2026-04-01 05:15 to 2026-04-01 05:30 (UTC), ETH quickly surged in the 2112.76 to 2136.0 USDT range, with a 15-minute return of +0.64% and a 1.10% amplitude. Market attention clearly increased; on-chain trading activity refreshed a recent high, and volatility rose in the short term.
The main driver behind this move is the large net inflow of ETF capital. In the early hours of April 1, the day’s net inflow into ETH-related ETFs reached as much as $174 million, prompting institutional and off-chain funds to buy ETH in sync through the spot market, directly driving net on-chain inflows. Spot buy pressure dominated the short-term market; ETF and spot prices are highly positively correlated, and based on historical experience, capital inflows often precede price reactions.
Second, ongoing protocol upgrades and Layer2 scaling have continued to push mainnet gas fees down to historical lows, improving ETH on-chain liquidity. Combined with a sharp increase in trading volume across the DeFi and stablecoin ecosystems, this jointly boosted on-chain activity and demand for funds. Meanwhile, net selling by long-term holders fell by 78%, releasing short-term liquidity and providing chips for ETF buy pressure. The above multiple factors synchronized to amplify ETH’s upward momentum.
Note that short-term price risk still exists: after long-term holders reduce positions, if selling pressure concentrates or “hot money” tied to ETFs flows out, the spot order book could see a high-volatility pullback. Key technical indicators such as the 20/50-period moving averages and the RSI should be continuously monitored. Going forward, it’s crucial to closely track on-chain capital flows, ETF flows, market positioning, and the behavior of major players. Keep an eye on real-time market conditions to guard against the risk of sudden volatility.