This week in cryptocurrency was defined by a major milestone for altcoins, a continued strong market, and significant regulatory shifts.
Bitcoin price resilience and rally
Bitcoin has maintained its robust performance, consistently trading above $112,000 and touching new record highs near $117,000. This bullish momentum is being driven by continued inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs, signaling strong institutional demand.
Moreover, a slowdown in the U.S. economy and growing speculation about a Federal Reserve interest rate cut have created a favorable macroeconomic environment for cryptocurrencies.
Ethereum price breaks the $4,000 level
Ethereum (ETH) had a standout week, surging past $4,000 for the first time since December 2024. This rally is fueled by strong on-chain data, which indicates that “smart money” and institutional investors are actively accumulating the crypto. This renewed interest from large players, combined with growing on-chain activity, is bolstering the bullish sentiment around the network.
Currently ETH price reached $4,169 and shows bullish signals.
The first U.S. Solana ETF launches
In a historic move for the altcoin market, the first U.S.-listed Solana ETF was approved and began trading. The REX-Osprey Solana + Staking ETF (SSK) is particularly noteworthy as it offers a staking yield, which could attract a new wave of investors seeking passive income from crypto. This event is expected to be a major catalyst for other altcoin ETFs, with analysts now forecasting a higher likelihood of approvals for assets like XRP and Cardano.
Coinbase expands into DEX trading
In a move to embrace decentralized finance, Coinbase launched a new feature that allows certain U.S. users to trade Base-native tokens directly within its app. This integration bypasses the traditional listing process and gives users more direct access to a wider variety of assets.
By routing these trades through decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregators like 0x and 1inch, Coinbase is blurring the lines between centralized and decentralized finance and solidifying the role of DEXs in the mainstream crypto landscape.