Ethereum is cementing its dominance in key institutional adoption sectors, according to commentary from industry experts. Kevin Rusher, founder of RAAC, highlights that stablecoin issuance on Ethereum has surpassed $59 billion, giving the chain over 62% of the market. Furthermore, Ethereum is the undisputed leader in tokenized assets, hosting $12.5 billion—over 65% of the entire market. Tokenized gold alone on Ethereum surpassed $4 billion over the festive period, up from $1 billion at the start of the year.
Institutional flows into Ethereum are outpacing Bitcoin. Rusher notes that while inflows into Bitcoin halved in 2025 compared to 2024, flows into ETH doubled. A State Street study shows 6% of institutions holding digital assets have more than 5% in ETH, compared to 5% for Bitcoin. The data also indicates three times as many asset managers as retail owners hold ETH, versus two times for Bitcoin.
Business-to-business (B2B) payments on Ethereum spiked 157% last year, with payment size increasing 45%, accounting for the lion's share of transaction value on the chain, according to an Artemis report.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin is experiencing a reflexive bounce after being oversold at the end of 2025, says Nic Puckrin, investment analyst at Coin Bureau. The first full ETF trading day of 2026 saw $471.3 million in inflows into Bitcoin ETFs, suggesting institutions are piling back in. Puckrin clarifies this is not a convergence with gold, but a simple coincidence driven by different forces.
Geopolitical events, specifically in Venezuela, are underscoring Bitcoin's role as a hedge against political risk. Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, argues that Bitcoin's 24/7 market allows real-time response to geopolitical shocks, making it a dynamic tool for capital allocation during uncertainty. He states Bitcoin has become one of the first places investors go to express a view on global uncertainty, benefiting from a world where political risk is more persistent.
Separate technical analysis suggests Ethereum (ETH) is stabilizing above $3,000, with its 26-day EMA now acting as dynamic support—a change from previous behavior where it was resistance. The price is consolidating with increasing momentum, indicating a potential sustainable recovery rather than a brief bounce.
XRP is showing a short-term technical bullish signal, with its 26-day EMA crossing above its 50-day EMA—a potential golden cross—after breaking a descending trend. The asset is consolidating above the $2.00 support area without strong sell pressure.
Shiba Inu (SHIB), however, is in a "dead zone" with volume having fallen to almost nothing, leading to brittle, directionless price action. The lack of participation suggests weariness and a market on hold, with any trend impossible without a return of significant volume.
