Ethereum News Today: Altcoin Surge Drives 2.01% Crypto Market Cap Rise to $3.97 Trillion

The cryptocurrency market has experienced a significant upward shift, primarily driven by altcoin activity. Over the past 24 hours, the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies has risen by 2.01%, reaching $3.97 trillion. Trading volume across the sector has also increased, rising 9.37% to $169.09 billion. This growth is reflected in the Crypto Fear & Greed Index, which has climbed to 59, signaling a gradual transition into the “Greed” territory [1].

Bitcoin (BTC) has recorded a 0.95% increase in the last 24 hours, trading at $118,083.91. While the leading cryptocurrency remains a dominant force, its market share has dipped to 59.3%, indicating a shift in investor preference toward alternative assets. Ethereum (ETH), meanwhile, has posted a stronger performance, with a 1.43% surge pushing its price to $4,230.86. Its market dominance has grown to 12.9%, highlighting the broader trend of capital reallocating within the crypto space [1].

Altcoins have been at the center of this rally, with several emerging projects experiencing extraordinary gains. Among the top performers, Snowy Owl ($SWOL) has surged by 3438.85% to $0.00006547, while Auto ($AUTO) has increased by 3421.88% to $117.36. SORA GROK ($GROK) has also seen a dramatic rise of 621.54%, bringing its price to $2.66. These gains underscore the growing momentum behind speculative and innovation-driven tokens [1].

The rise in altcoin activity is also evident in the DeFi and NFT sectors. DeFi total value locked (TVL) has increased by 2.81% to $150.089 billion, with major protocols like AAVE seeing a 3.05% increase in TVL to $38.467 billion. Meanwhile, NFT sales volume has jumped 45.74% in the past 24 hours, reaching $33.24 million. The top NFT collection, CryptoPunks, has seen a 77.16% increase in sales to $5.80 million, reflecting renewed interest in digital collectibles [1].

In addition to market dynamics, regulatory and institutional developments have shaped the sector’s trajectory. Ukraine’s parliament has proposed a 10% tax on crypto holdings to align with EU regulations, potentially impacting investor behavior. On the institutional front, Coinbase has introduced exclusive decentralized exchange (DEX) features for U.S. users, including fee subsidies and self-custody options. Meanwhile, Bo Hines, the chief of the White House Crypto Council under Donald Trump, has announced his resignation [1].

The market’s current momentum is supported by growing adoption of Ethereum-based ETFs and institutional inflows. Analysts have noted a trend of capital shifting toward altcoins, especially those with clear use cases and regulatory clarity. While some market observers warn of potential tops, these remain speculative and not yet reflected in concrete market behavior. The continued rise in altcoin dominance, coupled with strong performances in DeFi and NFTs, suggests a broader bullish trend is emerging in the crypto space [1].

Sources:

[1] CoinMarketCap, [https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/689910324aa6a72cbd7c75c0/](https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/689910324aa6a72cbd7c75c0/)