Ethereum News Today: Institutional Shifts Signal Altcoin Boom, Not Just a Crypto Season

Coinbase has announced that Altseason is expected to begin in September, suggesting a potential upturn in the altcoin market amid a broader shift in institutional investment patterns. This anticipated period of heightened interest in alternative cryptocurrencies aligns with broader macroeconomic and institutional dynamics that continue to influence the crypto space.

Institutional adoption has been a key driver of recent market momentum, with significant buying activity from major players such as BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and other financial institutions. These entities have continued to add to their Ethereum holdings, demonstrating growing confidence in the digital asset class. In July alone, corporate holdings of Ether surged by 126% to nearly 2.7 million Ethers. This trend extended into August, reinforcing the idea that institutional interest in crypto is solidifying as a long-term strategy rather than a short-term speculative bet.

The broader cryptocurrency market has also experienced substantial growth, with the total market cap rising to nearly $4 trillion in August. This increase has been driven not only by Bitcoin but also by altcoins such as Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano. The rise of stablecoins has further contributed to this growth, with legislation spurring nearly $2.1 trillion in monthly transfers. Additionally, real-world asset tokenisation has expanded into a $24 billion market, showcasing the growing diversification of crypto use cases beyond speculative trading.

Bitcoin mining profitability has also improved, with July seeing a 2% increase in prices, resulting in a 5% growth in hashrate. This has translated into higher mining revenues, which rose from $50,000 a day last year to $57,000 in July. US-listed companies account for 26–27% of all Bitcoin mined in the past year, with production reaching over 3,600 Bitcoins in July alone. These figures highlight the increasing role of American miners in the global crypto ecosystem, further solidifying the United States' position as a key player in the digital asset industry.

As the market anticipates a potential Altseason in September, the broader institutional and on-chain trends point to a continued focus on altcoins. Ethereum, in particular, has seen renewed interest with the launch of spot ETFs. The cumulative inflows for these products now exceed $13 billion, with large institutional treasuries also increasing their Ethereum holdings to around $10 billion. On-chain data further supports this trend, showing a shift in supply back to large wallets, which could create a squeeze dynamic that reinforces the upward movement in Ethereum’s price.

Solana, another key player in the altcoin market, continues to strengthen its position in the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. The network has recorded $111.5 billion in 30-day volumes, outpacing the combined Ethereum layer-2 networks. The total value locked (TVL) on Solana has also risen to $12.1 billion, a 20% increase in two months. These metrics, combined with growing institutional participation in Solana futures and ETP exposure, suggest that the network is well-positioned for continued growth. The 7.3% native staking yield further enhances its appeal, particularly as investors await potential regulatory approval for US-based spot ETFs by year-end.

Source: [1] Inflation and Institutional Adoption Drive Crypto Market Growth, Ether Surges (https://www.cnbctv18.com/market/cryptocurrency/cryptocurrency-bitcoin-ether-market-growth-institutional-investors-19655395.htm) [2] Crypto Market Sell-Off Accelerates, but SOL Data Predicts Recovery to $200 (https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-market-sell-off-accelerates-but-sol-data-predicts-recovery-to-200) [3] Ethereum ETF Inflows Cool Off, But This Red-Hot Altcoin Is Heating Up (https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1051658-20250819) [4] Ether (ETH) Resurgence Gains Steam Driven by Spot ETF Demand and On-Chain Growth (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/08/20/ether-resurgence-gains-steam-backed-by-spot-etf-demand-and-on-chain-growth-citi) [5] Bitcoin Touches New All-Time High, ETH ETFs Record First USD1 Billion Net Inflow (https://www.gemini.com/it-IT/blog/bitcoin-touches-new-all-time-high-eth-etfs-record-first-usd1-billion-net)