Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Dominance Drops 4.4% as Ethereum Surges 3.4%

Bitcoin's dominance in the cryptocurrency market has decreased to 61.6%, marking its lowest point in three months. This decline coincides with Ethereum's surge to a six-month high, pushing the global crypto market cap to over $4 trillion. This shift indicates a significant capital rotation into alternative coins, suggesting the early stages of a new altcoin season.

Bitcoin's share of the total crypto market fell below its key ascending channel for the first time in 2025, closing at 61.6% on July 18. After reaching a peak of 66% in June, this move is seen as a symbolic shift, historically indicating a green light for altcoin outperformance. Ethereum hit an intraday high of $3,675, its highest level since January. The ETH/BTC ratio logged a 3.4% gain on July 16, its biggest daily move in six months, fueled by ETF inflows and fresh policy tailwinds out of Washington.

Spot ETF inflows into Ethereum jumped 36% month-to-date, outpacing Bitcoin’s 10% gain. BlackRock’s ETHA is seeing accelerating interest, likely reflecting institutional efforts to rebalance toward higher-beta assets now that BTC’s explosive rally has paused. Bitcoin drifted 0.7% lower this week to $118,961, just off its $123,153 all-time high printed on July 14. Its consolidation at elevated levels creates a window for altcoins to rally without triggering broad risk-off sentiment.

Congress passed a stablecoin bill this week, bolstering Ethereum’s role in on-chain finance and treasury management. With BTC no longer the only regulatory darling and altcoin ETF infrastructure maturing, investors appear more comfortable chasing returns beyond Bitcoin. The market is entering a phase of capital expansion. The total crypto market cap surpassed $4 trillion for the first time, emphasizing broad-based participation. As BTC dominance falters, ETH strength and ETF flows are leading. For the first time since 2021, alt-season isn’t a meme but a measurable macro shift.

A decisive rotation is underway. Altcoin bulls have a clear runway, so long as BTC remains stable and institutions continue to follow the Ethereum flow. This shift in market dynamics suggests that investors are increasingly looking beyond Bitcoin for opportunities, driven by the strength of Ethereum and the maturing infrastructure of altcoin ETFs. The passage of the stablecoin bill further supports this trend, providing a regulatory framework that enhances Ethereum's role in the crypto ecosystem. As the market cap continues to grow, the focus on altcoins is likely to intensify, marking a significant change in the crypto landscape.