For several years, there has been speculation in the crypto community around a potential flippening event. This is in reference to ether (ETH), the second largest crypto asset, “flipping” bitcoin—that is, reaching a larger market cap than the world’s largest cryptocurrency.
Despite underperforming Bitcoin year to date, Ethereum’s unique advantages and persistent demand drivers position it well for futuregrowth and we believe the flippening is still possible.
Let’s look at five potential catalysts that could together help ETH make a big move in this direction in the coming months.
ETFs in the US: Last week, the SEC approved the listing of several spot ether ETFs. While it may be months before these ETFs are trading, this is a significant milestone for Ethereum and underscores the growing institutionalization of this asset class. ETFs will give institutional investors easier access to ETH, potentially driving up demand and price. The record-breaking inflows seen in bitcoin ETFs this year indicate strong crypto demand, suggesting that inflows for ether ETFs could surpass $5 billion in fresh capital during the first few months of trading. This projection is based on the assumption that the US market will adopt ether ETFs in proportions similar to what has been seen in other regions where both bitcoin and ether ETFs are already available.
Source: AUM for each ETF/ETP is from Bloomberg, accessed May 21, 2024
US election outcome: It’s no secret that the current administration has taken a less-than-friendly approach to the regulation of crypto. A new administration would very likely present a dramatic shift in its view of ETH and other crypto assets, opening up the potential for increasing regulatory clarity and the opportunity for Ethereum and its ecosystem to grow in the largest financial market in the world. But regardless of the election outcome, there is evidence of growing bipartisan support for creating a more sensible regulatory environment for crypto assets.
Dovish monetary policies: If the Federal Reserve and other central banks decide to cut interest rates or implement quantitative easing (QE), Ethereum could benefit significantly. Lower interest rates typically drive investors to seek higher returns in alternative assets, including crypto assets. Furthermore, QE increases liquidity in the market by injecting more money into the economy. This additional liquidity often finds its way into higher-yielding investments, such as ETH and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) applications. DeFi platforms offer various financial services like lending, borrowing, and earning interest on crypto assets, which become increasingly attractive in a low-interest-rate environment. As a result, both ETH and its associated DeFi ecosystem could see heightened demand and price appreciation under dovish monetary policies.
Increase in transaction volumes: The growth of tokenization and other Ethereum use cases is predicted to be a multi-trillion-dollar market over the next decade. As more assets are tokenized and more transactions occur on Ethereum, transaction volumes will rise. Higher transaction volumes can drive demand for ETH, increasing its value. Additionally, Ethereum’s strong developer ecosystem, the utility of ETH as DeFi collateral, and its decentralized and secure mainnet further support its growth.
A new killer app: Stablecoins have emerged as a significant application for smart contracts. In emerging markets, particularly in countries with stringent capital controls due to high inflation, stablecoins are growing rapidly as people seek alternatives to protect their wealth. In these markets, stablecoins could disrupt traditional financial services like payments, remittances, and banking. Ethereum is uniquely positioned to benefit from this as it remains by far the most widely used stablecoin network.
But we believe stablecoins are just the first of many potential “killer” applications. Tokenized money market funds are likely to follow, offering low-risk returns in a high-interest-rate environment and paving the way for global, digital-native investing. Moreover, other applications outside of finance might emerge in the next 12-18 months. Identity solutions and Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) could see accelerated adoption, driven by advancements in AI.
A rising tide of demand
Last fall, I wrote about Ethereum being crypto’s sleeping giant. Ethereum is, of course, not the only smart contract platform that has been experiencing growth. It has been facing increased competition from platforms like Solana and Avalanche. While some have suggested this might weaken the ETH investment case, we believe a rising tide lifts all boats and the demand for smart contract-based applications will create an environment where many different networks can thrive, even if Ethereum remains the dominant platform for the foreseeable future.
