Ether Tops $3,600 as ETFs See Record $2.18B Inflows Amid Crypto Legislation Momentum

Ether (ETH) surged over 20% this week, briefly breaking above the $3,600 mark before easing slightly to $3,560, driven by a wave of institutional interest and favorable legislative developments in the U.S.

U.S.-based spot Ethereum ETFs recorded their highest-ever weekly inflows, attracting a combined $2.18 billion — the strongest since their debut a year ago. According to SoSoValue, the largest single-day inflow occurred on July 16, with $726.74 million pouring into ETH-linked funds.

This spike in capital flows coincides with heightened trading activity and a new all-time high in open interest for ether futures on the CME, signaling growing institutional confidence in the asset.

Fueling the rally was the recent passage of the GENIUS Act, a landmark piece of legislation signed by President Donald Trump. The law introduces stricter oversight for yield-generating stablecoins and is seen by analysts as a potential catalyst for increased ETH staking and broader adoption of transparent restaking protocols within treasury management strategies.

While ETH pulled back slightly heading into the weekend, its ability to hold above the $3,500 level underscores sustained bullish sentiment and the sector-wide momentum ignited by policy clarity and renewed ETF inflows.