Why Is Ethereum Still Below $3000? While Bitcoin Price Hits $82,000—Here’s What You Need to Know

Ethereum price has recovered sharply over the past few days, but the rally has not yet produced the swing the bulls are waiting for. It climbed back above $2,500 after gaining nearly 5%, while the Bitcoin price moved above $82,000 as institutional demand returned to the crypto market. The divergence becomes clearer when observing the latest ETF flows, whale activity and on-chain data. 

While traders are showing renewed buying interest, the underlying data does not confirm the broad demand required to sustain above $2,500 that may keep the token stuck below the range for a long time. 

ETF Flows Show Bitcoin Receiving the Stronger Institutional Bid

Ever since institutions entered the crypto space, they have been largely influencing sentiment and, in turn, the prices of the top cryptos. In the current context, the decrease in the Ethereum ETF inflows can be considered one of the major reasons behind the ETH price weakness. Bitcoin ETFs have attracted nearly a billion since the start of the month, which supported the price in reclaiming $82,000. 

On the other hand, Ethereum’s ETF activity has shown signs of strength, but it has been less consistent. The highest recorded figure in September is +$59.3K in inflows with few outflows, ending a 12-session inflow streak that bought more than a billion into the products.