Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Cash Surpasses Shiba Inu in Market Cap as Investors Favor Technical Infrastructure Over Meme-Driven Tokens

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has climbed to the 17th position in global cryptocurrency market capitalization, surpassing Shiba Inu (SHIB) for the first time since 2023. The shift, reported to occur amid heightened market volatility, reflects a growing preference for Bitcoin forks with established technical infrastructure over meme-driven tokens. As of July 22, 2025, BCH’s market cap reached $10.34 billion, outpacing SHIB’s $8.93 billion, signaling a recalibration of investor priorities in the fragmented crypto landscape.

The resurgence of Bitcoin Cash, a hard fork of Bitcoin launched in 2017, is attributed to its larger block size of 32 MB—compared to Bitcoin’s 1 MB—which enables faster and lower-cost transactions. This scalability advantage has positioned BCH as a preferred option for users seeking practical blockchain solutions, particularly in payment ecosystems. Analysts note that BCH’s sustained price momentum, marked by four consecutive months of gains following a $249 low in April, has solidified its appeal among investors prioritizing utility over speculative trends.

Shiba Inu, meanwhile, faces renewed challenges in maintaining its market position. While SHIB’s price surged 31% this month, buoyed by meme coin enthusiasm, its value declined 3.94% in the last 24 hours due to profit-taking. The token’s reliance on community-driven hype and derivatives activity—such as elevated open interest on Binance—highlights its vulnerability to market sentiment. Critics argue that SHIB’s lack of inherent utility leaves it exposed to rapid shifts in investor focus, contrasting with BCH’s emphasis on blockchain scalability.

This market cap inversion underscores a broader realignment in crypto investor behavior. The competition between Bitcoin Cash and Shiba Inu encapsulates the tension between projects with technical fundamentals and tokens driven by social media traction. BCH’s dominance in the 17th-18th ranking bracket suggests that investors are increasingly valuing long-term infrastructure over short-term speculation, particularly as regulatory clarity and technological innovation gain prominence in the sector.

The move also reflects Bitcoin’s enduring influence on the crypto ecosystem. As forks like BCH continue to refine Bitcoin’s original design, they cater to a segment of the market seeking tangible improvements in transaction efficiency. Conversely, meme coins like SHIB remain tethered to the whims of online communities, creating a dual dynamic where technological merit and cultural virality coexist but diverge in trajectory.

Looking ahead, the sustainability of this trend will depend on BCH’s ability to maintain its technical edge and expand adoption. While SHIB’s derivatives activity indicates ongoing speculative interest, its price volatility highlights the risks of investing in tokens without clear utility. For investors, the evolving market cap rankings serve as a barometer of shifting priorities, emphasizing the need to balance innovation potential with risk management in an increasingly competitive crypto landscape.