TL;DR
- Bitcoin broke above $118K, triggering fresh momentum across major altcoins
- Ethereum is testing yearly highs, fueled by ETF inflows
- ADA and XRP are riding strong sentiment and technical signals
- Solana holds key levels, but upside depends on volume
- Analysts predict $ETH at $4K, $ADA at $1.77, and XRP repeating its bull cycle
- Altcoin rotation may continue if BTC volatility cools
Bitcoin’s clean break above $118,000 this week has lit a fire under crypto markets and now, all eyes are on whether the momentum will spread to altcoins. With BTC dominance still in play but softening slightly, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano and XRP are showing signs of rotation.
Altcoin sentiment turns bullish
BTC’s breakout historically acts as a “market wide starter pistol.” It brings sidelined capital back into crypto, first flowing into bitcoin, then spreading into larger altcoins as traders search for lagging opportunities.
At the time of writing:
- Total crypto market cap sits at $3.68 trillion
- Fear & Greed Index is at 67 (Greed)
- Altcoin Index reads 30, suggesting early-stage rotation
In the last 7 days:
- BTC rose 9.50%
- ETH is up 20.45%
- XRP jumped 27.53%
- ADA surged 30.52%
This kind of dispersion hints that capital is starting to branch out, a classic signal that altcoin season could be warming up.
Ethereum: Still the safest altcoin bet?
Ethereum is testing its year-to-date highs, lifted by strong inflows into spot ETH ETFs and increased activity across Layer 2s. In a recent analysis, investor Ted Pillows compared buying ETH now to buying BTC at $47K in early 2024. He predicted $4,000 ETH by Q3 and a potential new all-time high in Q4 2025.
ETH’s appeal remains clear: it's battle-tested, institutionally supported, and backed by real usage across DeFi and L2s. If altcoins continue gaining traction, ETH is likely to lead the charge.
Solana: A key level reclaimed but can it hold?
Solana’s SOL has reclaimed a critical resistance above $160, an important psychological and technical zone. However, while the move looks clean, analysts are waiting to see if it comes with meaningful volume and follow-through.
Solana tends to follow macro momentum and often sees bigger rallies when NFT or meme coin activity heats up. So far, the structure looks healthy but traders want to see broader confirmation.
Cardano: Technicals suggest a big breakout may be brewing
Cardano’s ADA is quietly putting in one of the stronger performances among majors. Over the past week, it’s up more than 30%, and technical traders are watching closely.
Crypto trader Deezy pointed out that ADA is now testing the 50-week EMA, a level that has historically preceded major runs. In past cycles, breaking above that level triggered gains of 128% to 212%, and Deezy suggests a potential target of $1.77 if history repeats.
XRP: Sentiment-driven rocket fuel?
XRP has seen a 27% jump this week, as traders re-enter with a familiar rally narrative: "legal clarity + cycle timing."
Prominent crypto content creator “Steph is Crypto” summed up the mood by suggesting that XRP is repeating its historical bull pattern and that “millionaires will be made in the next 4 weeks.”
While the quote borders on hype, XRP does tend to rally fast and hard when conditions are right, especially when BTC volatility fades and traders look for explosive upside.
Altcoin season... or just a detour?
Every time BTC breaks a key level, the market wonders: is altcoin season back?
The answer is always hard to say but It often starts slow, with Ethereum leading, followed by higher-beta majors like SOL, ADA, and XRP, then flowing down to midcaps and memecoins. Right now, we’re in stage one of that rotation. But a lot depends on what BTC does next. If it consolidates calmly around the $115K–$120K range, altcoins likely get room to run. If BTC surges again too quickly, it could dominate flows and stall the rest.
Final Thought
This could be the beginning of a broader altcoin breakout but it all hinges on Bitcoin’s tempo. If BTC holds strong and cools just enough, the path may be clear for ETH, ADA, SOL, and XRP to shine. Either way, capital is moving again, and altcoin watchers should stay ready.