While Bitcoin (BTC) was all over the headlines last week because of its surge and new records, recent movements suggest that
Ethereum (ETH) is quietly, yet spectacularly, stealing the show. What exactly happened?
Bitcoin's Journey: Peaks, Dips, and Recovery
Bitcoin has had a rollercoaster ride recently. After hitting an impressive all-time high, the digital gold experienced a sharp decline. Just this week, it saw a significant drop from around $118,400 to a low of $116,000 in just 45 minutes. This sudden dip, following its new record of $123,200 earlier in the week, was notably influenced by a substantial sell-off from a large holder, or "whale" taking profits. This reminded many that even the market leader can be volatile and influenced by major individual movements.
This volatility was also partly influenced by the latest US inflation figures, which came in at 2.7% annually, slightly above the expected 2.6%. Such economic news can often make investors cautious, impacting crypto prices.
However, Bitcoin has shown its resilience. It's now steadily recovering, trading around $118,000. While it's still about 4% below its recent peak, it's a testament to its enduring strength. The $120,000 mark seems to be the next significant psychological hurdle for the cryptocurrency. At the time of writing, BTC is trading around $117,956 on exchanges, showing a modest increase of 0.61% over the last 24 hours. In Euro terms on platforms like Bitvavo, that translates to approximately €101,500.
Ethereum suddenly Breaks out to Take the Spotlight
While Bitcoin has been battling its own challenges, Ethereum has been making waves. The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization has been quietly delivering a stellar performance, often overshadowed by Bitcoin's drama.
Today (16/07/2025), Ethereum is up by a significant 6.02%, trading at around $3,150. This marks a price point not seen since early February, nearly half a year ago. This impressive surge isn't just about its price; it's also reflected in the ETH/BTC chart, which shows Ethereum breaking out against Bitcoin. These numbers suggest that Ethereum could continue to outperform Bitcoin in the near future, which is typically a positive sign for the broader altcoin market as well. Some analysts think ETH could go up to $4,000, but we shouldn't count on a new all-time high yet.
The strength of Ethereum extends to its ecosystem, with many related tokens experiencing notable gains. For example, Ethereum Name Service (ENS) has surged by 19.09%, Arbitrum (ARB) by 9.46%, Optimism (OP) by 9.01%, and Ethereum Classic (ETC) by 8.58%. This indicates growing activity and interest within the Ethereum network itself, driven by factors like the increasing adoption of stablecoins and the overall expansion of its ecosystem.
Other altcoins are also seeing positive movement, with XRP up 1.84%, Solana (SOL) up 2.14%, Dogecoin (DOGE) up 3.71%, and Cardano (ADA) up 2.68% in the past 24 hours.
The crypto market is dynamic, and while Bitcoin's movements always draw attention, especially when influenced by significant events like large profit-taking, it's important to keep an eye on the broader landscape. Ethereum's recent breakout performance highlights the diverse opportunities available and the evolving nature of digital asset investments.
Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. Always consider your own research and professional advice.