Ethereum Nears $4,800 ATH as DeFi TVL Hits $90 Billion

- Ethereum surges 40% in the past month, nearing all-time high. - Ether ETFs see record inflows as DeFi recovery accelerates. Ethereum is approaching its all-time high of $4,800 set in November 2021, fueled by significant institutional inflows into Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and a strong resurgence in decentralized finance (DeFi) activity. The cryptocurrency's 40% price increase over the past month underscores renewed investor confidence and growing enthusiasm for its ecosystem. On August 16, 2025, Cryptopolitan reported that institutional inflows into U.S.-listed Ether ETFs reached $2.9 billion for the previous week, surpassing the prior week's $2.1 billion and marking the highest level since mid-July. These results represent a significant milestone for Ether ETFs since their approval earlier in 2024, reflecting robust demand from large-scale investors. Meanwhile, Ethereum's DeFi ecosystem is demonstrating strong momentum, as the Total Value Locked (TVL) in its protocols has surged past $90 billion, reaching as high as $95 billion at some points. This brings it closer to its late 2021 peak of $108 billion, highlighting a broader return of capital to the DeFi sector and increased engagement across the ecosystem. According to market data, Ethereum (ETH) was trading at $4,414.53 as of 15:15 UTC on August 16, while its 24-hour trading volume had dipped by 1.64%. Options traders are positioning for ETH to break above $5,000 in the near term. Analysts suggest that sustained institutional interest and DeFi growth could propel Ethereum into price discovery, with some projecting that prices could exceed $13,000 if capital rotates from Bitcoin into Ethereum.