Uncertainty around which network will dominate the crypto landscape or receive more regulatory clarity will be a long-term fixture of this market. This is one of the reasons why investing in a basket of crypto assets like the Nasdaq Crypto Index, as opposed to single-asset investing, can benefit investors over time. Regardless of whether or not ETH ever flips BTC, crypto network development continues to mature, presenting significant opportunities for investors with a long-term investment horizon.
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Michael Saylor’s bold Bitcoin bet and Strategy’s risk analysis
Bitcoin price technical analysis: Where are the liquidation levels?
What are real-world assets and why do we need tokenization?
Michael Saylor’s bold Bitcoin bet and Strategy’s risk analysis
Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) has amassed a staggering $43 billion in Bitcoin, positioning itself at the forefront of the corporate “reserve race.” Under the leadership of Bitcoin maximalist Michael Saylor, the company now boasts an $84 billion market cap. But with such an aggressive strategy, how sustainable is its approach—and what risks lie ahead? We break it down in today’s analysis.
Bitcoin price technical analysis: Where are the liquidation levels?
A drop below $72,000 could flush longs, while a breakout above $90,000 may squeeze shorts. One key positive indicator is that Bitcoin continues to print higher lows since March 10, which preserves a bullish market structure in our view. Dive into our technical analysis.
What are real-world assets and why do we need tokenization?
Imagine owning a slice of a skyscraper or a piece of fine art with just a few clicks. Tokenization, the act of converting ownership rights to real-world assets (RWAs) into tradable tokens, has surpassed $10 billion in on-chain value, unlocking global 24/7 access to once-exclusive markets with liquidity, efficiency, and yield. Find out how it works.
Research Newsletter
Each week the 21Shares Research team will publish our data-driven insights into the crypto asset world through this newsletter. Please direct any comments, questions, and words of feedback to research@21shares.com
Disclaimer
The information provided does not constitute a prospectus or other offering material and does not contain or constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction. Some of the information published herein may contain forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. The information contained herein may not be considered as economic, legal, tax or other advice and users are cautioned to base investment decisions or other decisions solely on the content hereof.
Invesco BulletShares 2030 EUR Corporate Bond UCITSETF EUR Acc (BSE0 ETF) med ISIN IE000I25S1V5, försöker följa Bloomberg 2030 Maturity EUR Corporate Bond Screened-index. Bloomberg 2030 Maturity EUR Corporate Bond Screened Index följer företagsobligationer denominerade i EUR. Indexet speglar inte ett konstant löptidsintervall (som är fallet med de flesta andra obligationsindex). Istället ingår endast obligationer som förfaller under det angivna året (här: 2030) i indexet. Indexet består av ESG (environmental, social and governance) screenade företagsobligationer. Betyg: Investment Grade. Löptid: december 2030 (Denna ETF kommer att stängas efteråt).
Den börshandlade fondens TER (total cost ratio) uppgår till 0,10 % p.a. Invesco BulletShares 2030 EUR Corporate Bond UCITSETF EUR Accär den billigaste och största ETF som följer Bloomberg 2030 Maturity EUR Corporate Bond Screened index. ETFen replikerar det underliggande indexets prestanda genom samplingsteknik (köper ett urval av de mest relevanta indexbeståndsdelarna). Ränteintäkterna (kupongerna) ackumuleras och återinvesteras.
Invesco BulletShares 2030 EUR Corporate Bond UCITSETF EUR Acc är en mycket liten ETF med tillgångar på 6 miljoner euro under förvaltning. Denna ETF lanserades den 18 juni 2024 och har sin hemvist i Irland.
Produktbeskrivning
Invesco BulletShares 2030 EUR Corporate Bond UCITSETFAccsyftar till att ge den totala avkastningen för Bloomberg 2030 Maturity EUR Corporate Bond Screened Index (”Referensindexet”), minus avgifternas inverkan. Fonden har en fast löptid och kommer att upphöra på Förfallodagen.
