Ethereum rose above $2,630 to $2,651.97, its highest level since January, as whale activity returned and non-empty wallets reached a record 207.17 million. ETH gained 5.63% over 24 hours and 4.80% over seven days in the latest CoinGecko data. More than 40 million ETH was staked, including substantial holdings being staked by Bitmine, while Ethereum remained the leading blockchain by decentralized-finance total value locked at roughly $50 billion. Average transaction fees fell below $0.10, down more than 85% from this year's April peak of $0.72. Analysts said whale transfers do not prove accumulation because large transactions can reflect either buying or selling, although the recent price action leaned toward purchases. Ted Pillows said a weekly close above $2,550 could strengthen ETH's path toward $2,900-$3,000 and maintained a $10,000 target by 2029, citing Ethereum's lag relative to global M2 supply. Those projections remain conditional forecasts. Ethereum's move formed part of a wider altcoin recovery: TOTAL3 rose above $800 billion, altcoins represented 53% of Binance trading activity and ETH exchange-traded funds recorded $143.7 million in inflows after three days of outflows. Bitcoin remained rangebound before rising above $80,000, while several major altcoins advanced. The rally took place despite higher interest rates, a stronger dollar and the CLARITY Act failing to advance in the U.S. Senate. A separate transfer of about $2.45 million in ETH by the Ethereum Foundation to an unlabeled Gnosis Safe did not establish a sale.