Ethereum’s Whales: Historic 1/3 Supply Control Since 2016

The Ethereum community is buzzing with excitement as the richest ETH investors have significantly increased their token holdings. Recent data from leading data aggregator Santiment shows that these high-value wallets, known as whale addresses [holding a minimum of 1 million ETH], now control more than 32% of the available supply—a level not seen since 2016. Moreover, transactions exceeding $1 million experienced their second-highest volume in five weeks just a day earlier. Undoubtedly, these developments mark a historic moment in the altcoin’s history.

The unprecedented rise of these Ethereum whales to this level of dominance reflects a stark concentration of wealth within the network. This concentration, while not new in the world of cryptocurrencies, has raised concerns among experts and enthusiasts alike. Many are closely monitoring these developments, pondering the potential impact on the market’s stability and decentralization.

In addition to this remarkable milestone, Ethereum also witnessed a surge in high-value transactions, each valued at $1 million or more. Yesterday’s transactions marked the second-highest volume in this category over the past five weeks. The substantial movement of funds indicates a flurry of activity among institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals, underscoring the growing interest in Ethereum as a store of value and an investment asset.

Ethereum Grapple With Resistance As Whales Stay Resolute

While Ethereum’s price has been volatile, it recently bounced back from the support level at $1,533. As of the time of writing this piece, ETH is trading at $1,574. Analysts closely monitoring the market note that the major cryptocurrency is on the brink of a potential further decline if it breaches the $1,533 support threshold.

However, amidst this looming risk, recent findings from blockchain analytics platform Santiment indicate that Ethereum’s large holders, often referred to as whales, are strategically positioned to avert such a downturn. These significant investors could play a pivotal role in stabilizing ETH’s value, acting as a buffer against a more substantial price decrease. Their actions and decisions are being closely monitored by traders and experts, as they could significantly influence the market’s direction in the coming days.

Lipika Deka: Lipika is a crypto-journalist at TWJ. A graduate in economics and finance, she has a keen interest in the political and socio-economic facets of blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency industry.