Ethereum’s supply crunch builds – Can ETF demand push prices even higher?

Key Takeaways

What changed for Ethereum ETFs last week?

U.S. spot ETFs saw 27,219 ETH inflows after 192,100 ETH outflows, signaling institutional accumulation.

What signals confirm ETH’s bullish momentum?

Spot ETFs added 27,219 ETH, Exchange Reserves dropped to $77.691 billion, and Funding Rates stayed positive.

Since last week, Ethereum [ETH] spot ETFs in the U.S. have recorded inflows of 27,219 ETH, reversing the prior week’s heavy outflows of 192,100 ETH.

Source: Glassnode

This sharp swing highlighted renewed investor appetite after a phase dominated by selling pressure.

Moreover, the return to net positive flows suggested that institutions may once again be accumulating ETH rather than offloading. 

With ETF demand often setting the tone for market sentiment, this shift provides traders with a new focal point. Could these inflows mark the beginning of a broader recovery phase for the ETH price?

Ethereum Exchange Reserves drop

Ethereum’s Exchange Reserve in USD value dropped by 2.64% to $77.691 billion, reinforcing the trend of coins leaving centralized platforms. 

This decline typically signals reduced immediate selling pressure, as holders opt for self-custody or long-term storage. 

Lower reserves can tighten supply on exchanges, which historically supports price stability when demand grows. 

The consistency of these outflows suggests traders remain cautious about liquidating holdings. 

However, such a shift can also reflect broader market confidence in ETH’s price medium-term outlook, positioning the asset for favorable price dynamics if inflows persist.

Source: CryptoQuant

Bullish traders dominate on Binance

On Binance, long accounts made up 67.26% compared to 32.74% shorts, producing a Long/Short Ratio of 2.05 at press time.

This shows a clear bullish bias among traders positioning for potential upside, in tune with Spot market accumulation trends.

However, such imbalances can also amplify volatility if conditions reverse. 

Source: CoinGlass

Funding Rates stay positive 

Ethereum’s OI-Weighted Funding Rate stood at 0.0082% on the 15th of September, reflecting steady demand from leveraged long traders.

Typically, a sustained positive Funding Rate points to bullish positioning outweighing bearish sentiment. Importantly, this comes after several weeks of ETF outflows.

Derivative traders are likely aligning with Spot market inflows. 

Source: CoinGlass

Can ETH sustain this bullish shift?

Ethereum’s return to ETF inflows, falling Exchange Reserves, long dominance on Binance, and steady positive Funding Rates collectively highlight improving sentiment.

Thus, there was reduced sell pressure and stronger conviction among traders. 

While risks remain, the alignment between Spot and Derivatives markets suggests ETH price could be primed for further recovery if inflows continue.