Ethereum Gains Institutional Traction as SharpLink Bets $500M on ETH Treasury Strategy

Ethereum Touted as ‘Foundational Layer for Global Finance’ by Firm With $500M ETH Bet

ETH stabilizes above $2,500 as SharpLink Gaming reiterates its treasury strategy and positions Ethereum at the core of digital finance.

At the time of writing, Ether is trading at around $2,505, up 0.56% in the past 24 hours, according to CoinDesk Research's technical analysis model. The broader crypto market, as tracked by the CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20), is also up 0.34% during the same period.

SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (SBET), a performance marketing firm specializing in sports betting and iGaming, has drawn attention after declaring Ethereum as its primary treasury reserve asset. Headquartered in Minneapolis, SharpLink leverages AI-powered solutions to enhance user acquisition and retention for sportsbooks and casino operators.

On July 4, 2025, SharpLink announced on X that it had adopted a bold treasury strategy centered on Ethereum. The company stated it aims to not only hold ETH but actively deploy it through staking, restaking, and DeFi strategies — with the goal of growing ETH-per-share and long-term shareholder value.

Treasury Strategy and Ethereum Integration

SharpLink views ETH as a productive, composable, and secure digital reserve asset aligned with the next evolution of internet infrastructure. According to the company, Ethereum offers advantages over traditional assets: it generates yield through staking, operates within a decentralized financial ecosystem, and maintains scarcity and strong network security.

This shift began with a $425 million private placement led by Consensys and other crypto investors on May 27. Ethereum co-founder and Consensys CEO Joseph Lubin joined SharpLink’s Board of Directors as Chairman shortly afterward, reinforcing institutional confidence in the strategy.

Between May 30 and June 12, SharpLink acquired 176,271 ETH at an average price of $2,626 per token, totaling $463 million. Additional purchases followed in June, bringing its total holdings to 198,478 ETH by July 1 — all of which were staked. The treasury had already generated over 220 ETH in staking rewards by that date.

CEO Rob Phythian confirmed that SharpLink’s Nasdaq closing bell ceremony on July 7 will mark the firm’s transformation into a blockchain-forward enterprise that bridges regulated public markets and DeFi innovation.

Technical Analysis Highlights

ETH Price: Rose 2.2% between July 4 15:00 and July 5 14:00, from $2,475.48 to $2,530.02

Sell-Off: A dip to $2,514.85 occurred during a late-session pullback before buyers re-entered

Support Zone: Strong buying activity between $2,480–$2,500 with 382,821 ETH traded

Resistance: Confirmed near $2,530 after breakout on July 4 at 22:00

Trend: Neutral in the short term, but broader momentum remains bullish following the June uptrend