.png){kind=logo}
Key Takeaways
Bitcoin reclaimed $105K with $5.3B in ETF inflows and an 8% drop in exchange balances, signaling long-term holding by whales.
Ethereum reached $2,577, backed by a 374% spike in whale netflows and bullish effects from the Pectra upgrade.
Dogecoin jumped 20% as 600 million DOGE were accumulated in two days, with analysts predicting a $1 price target by September.
Despite escalating global trade tensions, the cryptocurrency market has demonstrated remarkable resilience, with major assets like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Dogecoin (DOGE) continuing their upward trajectories. This bullish momentum is underpinned by robust institutional inflows, significant whale accumulation, and favorable on-chain metrics, suggesting that the current rally may have further to go.
Bitcoin reclaimed the $100,000 mark, reaching a high of $105,570, the highest level since early February 2025. This resurgence is attributed to improving market sentiment following April’s volatility due to trade tariffs. Data shows that whale inflows on exchanges changed from $5 billion in April to $3 billion in May, suggesting a shift from selling to holding.
Heavy institutional interest has also significantly contributed to Bitcoin's momentum as inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs have reached $5.3 billion over the last three weeks. Investment firm Strategy has plans to invest $84 billion in Bitcoin purchases.
On-chain data shows a significant decrease in bitcoin exchange balances, with reserves reaching lows previously touched in early 2021. Reserve balances fell from 2.5 million BTC on April 1, 2025, to about 2.3 million BTC on May 15, 2025, an 8% drop, which speaks to the actual intensity of whale activity.
Ethereum hit a recent high of $2,577, majorly fueled by the successful implementation of the Pectra upgrade, which lowered transaction hassle and allowed Ethereum to scale better for future user adoption. The upgrade, which enhances network scalability, has laid the groundwork for broader adoption across decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.
According to IntoTheBlock, growing interest from Ethereum's large holders, with netflows up a staggering 374% over the past week, represents aggressive accumulation.
On-chain data reveals that 69 million ETH are currently in profit and that most of these were bought between $2,250 and $2,420, indicating that most holders are likely to hold their coins rather than sell them.
Recent institutional interest has included $5.9 billion worth of Ethereum bought by Fidelity, adding to the bullish sentiment for Ethereum. Analysts predict that if accumulation and on-chain activity continue to take place, Ethereum could reach the $3,000 mark in the coming weeks
Dogecoin is trading at $0.2314, representing an increase of over 20% in the past 7 days. The price increase is due to massive whale accumulation, with whales scooping up over 600 million DOGE in just 48 hours.
On-chain data shows a 528% increase in active addresses, which indicates a new wave of retail or speculative interest. In addition, Dogecoin is benefiting from the technical breakouts.
Analysts are projecting that Dogecoin could potentially hit $1 by September, which would be a 327% increase from the current price if the momentum and sentiment remain constant.
The crypto market’s resilience on May 15 underscores growing investor confidence in digital assets as protective tools against macro risk. In an environment where traditional equities face competitive challenges in the wake of evolving tariff policies and inflationary pressures, cryptocurrencies are gaining traction as viable assets.
However, some analysts are reminding these investors not to get too carried away just yet. Deteriorating trading volumes for Bitcoin and Ethereum could put upward pressure on trading volatility. Further, if macroeconomic negotiations are derailed, any upside could be lost in the short term.
Still, both Standard Chartered and Bloomberg analysts suggest that the fundamentals appear solid and that crypto markets, especially BTC, ETH, and DOGE, are still in the early stages of a potential bull run.
In the evolution of crypto from a speculative asset to a macro hedge, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin are not only increasing in price and diverging from traditional assets amid global tensions but are also being legitimized by whale activity and institutional adoption.
If the support levels hold and macro trends remain in place. These digital assets should trend higher in the coming weeks, producing compelling opportunities for retail and institutional investors in an increasingly uncertain financial ecosystem.
