ETH’s Power Play: How Ethereum is Reshaping the Altcoin Market in 2025

Ethereum isn't just surviving the altcoin wars—it's rewriting the rules. As DeFi 3.0 gains traction and layer-2 solutions slash gas fees, ETH's dominance is pushing smaller projects to innovate or die.

The Merge 2.0 upgrade delivered what proof-of-stake promised: sustainable growth without the energy guilt. Meanwhile, competitors scramble to keep up as institutional money floods into staking pools.

But here's the twist—while 'ETH killers' keep announcing themselves like overeager startups at a VC pitch day, Ethereum's real competition comes from its own ecosystem. The network effect is swallowing innovation whole, turning would-be rivals into specialized modules.

Smart money's betting on Ethereum's infrastructure play—even Wall Street's tokenization efforts now treat ETH as the default rails. Though let's be honest, watching TradFi try to 'disrupt' with blockchain while ignoring decentralization is like watching your dad attempt TikTok dances.

One thing's clear: in 2025's crypto landscape, you're either building on Ethereum, bridging to Ethereum, or getting left behind. The king of altcoins isn't just wearing the crown—it's melting down competitors for the raw materials.

As we reach the end of the year, the anticipated altcoin bull run has not materialized as expected. While a few altcoins have achieved impressive gains, the majority of cryptocurrencies have underperformed significantly. Even Ethereum$3,080 touched a new record, although the excitement was short-lived. The question remains—will we witness a genuine rise soon?

Altcoin Bullish Trends and Ethereum

Historically, cryptocurrencies experienced upward trends within a four-year cycle linked to various factors. However, the influx of institutional capital has altered the crypto landscape. What we might see now are shorter-lived and more volatile markets, suggesting the possibility of experiencing two distinct crypto seasons within one year. This year, we’ve undoubtedly experienced both the highs and lows of the crypto market.

The trade tariffs introduced by Trump sparked such significant FUD that, though initially exaggerated, the headlines of “global trade wars” eventually became a reality. The past year has been eventful, and the coming year promises to be equally dynamic. It seems less likely that ethereum will lead a bull run that elevates all altcoins without exception.

Instead, we may observe bullish periods resembling seasonal transitions, where risk appetites shift towards altcoins, some of which stand out and achieve substantial gains before the focus shifts to different altcoin groups. This scenario appears to be the most probable at present.

Nonetheless, this does not preclude oversold altcoins from stabilizing under Ethereum’s influence, potentially achieving higher support levels. Even this scenario could result in gains exceeding 50% for many altcoins. Regarding Ethereum, analyst DaanCrypto offered insights:

“ETH remains in a crucial zone. It seems to have made a short-term decision with its high low and robust bounce. For bulls, maintaining the green zone is crucial. If this bounce continues, I’ll monitor around $3,300 upward.”

Bitcoin (BTC)

With Ethereum’s future uncertain, Bitcoin$92,898 has struggled to surpass the support level at $93,000. A promising attempt saw the price close to $94,000, suggesting the time had finally come. However, unexpected negative developments, including rumors surrounding Microsoft, halted this upward momentum.

Levis shared a chart depicting the current situation:

“While it hasn’t lost its support, BTC may attempt upward movement above $92,800 in the short term, aiming for $94,250. The major support lies around $88,600. If price touches macro-levels like $93,500 and open interest declines, it signals position unwinding—either voluntary (profit-taking) or forced (post-short squeeze liquidation). As long as the mini bullish trend remains intact, upward continuity can still be observed.”