Ethereum whales, or significant Ethereum holders, have been accumulating more ETH assets, with whales now controlling 43% of the total ETH in circulation, according to data from IntoTheBlock. This growing concentration raises concerns about the potential impact on Ethereum’s price and market dynamics.
Since early 2023, whale holdings have surged, increasing from 22% to 43% of the total supply, with whale addresses defined as those holding more than 1% of the total ETH in circulation.
This rapid accumulation is largely attributed to the Ethereum merge and the rise of ETH staking for rewards, which has locked a significant portion of ETH in staking protocols.
The concentration of ETH in whale addresses reduces the circulating supply, which could drive price appreciation by limiting the availability of ETH for trading.
However, this concentration also means less ETH is available for retail holders, who control 46% of the circulating supply, with more than 99% of Ethereum addresses holding less than 0.1% of the total supply.
Currently, Ethereum is trading at $3,225, showing a 2% decline in the last 24 hours. The increasing dominance of whale holdings could create market volatility, impacting smaller investors and retail traders in the long term.
