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Retail Traders Flood Back Into Crypto as ETF Hype Ignites FOMO—Here’s What to Buy

Retail Traders Flood Back Into Crypto as ETF Hype Ignites FOMO—Here’s What to Buy

Author:
Tronweekly
Published:
2025-05-13 14:00:00
12
3

Wall Street’s ETF circus has retail investors piling into crypto again—just in time for the usual cycle of euphoria and regret. Below, the smart plays as momentum builds.

Bitcoin (BTC): The ETF-approved OG. Institutions are loading up, but volatility hasn’t magically disappeared. Buckle up.

Ethereum (ETH): The SEC’s next ETF target. Gas fees are brutal, but the merge 2.0 chatter won’t quit.

Solana (SOL): The ‘Ethereum killer’ that keeps resurrecting. Network uptime? Improving. Hype levels? Already ATH.

Close with a smirk: Remember, the ‘E’ in ETF stands for ‘eventual tears’ when the suits cash out first.

Crypto

  • Bitcoin ETFs recorded nearly $1 billion in inflows last week, marking four consecutive weeks in the green and signaling institutional confidence is back in full force.
  • Recent market data shows retail traders returning in waves, with crypto-related stocks like Coinbase jumping 3.2% as transaction volumes surge across major exchanges.
  • As institutional and retail money flows into the market, Bitcoin-based projects like Bitcoin Pepe are perfectly positioned to capture massive upside in the next phase of the crypto cycle.

The crypto market is back in full force, as Bitcoin ETFs pull in nearly a billion dollars in a single week, reversing months of outflows and signaling a dramatic shift in institutional sentiment. This renewed investor confidence comes at a critical time, with the broader crypto market stabilizing after Bitcoin reclaimed the $100k level in early May.

After a challenging first quarter that saw significant ETF outflows, May has marked a decisive turning point. According to data from Farside Investors, Bitcoin ETFs are experiencing their strongest inflows since November 2024, with daily totals regularly exceeding $100 million.

This institutional money is setting the stage for what many analysts predict will be an explosive summer rally, potentially pushing the entire crypto market to new all-time highs.

Most significantly, this institutional reentry is coinciding with the return of retail traders, creating the perfect storm for explosive growth. As traditional finance increasingly embraces crypto and regulatory conditions improve, smart money is positioning itself in innovative projects with massive upside potential.

Bitcoin ETF cycle fuels market momentum

The return of institutional interest through ETFs represents a major shift in market dynamics. After enduring a challenging start to 2025 with record outflows totaling $5.3 billion, bitcoin ETFs have rebounded dramatically in recent weeks, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) leading the charge.

According to blockchain analytics firm Glassnode, the recent ETF inflows have smashed through 2025 averages by over 500 times. On April 22 alone, nearly $912 million flowed into Bitcoin ETFs, marking what researchers described as a “significant deviation” from the daily average of just 23 BTC ($2.1 million) in 2025 so far.

“This was the largest daily inflow since November 11, 2024, marking a notable resurgence in demand,” Glassnode explained in a detailed market analysis.

The surge in ETF interest coincides with improved macro conditions and growing expectations of continued interest rate cuts. With the Federal Reserve signaling further easing, institutional capital is once again flowing into crypto as an inflation hedge, according to CoinDesk analysts. Year-over-year comparisons show ETF inflows have surged an impressive 175% compared to 2024.

Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas described the shift aptly: “The spot bitcoin ETFs went Pac-Man mode,” highlighting how the inflows increased across most ETFs rather than just concentrating in the largest funds.

Experts predict up to $3 billion in Q2 inflows even without price recovery, as institutional adoption moves beyond speculative interest toward fundamental blockchain appreciation. Most importantly, this institutional money is creating liquidity that’s emboldening retail traders to return to the market, setting up a powerful feedback loop for higher prices.

The best cryptos to buy as retail returns

As institutional money lays the foundation for the next bull market phase, three cryptocurrencies stand out as the best positioned to deliver extraordinary returns:

1. Bitcoin Pepe (BPEP)

Bitcoin Pepe is building infrastructure that BTC desperately needs: a LAYER 2 solution that brings Solana-like speed and functionality to the Bitcoin ecosystem.

