Ethereum News Today: Ethereum Soars 41% as Altcoin Interest Hits Five-Year High

Retail interest in altcoins has surged to a five-year high, as evidenced by a sharp increase in Google searches for the term “altcoin.” This level of interest has not been seen since the early days of Ethereum’s foundation, indicating a potential reemergence of speculative and investment activity in altcoins [1]. The spike in search volume appears to coincide with recent developments in Ethereum’s ecosystem, including the performance of ETH treasury companies and the flow of funds into Ethereum-based ETFs [2].

Ethereum has outperformed the broader cryptocurrency market, gaining approximately 41% in a single month. This rise is attributed to strong inflows into Ethereum ETFs and a general sense of optimism among investors [3]. As of early August, Ethereum hovered around $4,300, its highest level since December 2021, and is currently about 12% away from its all-time high [4]. The recent record $1 billion inflow into Ethereum ETFs further supports this trend [5].

The heightened attention on altcoins is also reflected in the behavior of long-term holders. For instance, Cardano (ADA) holders have shown no signs of taking profits despite the ongoing market upswing and growing ETF speculation, suggesting a belief in continued upside potential [6]. Similarly, Ethereum-based investors appear to be optimistic, with analysts noting that Ethereum’s performance mirrors patterns seen in earlier altcoin cycles [1].

Retail investors are also showing renewed interest in specific altcoins, with ADA search activity climbing significantly. This trend is reminiscent of previous market cycles and may indicate growing speculation that altcoins could outperform Bitcoin in the current environment [7]. Ethereum ETFs have further fueled this dynamic, as institutional and retail investors alike seek exposure to the rapidly evolving crypto landscape [2].

Corporate treasury strategies are also expanding to include a broader portfolio of altcoins. Ether is now a preferred reserve asset for several firms. Names like Metaplanet, BitMine, and SharpLink Gaming collectively hold billions of dollars in Ether (ETH) and, in many cases, stake their holdings to earn additional yield [5]. And the trend isn’t confined to ETH. Several companies, including Upexi and DeFi Development Corp., are building sizable Solana positions in their digital treasuries [2]. DeFi Development Corp. holds nearly one million SOL, worth about $200 million with today’s prices, and stakes the tokens to generate additional yield. Upexi has also increased its SOL holdings to two million in July, most of which is being staked [5].

The broader market context is also favorable, as global equity markets react to expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut, which could increase liquidity and further drive investment into alternative assets like cryptocurrencies [8]. While Bitcoin continues to hold the spotlight with its current price near $119,300, Ethereum and altcoins are increasingly capturing attention, particularly among investors who see potential for significant returns [2].

Institutional appetite for altcoins is growing, with crypto ETF activity now stretching beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. In the first half of 2025 alone, US regulators received at least 31 altcoin ETF applications [5]. Among notable filings, Canary Capital submitted a proposal in March for an SUI spot ETF that directly tracks the Sui token. Shortly after, Cboe BZX requested approval to list Canary’s fund, potentially marking the first US ETF to hold SUI. Meanwhile, Nasdaq filed the necessary paperwork for 21Shares’ spot SUI ETF, initiating the SEC’s formal review process [5]. Analysts from Bloomberg Intelligence, including Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart, are optimistic about approval for other altcoin ETFs. They have pegged approval odds for Solana (SOL), XRP and Litecoin (LTC) at 95%, with additional applications — including those for Dogecoin (DOGE), Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), Hedera (HBAR), and Avalanche (AVAX) — garnering approval odds as high as 90% [5].

Data from CoinGecko shows that altcoins have been steadily gaining in recent weeks. Ether price has climbed 30% over the past seven days and 78% year-to-date, now trading about $4,722, just shy of its all-time high of $4,878.26 set on Nov. 10, 2021 [5]. At the time of writing, other major altcoins have also posted steady gains over the past week, including XRP (+10%), SOL (+19.3%), SUI (+15%), and LINK (+43%) [5].

As the market evolves, the interplay between ETF inflows, treasury movements, and retail sentiment is likely to play a key role in shaping the trajectory of altcoin prices. While no analyst forecasts were explicitly cited in the provided data, the current trend suggests a renewed focus on altcoin opportunities amid broader macroeconomic shifts [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].

Sources:

[1] Google 'altcoin' searches hit 5 year high as 'alt szn' fever returns to retail traders (https://cryptoslate.com/google-altcoin-searches-hit-5-year-high-as-alt-szn-fever-returns-to-retail-traders/)

[2] Bitcoin price today: gains to $120.3k, Ether near record (https://www.investing.com/news/cryptocurrency-news/bitcoin-price-today-steady-at-1193k-ether-near-record-high-on-corporate-buying-4187107)

[3] Ethereum outpaces crypto market with 41% monthly surge (https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/markets/ethereum-outpaces-crypto-market-with-41-monthly-surge-bitcoin-at-119k-should-you-buy/ar-AA1KqQjK?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds)

[4] Ethereum ETFs see record $1 billion inflow as ETH hovers ... (https://www.fastbull.com/news-detail/ethereum-etfs-see-record-1-billion-inflow-as-news_6100_0_2025_3_7356_3/6100_RIO-USDT)

[5] Altcoin Google searches hit highest since 2021 amid ETF, treasury moves (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/689cf48ef4257750660a90bb/)

[6] Long-term Cardano holders are not taking profit despite ... (https://cryptoslate.com/long-term-cardano-holders-are-not-taking-profit-despite-booming-market-etf-speculation/)

[7] Standard Chartered has revised its Ethereum targets ... (https://www.instagram.com/p/DNTQrAmv6PR/)

[8] Dow pops, S&P 500 and Nasdaq waver as Fed rate cut bets ... (https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/stock-market-today-dow-pops-sp-500-and-nasdaq-waver-as-fed-rate-cut-bets-surge-133512187.html)