Catenaa, Monday, July 21, 2025- Bitcoin hovered near the $118,500 mark Monday, maintaining a narrow trading range despite mounting investor anticipation for a broader altcoin surge that has yet to materialize. Ether extended gains above $3,700, continuing its slow rally amid a cautious crypto market environment.
Market data showed bitcoin holding steady over the weekend, reflecting subdued volatility and limited institutional movement. Ether, meanwhile, posted modest gains of 1.3% in 24 hours, buoyed by increased activity on Ethereum layer-2 networks and optimism around upcoming protocol upgrades.
Other leading altcoins remained mostly flat, with Solana and Avalanche showing negligible movement. Analysts say the broader altcoin season remains “uncertain,” citing inconsistent trading volumes and lackluster momentum across key tokens.
The cryptocurrency market’s total capitalization stood around $2.58 trillion on Monday, with bitcoin accounting for more than half of the value. Institutional buyers have shown renewed interest in bitcoin and ether through exchange-traded products and fund inflows, but appetite for smaller-cap assets remains restrained.
The mood in crypto markets has been increasingly shaped by macroeconomic signals, with traders closely watching the Federal Reserve’s stance on inflation and digital asset policy shifts following President Trump’s recent signing of the GENIUS Act.
