According to IntoTheBlock, institutions currently provide the majority of decentralized finance (DeFi) total value locked (TVL), highlighting a strong institutional presence in the sector. However, the majority of DeFi protocols still lack essential infrastructure or 'rails' needed for efficient institutional participation. This infrastructure gap may impact trading efficiency and user experience, signaling a potential area for protocol upgrades and investment. IntoTheBlock announced an upcoming webinar on May 21st to discuss these gaps and actionable strategies to strengthen DeFi protocols, making this event relevant for traders seeking to understand how institutional flows and infrastructure development could affect DeFi asset performance and liquidity (Source: IntoTheBlock, Twitter, April 29, 2025).

According to @CryptoCred, while altcoins like BNB, SOL, and XRP have reached new highs, Ethereum (ETH) has underperformed in the current cycle. However, @CryptoCred cites on-chain data from Glassnode and recent institutional flows reported by CoinShares to suggest that ETH is accumulating at key support levels. The upcoming Ethereum upgrades, including Proto-Danksharding and continued Layer 2 adoption, are expected to improve network efficiency and reduce gas fees, potentially driving renewed investor interest in 2025. Traders should monitor ETH/BTC ratios and ETH open interest on major exchanges as leading indicators for a possible breakout, as outlined by @CryptoCred.

According to Farside Investors, the Ethereum ETF market recorded a substantial total net inflow of $64.1 million on April 28, 2025, with ETHA contributing $67.5 million and ETHW experiencing an outflow of $3.4 million. Other funds including FETH, CETH, ETHV, QETH, EZET, ETHE, and ETH reported no net movement. This strong inflow into ETHA highlights robust institutional interest, signaling potential bullish momentum for Ethereum price action in the near term (source: Farside Investors, April 29, 2025). Traders may consider monitoring ETF flows as an early indicator of market sentiment and short-term volatility.