Is Ethereum still getting big institutional buys?

Ethereum is experiencing significant institutional investment as of March 2026, though the nature of these "buys" has shifted from pure price speculation to structural integration. While spot ETF flows remain volatile due to capital rotation into Bitcoin, major financial entities like BlackRock and J.P. Morgan are aggressively accumulating ETH and utilizing the network as a primary settlement layer for tokenized assets [Source: Investing.com].

Recent Institutional Accumulation and Direct Buys

In the first quarter of 2026, several high-profile "smart money" entities executed large-scale purchases of Ethereum, often bypassing public exchanges via OTC desks or direct fund acquisitions.

Spot ETF Performance (March 2–6, 2026)

Institutional demand through U.S. spot ETFs is currently mixed, characterized by a "rebalancing" phase where capital is moving between different fund providers.

(Data source: KuCoin News; [SoSoValue])

The total net asset value of all Ethereum spot ETFs stands at $11.28 billion, representing approximately 4.72% of Ethereum’s total market capitalization [Source: KuCoin News].

Tokenization: The "Utility-Driven" Institutional Buy

The most significant institutional growth in 2026 is occurring in tokenized Real-World Assets (RWA), where Ethereum acts as the underlying infrastructure. This creates a "sticky" demand for ETH to cover gas fees and collateral requirements.

1. BlackRock’s tokenized money market fund, BUIDL, reached in March 2026. The fund was recently listed on Uniswap to facilitate 24/7 institutional secondary trading [Source: ].

Market Technicals and Sentiment

Despite institutional accumulation, Ethereum's price performance remains suppressed relative to Bitcoin.

(Data source: [Technical Analysis Feed]; Investing.com)

Counterpoint: Institutional Rotation to Bitcoin

Not all institutional news is positive for Ethereum. Some firms are liquidating ETH positions to maximize Bitcoin exposure. For example, Marathon Asset Management reported in February 2026 that it had sold its entire $3 million ETHA position to pivot more heavily into Bitcoin, reflecting a broader "macro" preference for BTC as a treasury reserve asset [Source: [The Motley Fool]]. Additionally, Ethereum is currently trading below all major Exponential Moving Averages (50, 100, and 200), signaling a persistent bearish trend in the spot market despite high utility [Source: [Technical Analysis Feed]].

Conclusion

Ethereum is still receiving large institutional buys, but they have transitioned from speculative ETF inflows to direct accumulation by corporate treasuries and the minting of billions in tokenized assets. While the ETH/BTC ratio remains at multi-year lows, the network's role as the "settlement layer" for traditional finance has never been stronger; however, whether this utility can break the current bearish price trend remains an open question for the remainder of 2026.