TLDR
- CME Ethereum futures open interest crossed $10 billion for the first time.
- The number of large open interest holders on CME reached a record of 101.
- More than 500,000 micro Ethereum futures contracts are currently active on CME.
- Options open interest linked to Ethereum futures exceeded $1 billion.
- U.S. spot ETH ETFs recorded $3.69 billion in inflows this month.
Ethereum futures activity has set a new benchmark, as open interest on CME surpassed $10 billion. This milestone highlights unprecedented institutional demand and strong derivatives growth. At the same time, Tom Lee’s BitMine is advancing toward owning 5% of Ethereum’s total supply.
CME Ethereum Futures Break Record
The CME reported that Ethereum futures open interest exceeded $10 billion for the first time. The contracts include standard futures of 50 ETH and micro futures of 0.1 ETH. Both formats continue to expand rapidly across institutional accounts.
Additionally, more than 500,000 open micro contracts demonstrate deep participation. Options linked to Ethereum futures also reached above $1 billion in open interest. Large open interest holders grew to 101 this month, a record number.
This figure represents the total dollar value of active derivatives contracts. “The momentum shows stronger adoption from global funds,” according to CryptoQuant analysts. CME Ethereum futures already hit $7.85 billion in July, confirming consistent institutional growth.
ETF Inflows Strengthen Institutional Demand
Spot ETH ETFs are adding momentum to futures activity. U.S.-listed ETFs attracted $3.69 billion in inflows this month, lifting cumulative inflows to $13.64 billion. BlackRock’s fund led the activity with strong participation.
On August 25, BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF posted inflows of 67,899 ETH, worth $314.9 million. This aligns with broader confidence in Ethereum futures and institutional strategies. These inflows reinforced the bullish trend for ETH across markets.
The consistent rise in ETF flows complements CME Ethereum futures growth. Analysts note the correlation between derivatives expansion and ETF demand. This alignment shows institutions now consider ETH a hedge and long-term allocation.
Tom Lee’s BitMine Expands Holdings
BitMine has raised its Ethereum holdings aggressively. The treasury grew by $2.2 billion in one week, including a purchase of 190,000 ETH worth $873 million. Total assets climbed to $8.8 billion after the latest acquisition.
CryptoISO estimates Tom Lee requires 4.3 million additional ETH to reach a 5% stake. His current position stands at 1.71 million tokens. At present values, this expansion would demand nearly $19.5 billion in capital.
Tom Lee as it stands needs to buy ~4.3m ETH to achieve 5% of supply while already reporting 1.7m ETH.
At current price he needs to spend another $19.5B and at around $4200 it’s closer to $18.2B.
Total ETH daily volume estimated $30-50B.
Of course it’s going to be massively…
— CryptoISO (@crypto_iso) August 28, 2025
Lee remains optimistic about Ethereum futures and digital assets overall. He projected Ethereum could reach $60,000, while Bitcoin might touch $1 million. “Institutions are beginning to treat crypto as essential allocations,” he emphasized in recent remarks.
