Ethereum Turns 10: Price, Institutional Accumulation & How to Stake ETH in 2025

Ethereum celebrates its 10‑year anniversary in 2025, having evolved from Vitalik Buterin’s smart‑contract experiment into the backbone of DeFi, NFTs, and institutional crypto investing. ETH trades around $3,800, fueled by ETF inflows and corporate accumulation. This article explores Ethereum’s journey, the current market landscape, and how to stake ETH securely with Atomic Wallet.

Ethereum at 10 — Key Stats

• Launch year: 2015
• Current price: ~$3,800 (July 2025)
• All‑time high: $4,878 (2021)
• Active validators: 1M+
• Layer‑2 share: ~65% of all ETH transactions
• Top ETF holdings: BlackRock ETH ETF, Grayscale ETHE

The Torch & “Believe in somETHing” Moment

To commemorate Ethereum’s first decade, the Ethereum Foundation created “The Torch”, an NFT passed daily from wallet to wallet and burned on its 10-year anniversary — July 30, 2025. Afterward, a public version was made available to mint for 24 hours.

Coinciding with the event, the phrase “believe in somETHing”went viral, symbolizing Ethereum’s cultural impact. This blend of community symbolism and measurable activity reinforced Ethereum’s global ethos and narrative.

Ethereum’s Evolution — From ICO to Layer‑2 Era

Ethereum began in 2015 with a vision of smart contracts by Vitalik Buterin. ICO mania in 2017 pushed the network to its first scaling limits. NFT summer and DeFi summer of 2020 pushed mainstream adoption.

In 2022, the Merge transitioned Ethereum to Proof‑of‑Stake, decreasing energy usage exponentially. The Dencun upgrade in 2024 cemented Layer‑2 dominance, and today as of 2025, 65% of all ETH transactions occur on L2 chains with lower and quicker transactions.

Layer‑2 Adoption in 2025: Scaling Ethereum

By mid‑2025, Layer‑2 networks process ~65–85% of Ethereum transactions, leaving L1 as mostly a final settlement layer.  

Key networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, and Base have enabled a 17× surge in throughput while slashing gas fees to under $1 per transaction.

Vitalik Buterin on Ethereum’s Role

Vitalik has emphasized Ethereum’s role as a global settlement layer:

“ETH’s unique position—neutral, secure, and deeply liquid—makes it the most credible candidate for a global settlement layer. We’re only at the beginning.”  

He has also encouraged major users (exchanges, wallets, developers) to leverage existing rollups for scalability.

ETH in 2025 — Price, Whales, and Institutional Buying

ETH trades around $3,800, supported by growing institutional activity:

• SharpLink Gaming purchased 77,210 ETH (~$290M) in July 2025, raising its treasury to 438,190 ETH.
• BitMine Immersion Technologies remains the top holder with ≈566K‑625K ETH, positioning itself as a dominant corporate whale.
• Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE) is the largest institutional holder with ~1.2M ETH (~$3–4B).
• BlackRock iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) now holds 3M+ ETH, with $11B AUM.
• Standard Chartered projects corporate treasuries could soon hold up to 10% of circulating ETH (CoinCentral).

Growing institutional accumulation not only drives the price of ETH but also encourages other holders to stake coins for long‑term rewards.

How to Stake ETH Safely in 2025 — with Atomic Wallet

For ETH holders, Atomic Wallet provides a secure and simple way to join Ethereum's Proof‑of‑Stake network:

• Earn ~5% annual rewards by staking ETH.
• Non-custodial staking — your keys are always in your hands.
• Simple to use — stake to validators directly from your wallet.
• Security first — private keys never leave your device.

Ready to stake ETH securely? Download Atomic Wallet and stake directly from your desktop or mobile application.

FAQ: Ethereum Price, Staking, and Institutional Demand

How can I buy Ethereum easily?

You can buy ETH directly via Atomic Wallet using credit card, bank transfer, or other supported payment methods.

How much is Ethereum in 2025?

ETH is around $3,800, underpinned by corporate demand and ETF inflows.

Is it safe to stake Ethereum?

Yes, if it's with reputable non-custodial platforms such as Atomic Wallet, which puts you in charge of your money.

How many ETH validators are there today?

More than 1 million, placing Ethereum among the most decentralized PoS networks.

Why are corporations purchasing ETH?

Investors like SharpLink and BitMine consider ETH to be a staking and strategic reserve long-term potential.

What is the best Ethereum wallet to stake?

Atomic Wallet is a secure, non-custodial option to stake ETH from your desktop or mobile app, without exposing your keys.