Referensindexet är utformat för att återspegla resultatet för EUR-denominerade, investeringsklassade, fast ränta, skattepliktiga skuldebrev emitterade av företagsemittenter. För att vara berättigade till inkludering måste företagsvärdepapper ha minst 300 miljoner euro i nominellt utestående belopp och en effektiv löptid på eller mellan 1 januari 2030 och 31 december 2030.
Värdepapper är uteslutna om emittenter: 1) är inblandade i kontroversiella vapen, handeldvapen, militära kontrakt, oljesand, termiskt kol eller tobak; 2) inte har en kontroversnivå enligt definitionen av Sustainalytics eller har en Sustainalytics-kontroversnivå högre än 4; 3) anses inte följa principerna i FN:s Global Compact; eller 4) kommer från tillväxtmarknader.
Portföljförvaltarna strävar efter att uppnå fondens mål genom att tillämpa en urvalsstrategi, som inkluderar användning av kvantitativ analys, för att välja en andel av värdepapperen från referensindexet som representerar hela indexets egenskaper, med hjälp av faktorer som index- vägd genomsnittlig varaktighet, industrisektorer, landvikter och kreditkvalitet. När en företagsobligation som innehas av fonden når förfallodag kommer kontanterna som fonden tar emot att användas för att investera i kortfristiga EUR-denominerade skulder.
ETFen förvaltas passivt.
En investering i denna fond är ett förvärv av andelar i en passivt förvaltad indexföljande fond snarare än i de underliggande tillgångarna som ägs av fonden.
”Förfallodag”: andra onsdagen i december 2026 eller sådant annat datum som bestäms av styrelseledamöterna och meddelas aktieägaren
Det betyder att det går att handla andelar i denna ETF genom de flesta svenska banker och Internetmäklare, till exempel DEGIRO, Nordnet, Aktieinvest och Avanza.
Since President Trump appointed Mark Uyeda as acting SEC chair two months ago, many investigations into crypto businesses have been dropped, as the SEC moves away from regulation by enforcement and works to create a framework for digital assets. As regulations become clearer and news flow turns more positive, crypto prices—which dropped sharply this week—should begin to better reflect the new regulatory landscape in the US.
We believe this regulatory shift could ultimately help trigger the next leg of the current bull run, as investors better understand the significance of regulatory clarity and seek to acquire bitcoin and altcoins at what we believe are currently very favorable levels.
Market Highlights
SEC Dismisses Crypto Enforcement Actions
The SEC dropped its enforcement actions against crypto-related companies Kraken, Consensys, and Cumberland DRW.
This indicates a shift in SEC’s regulatory approach, favoring clearer guidelines over enforcement actions. Such a pivot could foster a more predictable environment, encouraging innovation within the sector.
Banks to Engage in Crypto Activities
The FDIC has rescinded previous guidelines which prevented financial institutions from engaging with crypto activities without prior sign-off.
By removing bureaucratic hurdles, banks may more readily offer crypto-related services, potentially leading to broader adoption and integration of digital assets.
Bitcoin ETFs Inflow Streak Surpassed $1 Billion
US spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded a 10-day inflow streak exceeding $1 billion marking the longest such streak in 2025.
This underscores growing institutional and retail investor confidence in Bitcoin as an asset class that helps increase market stability and possibly paving the way for the approval of other crypto-based financial products.
Market Metrics
All NCITM constituents had negative performance last week, with XRP (-10.8%) and UNI (-10.7%) seeing the steepest declines. ETH also experienced a sharp drop (-9.1%), contributing to NCITM’s underperformance relative to BTC (-2.9%). The NCITM -4.2% decline reflects a broader risk-off sentiment in the crypto market, as investors reassess their positions amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties.
NCITM (-4.2%) extended its underperformance last week, deepening year-to-date losses. Traditional indices like the S&P 500 (-1.5%) and Nasdaq 100 (-2.4%) saw smaller declines. The gap between crypto and other risk assets continues to widen, while gold has emerged as the top performer in 2025, gaining nearly 20% amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties. This trend highlights a growing risk-off sentiment, with investors shifting toward defensive assets and away from high-volatility investments.