Ethereum’s Treasury: The Secret Weapon That Might Just Outshine ETH ETFs

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Key Takeaways, In Fancy Pants & Slightly Sarcastic Style

Standard Chartered-because banks need hobbies-says treasury stocks are more ‘investable’ than those boring ETH ETFs. Apparently, staking yields are the new hotness. Meanwhile, Tom Lee, the soothsayer of crypto prophets, claims ETH is destined to hit $9K-$16K. Buckle up, or don’t-it’s your digital destiny. 🚀💸

The Ethereum treasury trend continues to make traditional stock traders look like they’re trying to catch a falling knife-only less effectively.

According to Standard Chartered’s latest “Shall I Reassure the Clients” report, Geoff Kendrick, the global head of “We Know Stuff,” says treasury firms are now ‘more investable’ than those passive, snooze-inducing ETH ETFs. Why? Because staking and other DeFi yields mean they’re practically printing money in their sleep. Or would be if sleep was part of staking, which it isn’t.

Treasury firms also have a fondness for staking-about 3% a year, plus whatever else they can scrape together in DeFi land. ETH ETFs, by contrast, are waiting for their moment to jump into the party, possibly when staking gets approved, if that ever happens.

The upshot? They now own about 1.6% of ETH since June. That’s almost enough to start a small country, or at least a really competitive lemonade stand. The bank’s target price? A modest $4,000 by year’s end-because even bankers like a little reality among the dreams.

Tom Lee: ETH’s 2017 Moment, If You Can Remember That Far Back

Tom Lee-who is basically the Oracle of Ethereum-offered his crystal ball predictions in a recent CNBC politeness. He’s convinced ETH is reliving its 2017 Bitcoin glory days, and could reach a dizzying $16,000. Because what’s more fun than dreaming big and making bold predictions? Apparently, not much.

“If the ETH/BTC ratio returns to 2021’s high of 0.14, that makes ETH a cool $16K. Because ETH is now a better store of value than it was the last time everyone believed in it-which was also a while ago.”

The ETH/BTC ratio is like the speedometer of the crypto world-showing you how hot or cold ETH is compared to Bitcoin. In 2021, it peaked at 0.08, and in 2017, it soared past 0.14-like a rocket fueled by wishful thinking. Currently, at prices that won’t make your head spin, hitting 2021 levels could mean a nice round $9.5K, but chase the 2017 high? That’s a $16K ticket, thanks to Lee’s crystal ball.

Since June 2025, ETH treasury holdings have been like a lottery ticket-gaining momentum and turning the altcoin into a contender for BTC’s crown. Big players like MicroStrategy and Metaplanet are throwing their weight behind ETH, which has caused the total holdings of ETH in public companies to leap from a modest 47K to a massive 826K-an 18x explosion faster than you can say “HODL.”

Shawn Young, MEXC’s resident crypto soothsayer, pointed out that these disclosures might set a new corporate standard-probably one involving less coffee and more digital assets. Meanwhile, Glassnode chimes in saying despite Bitcoin and Solana taking a nosedive, ETH still looks like the cool kid showing resilience-in case you need *any* reason to keep holding.

At press time, ETH sat comfortably at $3,700, up 2.8% in a day, while BitMine’s BMNR shot up 15.6%, and BlackRock’s ETHA shrugged on a 3% jump-because apparently, they’re not afraid of a little market chaos. Outperformance? Oh, yes.

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2025-08-07 21:26