The price of Ethereum has recently surged, exceeding $3,630 and marking a 3.5% increase from March 31. This upward trend follows an 18.75% rise from a low of approximately $3,050 just over a week ago. Various factors are contributing to the increase in Ethereum's price.

Reasons for Ethereum's Growth

Ethereum's value has been increasing not only against the US dollar but also against Bitcoin. The ETH/BTC pair saw a 2.5% rise on March 31, reaching 0.051 BTC, indicating a potential short-term shift of capital.

Furthermore, Ethereum has shown strong performance compared to the wider cryptocurrency market, as evidenced by a 2.16% growth in the Ethereum Dominance Index (ETH.D) from its recent low on March 29. This signifies a rising influx of capital from competing altcoin projects to Ethereum, strengthening its value.

The recent surge in Ethereum's price came amid increased accumulation by large investors, known as whales. Data from Glassnode reveals that organizations holding between 1,000 and 10,000 Ethereum increased their holdings by around 1.15% in March. This accumulation pattern often precedes significant price hikes in the ETH/USD pair.

Ethereum in the Futures Market

The price surge of Ethereum coincided with a noticeable increase in funding rates in the futures market. On March 31, the funding rate for Dogecoin futures contracts hit its highest level since March 12, indicating a higher cost for maintaining long positions.

Meanwhile, Ethereum's open interest in futures contracts stabilized around $14 billion after reaching a record high three days earlier. The rising funding rates and stable open interest suggest that investors are borrowing more to fund their long positions, anticipating a price increase and aiming for higher returns.