Investors Turn Up the Leverage: Defiance’s Ethereum Income ETF Sees 14% AUM Surge in a Single Day

Ethereum Income Bet Draws Fresh Cash as Defiance’s Leveraged ETF Sees Double-Digit Inflow

The Defiance Leveraged Long Income Ethereum ETF, ETHI, attracted a sizeable new wave of capital on January 09, 2026, with inflows of $801,075. The move lifted the fund’s assets under management to $5,736,555, meaning the latest flow amounted to roughly 14% of its total AUM—an unusually large single-day shift that underscores renewed risk appetite for leveraged Ethereum exposure.

Such a substantial intake, relative to the fund’s size, suggests investors are positioning for a rebound in Ethereum-linked income strategies despite recent weakness in the underlying token. Leveraged products like ETHI amplify both gains and losses, so this kind of allocation typically reflects a more speculative, conviction-driven view rather than passive, long-only positioning.

The related asset, ETH-USD, is currently trading around $3,323.54. Over the past three months, Ethereum has slipped about 15.16%, reflecting a choppy period marked by shifting macro expectations and rotation within the broader crypto complex. Yet, near term, the technical picture has brightened: the 1-day technical signal stands at Buy, hinting that momentum traders may see the recent pullback as an entry point rather than a trend break.

The combination of short-term bullish technicals and a sizable proportional inflow into ETHI suggests that some investors are leaning into the idea that Ethereum’s drawdown could be an opportunity, particularly via higher-octane vehicles that can magnify potential upside. However, with nearly 14% of the fund’s AUM shifting in a single day, the flows also highlight how concentrated and sentiment-sensitive leveraged crypto ETFs can be—making them a barometer of speculative confidence as much as a tool for exposure.

For a more detailed analysis and real-time sentiment trends, check the live cryptocurrency prices here.