This groundbreaking project effectively creates “Solana on Bitcoin,” merging the unmatched security of the world’s most trusted blockchain with the performance and features needed for modern crypto applications.

BPEP unlocks the liquidity stored in Bitcoin’s $2 trillion market cap while enabling lightning-fast transactions, smart contract capabilities, and token creation that have previously been limited to other blockchains. Unlike other projects trying to replace Bitcoin, BPEP enhances it, offering what developers call “boomer security with zoomer gains.”

As ETF inflows pump billions into Bitcoin, BPEP is perfectly positioned to capture the overflow of capital seeking better returns. The innovative PEP-20 token standard enables anyone to mint new tokens within the Bitcoin ecosystem, potentially triggering a flood of Bitcoin-native assets similar to what happened with Ethereum’s ERC-20 standard.

Bitcoin Pepe has already raised $8m in its presale at a current price of $0.0326 per token. Interest has surged as investors recognize its unique position at the intersection of two powerful trends: Bitcoin’s institutional adoption and the unstoppable force of meme assets.

Tier 1 exchange listings have now been confirmed for 31st May, creating an extra layer of FOMO and potential buy pressure as the presale enters its final stretch—now could be the last chance to secure discounted entries ahead of the public BPEP token launch.

2. Solana (SOL)

Solana has emerged as one of the strongest performers in the current market cycle, and its momentum shows no signs of slowing as retail traders return. Trading at around $180 as of May 2025, SOL has demonstrated exceptional resilience and growth potential despite market volatility.

Its unique combination of high throughput, low transaction costs, and a growing ecosystem of decentralized applications has made it a fan favorite…“Ethereum Killer” this cycle. With its capacity to process over 65,000 transactions per second, solana offers a user experience that rivals traditional finance in terms of speed and convenience, making it particularly attractive to returning retail traders who value frictionless interactions.

According to analysis from DigitalCoinPrice, Solana could reach an average price of $482.56 by 2025, supported by its technological edge and growing ecosystem of projects. Other forecasts from Coinpedia suggest SOL might climb to a maximum of $400 by the end of 2025, representing a substantial upside from current levels.

As ETF-driven liquidity spills over from Bitcoin into the broader crypto market, Solana stands to benefit significantly from its established position as a leading alternative to Ethereum. Taki Tsaklanos, one of the first analysts to publish crypto forecasts, projects that Solana will “well exceed $500” in the coming bull market.

The growing conversation around a potential Solana ETF, following the success of Bitcoin and ethereum ETFs, could provide additional momentum for SOL in the latter half of 2025.

3. Ripple (XRP)

XRP is one of the market’s most exciting comeback stories, currently trading around $2.55 after impressive gains throughout early 2025. As Bitcoin’s ETF-driven rally continues, XRP has established itself as a top performer, now firmly positioned in the cryptocurrency top 5 by market capitalization.

XRP’s institutional appeal and practical utility in the financial sector make it a standout choice. The token serves as the backbone of Ripple’s payment network, which enables fast, low-cost international transactions—a use case that continues to gain traction with financial institutions worldwide.

After years of regulatory uncertainty, XRP has gained significant momentum following Ripple’s partial legal victory against the SEC. According to technical analysts, XRP’s chart pattern suggests a potential breakout that could push the price to $15, while other forecasts suggest even higher targets.

Trading volume has surged in recent weeks, with exchange inflows decreasing—a sign that holders are accumulating rather than selling. This pattern typically precedes significant price movements, and with Bitcoin recently touching $105,000, analysts expect XRP could soon approach $4.00.

What the ETF cycle means for crypto investors

The current pattern of Bitcoin ETF inflows represents more than just a short-term price catalyst—it signals a fundamental shift in how institutional and retail capital enters the cryptocurrency market. This new dynamic creates opportunities for investors who understand the relationship between ETF flows and broader market movements.

Bitcoin Pepe, Solana, and XRP each represent different facets of crypto’s evolving landscape. While Bitcoin PEPE enhances Bitcoin’s utility through Layer 2 innovation, Solana provides a high-performance alternative blockchain, and XRP bridges the gap between TradFi and crypto.

Investors looking to capitalize on the ETF-driven market cycle could gain significant advantages by positioning in these assets before retail traders fully return. The renewed ETF inflows are just the beginning of what could become a historic bull market.

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