earlier in the week, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan predicted that Ethereum ETFs could attract up to $10 billion in capital inflows during the second half of 2025 if approved. With approval odds now estimated at 95%, according to industry analysts, momentum is clearly building.
Even during a relatively weak June—where ETH dipped 3% on Tuesday despite bullish catalysts such as record accumulation by whale addresses and corporate treasury allocations—market resilience remained evident. Now, that consolidation appears to have set the stage for a powerful rebound.
Corporate Adoption Adds Fuel
Further reinforcing confidence, crypto mining firm BitMine announced plans to deploy proceeds from its recent $250 million private placement toward an Ethereum treasury strategy. This follows a growing trend of public companies diversifying reserves into digital assets, echoing earlier Bitcoin treasury moves but now extending to Ethereum.
Such strategic allocations signal maturing market infrastructure and increasing trust in Ethereum’s long-term value proposition as a foundational layer for decentralized finance (DeFi), real-world asset tokenization, and scalable blockchain applications.
Crypto Stocks Shine on Wall Street
As sentiment improved, publicly traded companies with direct exposure to the crypto ecosystem outperformed broader indices. Major crypto-linked stocks rallied sharply at Thursday’s market close:
- Canaccord Genuity (CAN): +9%
- Robinhood (HOOD): +8%
- Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA): +7%
- MicroStrategy (MSTR): +5%
These gains reflect renewed investor appetite for digital asset-related equities, particularly those offering accessible exposure to crypto price movements through regulated financial vehicles.
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Core Keywords Driving Market Interest
Key themes emerging from this market movement include:
- Ethereum price surge
- Crypto ETF approval
- Pectra upgrade
- Staking yield innovation
- Corporate crypto adoption
- Trade deal impact on markets
- Crypto stock rally
- Market capitalization growth
These keywords reflect both technical developments within the Ethereum network and macro-level shifts influencing investor behavior—making them essential for understanding current market dynamics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What caused Ethereum to rise over 20% in one day?
A: A combination of factors drove ETH’s surge: the U.S.-UK trade deal improving global risk sentiment, growing confidence in Ethereum ETF approvals, and technical upgrades like Pectra enabling staking-compatible ETF structures.
Q: Are Ethereum ETFs already approved?
A: As of now, spot Ethereum ETFs have not been officially approved by U.S. regulators, but market expectations are extremely high—with approval odds estimated at 95%. Final decisions are anticipated in mid-to-late 2025.
Q: How does the Pectra upgrade benefit investors?
A: The Pectra upgrade allows Ethereum ETFs to earn staking rewards while maintaining high liquidity—previously a major hurdle. This makes ETH ETFs more competitive with holding ETH directly, increasing their appeal to institutional investors.
Q: Why did crypto stocks rise along with Ethereum?
A: Companies like Robinhood and Marathon Digital benefit directly from increased trading volume and higher crypto prices. Strong performance in underlying assets typically translates into better financial outlooks for these firms.
Q: Is the $3.22 trillion market cap a new all-time high?
A: While impressive, this figure matches levels last seen in March 2025 but has not yet surpassed previous peaks. Continued inflows and ETF launches could push total market cap to new records in the coming months.
Q: Should I invest based on this rally?
A: Past performance is not indicative of future results. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and speculative. Always conduct thorough research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
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Looking Ahead: Institutional Confidence Grows
The convergence of favorable macroeconomic news, technological progress, and rising institutional interest suggests that Ethereum’s rally may be part of a broader structural shift—not just a short-term spike. With ETF approvals on the horizon and corporate treasuries beginning to diversify into ETH, the network is positioning itself as a core digital asset alongside Bitcoin.
As liquidity improves and regulatory clarity increases, Ethereum stands ready to enter a new phase of mainstream financial integration—one defined by yield-bearing, compliant investment products accessible to millions of investors worldwide.
For those watching closely, the message is clear: Ethereum is no longer just a speculative token. It's evolving into a foundational component of the next-generation financial system.