TL;DR
- Blackrock’s ETHA hits $10B AUM in record 251 days: BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF becomes third-fastest to milestone after IBIT (34 days) and FBTC (53 days), fueled by institutional demand.
- $5B added in 10 days: Fastest $5B-to-$10B expansion in ETF history, driven by ETH’s price surge toward $3,850 and $1.1B weekly inflows amid pro-crypto policy shifts (GENIUS Act).
- Ethereum’s mainstream validation: Milestone confirms ETH’s institutional appeal, though BTC ETFs still dominate with $140B+ AUM. Analysts debate whether flows can break ETH’s price consolidation.
BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) has exceeded $10 billion in assets under management (AUM), making it the third-fastest ETF ever to achieve this milestone. According to Bloomberg data, ETHA achieved this feat in just 251 days, trailing only its sister fund IBIT (34 days) and Fidelity’s FBTC (53 days). The explosive growth signals soaring institutional demand for Ethereum exposure amid a resurgent crypto market.
Record-Shattering $5B Growth Spurt
BlackRock’s ETHA ascent accelerated dramatically over a 10-day window ending Wednesday, where it added $5 billion in AUM, marking the fastest expansion from $5B to $10B ever recorded. “This is very weird stuff,“ commented Eric Balchunas, a Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg, highlighting the two main factors: strong inflows and the rise in ETH’s price.
Ethereum recently neared $3,850 (its highest since December 2024) before settling at $3,710, fueling ETHA’s NAV growth. Balchunas emphasized the unique symbiosis: “Flows and price are like tangoing, they feed off each other.”
Political Tailwinds Ignite Demand
After a tepid launch last year, Ethereum ETFs gained momentum amid a pro-crypto shift under the Trump administration. The recent approval of the GENIUS Act is set to enhance Ethereum’s stablecoin leadership, sparking interest from institutions. U.S.-listed ETH ETFs raked in $1.1 billion in inflows over just three days this week, per Farside Investors.
ETF.com’s Sumit Roy observed: “The mania over stablecoins and Ethereum treasury companies gave the asset a shot in the arm,“ finally drawing hesitant investors off the sidelines.
The $10B Club’s Elite Company
ETHA now joins an exclusive cohort of ultra-rapid ETF successes:
- BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT): 34 days to $10B
- Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC): 53 days
- ETHA: 251 days
- This trajectory contrasts sharply with traditional ETFs, which often take years to hit the threshold. Yet ETHA still lags behind Bitcoin ETFs’ collective dominance, with 12 BTC funds holding over $140B AUM (IBIT alone commands $70B).
Ethereum’s Inflection Point?
While ETHA’s milestone signals robust demand, analysts debate its impact on Ethereum’s price consolidation. Roy cautioned: “It may or may not break ETH out of its trading range.“ Nevertheless, the $10B achievement validates Ethereum’s institutional appeal. As Balchunas put it: “Regardless, it signals demand for Ethereum ETFs has finally arrived.”
