The crypto environment is still relatively new, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t attracted a lot of attention and a devoted trading community with members from all over the world. Investors are continuously looking for the best cryptocurrency deals that can help them build their portfolios. To achieve the best results, they need to look into technical analysis, historical numbers and trends, as well as the latest price movements, in order to determine the best course of action and the strategy that is most likely to increase their odds of success. Since the beginning of 2025, most investors and market analysts have been fairly optimistic regarding the prospects of digital assets during this year.
Bitcoin is at the center of these discussions, as the first cryptocurrency to be launched on the market and the one that serves as the blueprint for all the altcoins that followed. When BTC performs well, the entire crypto ecosystem records bullish rallies, with prices and market cap rates climbing significantly.
Value growth
With Bitcoin expected to reach new all-time high levels, researchers believe that the entire marketplace will soon follow suit. ETH, the second-largest cryptocurrency on the market, will likely be the biggest winner in this regard. According to Binance.com, “Ethereum is emerging as the institutional favorite”, and this designation will definitely help propel its future rally to new heights. Historical data also agrees with previous bull runs, showing that Ethereum achieves, on average, anywhere between 30% and 35% of Bitcoin’s market capitalization.
Four years ago, during the uncharacteristically strong bull run of 2021, Ethereum successfully reached 36% of the then-current market cap reported by Bitcoin. If the same thing happens again, Ethereum could soar to almost $9,000 fairly quickly. Since some predictions suggest that Bitcoin will climb above the $250,000 range by the end of the year, it is clear that Ether will likely experience significant growth as well. The institutional demand for Ether increases the odds as well. A well-known blockchain tech company announced that it will raise up to $20 billion for Ethereum purchases. Only twenty-four hours earlier, spot ETFs had recorded their biggest day in net inflows, with the funds amounting to $1.01 billion.
Institutional dominance
The ethos of cypherpunk, an idea and methodology that advocates for the widespread use of cryptography and more privacy-enhancing technologies to drive political and social change, appears to be taking a backseat as institutional investors become more prevalent in the crypto ecosystem. A growing number of traditional organizations and establishments are beginning to shape the sector and will likely benefit the most from the current trends.
In fact, analysis has revealed that the ongoing market cycle has been largely dominated by institutional investors, with governments, stablecoin issuers, and ETFs being common as well. The integration of large banks is expected to accelerate the trend once regulatory clarity is achieved, with researchers predicting that the process could be finalized within a few months. The reason for this is that the banks have a substantial user base and many loyal clients who choose their services. As a result, bringing crypto into their operations will be relatively simple.
Debanking
Although the current institutional landscape appears to be overwhelmingly accepting when it comes to cryptocurrencies and their users, the reality is that this is merely one side of the coin. Debanking remains a common phenomenon. Also known as de-risking, this scenario refers to the practice of terminating or refusing to open accounts for businesses or individuals due to perceived risks. The concerns vary and include legal, reputational, or regulatory dimensions. Smaller enterprises and those who typically struggle to access banking services are most often affected by these measures.
Some crypto industry insiders view this as a deliberate attempt to suppress the digital asset market and force its investors to seek alternative mediums. Many believed that debanking would become a thing of the past due to the crypto-positive views of the current administration, but the practice remains entrenched in the financial ecosystem. Many banks in the United States close the accounts of cryptocurrency startups without explanation. Sometimes, the same company encounters these measures from different financial institutions.
Since cryptocurrencies are associated with volatility and price fluctuations, these measures are most likely the result of risk-averse policies.
$9.3 billion
The NFT market cap has surpassed the $9.3 billion milestone, growing 40% since July. The main reason for that is Ether’s higher price point. When markets pick up speed, investors start engaging as well, and all areas of the ecosystem are much better for it. A considerable number of NFTs are based on the Ethereum mainnet, meaning that their sales and valuations are tied to changes in the Ethereum environment. The bullish momentum couldn’t have gone unobserved for them, and data shows that the top ten largest NFTs by market cap are all based on Ethereum’s platform.
CryptoPunks has maintained its position at the top of the market, with the collection now worth nearly $3 billion. The Bored Ape Yacht Club comes in second place, with a valuation exceeding $600 million, followed by Pudgy Penguins, whose value is not far behind that of its predecessor.
1 Bitcoin
According to blockchain data, owning 1 BTC is actually quite rare. The number of people who own one coin is believed to be somewhere between 800,000 and 850,000. When you consider the entire population of the Earth, that is only around 0.01% to 0.02% of all people on Earth. On top of that, the distribution is also quite unequal. Approximately 0.18% of the owners hold either a full Bitcoin or more, indicating that fewer than two in 1,000 users have achieved this milestone. The main reason for that is that Bitcoin’s price is simply too high for most people. Taking the risk is simply not lucrative for most, as the losses could end up being much more considerable than the gains.
The crypto ecosystem is known for its volatile nature, with prices experiencing regular upswings and downswings. Over the last few months, the environment has largely stabilized, although many believe that the market is finally becoming mature and therefore losing some of its volatility. Yet, if you want to ensure your assets and portfolio are as safe as possible, be sure to conduct thorough research and develop a comprehensive strategy that will help you reach your goals.