Ethereum News Update: Institutions Focus on Performance as Ethereum, Polkadot, and BlockDAG Propel the Next Crypto Bull Market

The cryptocurrency sector is witnessing renewed bullish momentum, fueled by increased institutional investments, advancements in technology, and a surge of interest in alternative coins.

(ETH) and (DOT) have taken center stage, while BlockDAG approaches $435 million, reflecting a market shift toward projects with strong fundamentals.

Ethereum’s price has shown significant swings but remains buoyed by robust ETF inflows. After briefly dropping to $3,947, ETH bounced back to $4,160, marking a 5.2% gain in the past day, largely attributed to

. U.S. spot ETFs attracted a record $9.6 billion in Q3 2025, outpacing Bitcoin’s $8.7 billion. This uptick signals renewed institutional trust, especially after Ethereum surpassed the $4,000 milestone, as reported by . Treasury management company has boosted by investing $200 million worth of ETH into DeFi platforms, and to its reserves during Q3.

The network’s roadmap for upgrades further strengthens its outlook. The

, now approved for launch, is designed to improve Layer-2 scalability. Lead developers have highlighted the thorough testing process, noting the system’s complexity. On prediction platforms like Myriad, 68% of users believe ETH will climb to $4,500 before dropping to $3,100, though this optimism has decreased by 15% in the last day due to price volatility.

Polkadot is also making headway, as

progresses with its spot ETF application on Nasdaq. The company, which already provides ETFs for and , is positioning DOT as an attractive option for institutional investors. At the same time, has announced it will support Polkadot’s migration to Asset Hub, a network update scheduled for November 4. The exchange will pause deposits and withdrawals during this period, highlighting the project’s commitment to infrastructure improvements.

Yet,

every altcoin is performing well. Ether’s value slipped to $4,072 after the triggered a $40 million sell-off to finance a share repurchase, while XRP and also experienced declines. Nevertheless, XRP’s open interest has climbed back to $4.51 billion from a late April low of $3.49 billion, suggesting a renewed appetite for risk among retail traders.

BlockDAG, a relatively new but fast-growing Layer-1 initiative, is drawing attention with its latest developments and the rollout of 20,000 mining devices. Now in its 32nd round at $0.005 per token, the project is set for a $0.05 listing in February 2026. Its hybrid Proof-of-Work and Proof-of-Engagement consensus mechanism is designed to optimize both scalability and decentralization, with 312,000 participants already involved. Market experts

to previous 1000x opportunities, pointing to its tangible infrastructure and community-focused rewards.

Wider market trends are also shaped by global economic conditions.

(BTC) has remained above $114,000, supported by $149 million in ETF inflows on Monday, while ongoing U.S.-China geopolitical tensions fuel speculation about interest rate cuts. Tether’s reported $10 billion profit for 2025 further highlights the maturity of the crypto financial landscape, with its supply now topping $184 billion.

As the industry matures, attention is turning from speculation to practical use cases. The institutional embrace of Ethereum, Polkadot’s ETF initiatives, and BlockDAG’s operational expansion all point to a market that values execution over empty promises. With ETF investments, network enhancements, and real-world adoption fueling progress, the next stage of the crypto bull market appears to be rooted in results-driven innovation.