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The third quarter of 2025 has been a memorable one for Ethereum, with the network seeing unprecedented performance that delighted the cryptocurrency world and distinguished it from its main competitor, Bitcoin.Ethereum price action in Q3 2025 has seen it catch the attention of both investors and analysts. As of this writing, ETH has gone up about 72% this quarter, bringing the price to over $4,317 as of this writing. The article will look at the primary reasons why Ethereum has done so well, why it has done better than Bitcoin, and what it could have in store for the rest of the year. How ETH Beat Bitcoin in Q3 Comeback Story In the first half of 2025, Ethereum went through a time of consolidation and struggle, but then it made a big turnaround in Q3, outpacing Bitcoin's gains during that time. In total, ETH has gained about 45% more than BTC in this quarter. This rise was triggered by a significant shift in the market sentiment, with institutional money flowing in at an unprecedented rate. This was underlined by institutional acceptance, which started after the U.S. SEC approved spot Ethereum ETFs earlier this year. The regulatory embrace has changed the game by giving traditional finance a new, legal way to get involved with the asset. Key Fundamentals in Play Ethereum's performance in the third quarter wasn't only a speculative rise; it was also a sign of stronger on-chain fundamentals and a more developed ecosystem. Below, we discuss the main reasons for this rally: Institutional Adoption through ETFs: The approval of spot Ethereum ETFs has been the most important factor. These investment vehicles have not only made Ethereum more legitimate in the eyes of institutional investors, but they have also created a huge, long-lasting demand. Like spot Bitcoin ETFs did to BTC earlier this year, this flood of money has created a strong price floor and a steady stream of buying pressure. Staking and Supply Dynamics: Ethereum's switch to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism is still paying off. Staking has become a strong but quiet force, with many ETH holders looking for ways to earn from their portfolio. A record high of about 30% of all ETH presently staked. This big quantity of capital that is locked up reduces the quantity of ETH in circulation, which reduces the downward pressure on the asset. In addition, the SEC's decision that protocol staking would not be regarded a security gave investors more confidence and made the long-term case for staking participation even stronger. Regulatory Clarity: Clear regulations, especially with the EU's MiCA framework and SEC approvals for spot ETH ETFs, have made Ethereum even more appealing by lowering uncertainty and encouraging more traditional finance to get involved. Strong DeFi TVL Growth: Ethereum price momentum has also benefitted from a strong DeFi performance. In July 2025, the Total Value Locked (TVL), which shows the total value of assets locked in DeFi protocols, hit an all-time high of around $270 billion. Furthermore, that performance was supported by the growth of Layer-2 (L2) solutions. Arbitrum and zkSync are notable examples of rollup networks that cut transaction costs significantly and sped up the process. This made DeFi easier to use and cheaper for a larger group of people. Specifically, it attracted smaller retail investors who couldn't afford it before because of high gas prices on the mainnet. Network Upgrade: ETH also reached a major milestone in May with the effective execution of the Pectra upgrade. It did this by boosting the validator staking cap and making the network more scalable. In addition, the planned Fusaka hard fork in November and other upcoming hard forks will help it solidify its position. Outlook for the Remainder of the Year Based on its current standing, Ethereum price's positive momentum will likely last till the latter quarter of 2025. If ETH can stay above key support levels and the psychological $4,000 mark, it is very likely that it will challenge its all-time highs again. Furthermore, many analyst estimate that the value will be between $5,000 and $7,000 before the end of the year. But there are still risks. The market is still sensitive to unexpected changes in sentiment, and a long period of consolidation or a big outflow of ETFs could cause a change. The RSI showing overbought circumstances also points to a possible short-term correction. In Summary In summary, Ethereum's price rise has been driven by a combination of solid fundamentals, institutional inflows, and positive market sentiment. The coin's momentum shows that it is becoming more than simply a digital currency. It is also becoming a key platform for decentralized apps, banking, and more.