As the highly anticipated launch date of spot Ethereum ETFs approaches, Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer of crypto asset manager Bitwise, has stressed the potential for these ETF inflows to drive the Ethereum price to record highs. 

In a recent client note, Hougan highlighted the significant impact that ETF flows could have on the Ethereum price, surpassing even the effects witnessed in the spot Bitcoin ETF market in the US. 

Ethereum ETFs Poised To Surpass Bitcoin’s Impact? 

Hougan confidently predicts that introducing spot Ethereum ETFs will lead to a surge in ETH’s value, possibly reaching all-time highs above $5,000. However, he cautions that the first few weeks after the ETF launch could be volatile, as funds could flow out of the existing $11 billion Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE) after it is converted to an ETF. 

This could be similar to the case of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), which saw significant outflows of over $17 billion after the Bitcoin ETF market was approved in January, with the first inflows recorded 5 months later on May 3. 

Still, Hougan expects the market to stabilize in the long term, pushing Ethereum to record prices by the end of the year after the initial outflows subside, drawing a comparison with Bitcoin in key metrics to understand this thesis.

For example, Bitcoin ETFs have purchased more than twice the amount of Bitcoin compared to what miners have produced over the same period, contributing to a 25% increase in Bitcoin’s price since the ETF launch and a 110% increase since the market began pricing in the launch in October 2023. 

That said, Hougan believes the impact on Ethereum could be even more significant, and identifies three structural reasons why Ethereum’s ETF inflows could have a greater impact than Bitcoin’s.

Lower Inflation, Staking Advantage, And Scarcity

The first reason Bitwise’s CIO highlights is Ethereum’s lower short-term inflation rate. While Bitcoin’s inflation rate was 1.7% when Bitcoin ETFs launched, Ethereum’s inflation rate over the past year has been 0%. 

The second reason lies in the difference between Bitcoin miners and Ethereum stakers. Due to the expenses associated with mining, Bitcoin miners generally sell much of the Bitcoin they acquire to cover operational costs. 

In contrast, Ethereum relies on a proof-of-stake (PoS) system, where users stake ETH as collateral to process transactions accurately. ETH stakers, not burdened with high direct costs, are not compelled to sell the ETH they earn. Consequently, Hougan suggests that Ethereum’s daily forced selling pressure is lower than that of Bitcoin.

The third reason stems from the fact that a substantial portion of ETH is staked and, therefore, unavailable for sale. Currently, 28% of all ETH is staked, while 13% is locked in smart contracts, effectively removing it from the market. 

This results in approximately 40% of all ETH being unavailable for immediate sale, creating a considerable scarcity and ultimately favoring a potential increase in price for the second largest cryptocurrency on the market, depending on the outflows and inflows recorded. Hougan concluded:

As I mentioned above, I expect the new Ethereum ETPs to be a success, gathering $15 billion in new assets over their first 18 months on the market… If the ETPs are as successful as I expect—and given the dynamics above—it’s hard to imagine ETH not challenging its old record.

ETH was trading at $3,460, up 1.5% in the past 24 hours and nearly 12% in the past seven days.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com