The network logs more transactions each week as asset managers grow their ETH positions, fueling talk of a long “supercycle” sparked by AI code. Product desks, custody banks, and compliance staff are on alert because liquidity paths, storage rules, and court-tested norms may all shift for corporates and funds.
Supporters say large buyers and AI tooling explain the recent price jump. U.S. spot ETFs have locked up 6.7 million ETH, and the chain records 1.5 million moves a day; both numbers are read as signs that institutions use the network.
The Ethereum Foundation has hired researchers to build AI agents that pay invoices, settle trades, and query contracts without a human click each time. Validator keys stay online for 99.5% of slots, a mark that nodes still agree on blocks.
Possible impact of the Ethereum supercycle
Wall Street traders stay guarded; they note that ETH prices swing wider than Bitcoin prices. A few whales control large balances and could sell at once, active addresses might drop and slow activity, and the Fear and Greed Index flips from high to low in short weeks.
Custody banks and KYC vendors see more work if ETF flows persist, expanding onboarding, segregation, and attestation processes across institutions. Spot order books may tighten if corporates rebalance or exit, increasing the chance of slippage during large moves.
The debate will stay on custody floors and inside courtrooms. A durable supercycle needs longer holdings from managers and statutes that erase doubt. Price models that place ETH near $80 000 by 2027 sit beside Wall Street notes that ask for proof of legal clarity plus back-office controls.
