Altcoin Market Cap Surges 50%—Coinbase Predicts ETH Will Fuel the Next Crypto Rally
Altcoins are roaring back—and Ethereum’s poised to steal the show.
After months of sideways action, the altcoin market just ripped past a 50% gain. No slow bleed here—this is a full-throttle rebound. And according to Coinbase’s latest analysis, ETH isn’t just along for the ride—it’s got the wheel.
Why Ethereum? Because while the 'flippening' crowd keeps dreaming, ETH’s actually doing the work: scaling upgrades, institutional DeFi pipelines, and a burn rate that’d make a Bitcoin maxi sweat. Meanwhile, half the 'next-gen' chains out there still can’t decide whether they’re a blockchain or a marketing stunt.
So buckle up. When the altcoin tide rises, the smart money bets on the ship that won’t sink when the leverage flushes out. (Looking at you, meme coin bagholders.)
- Coinbase signals potential altcoin season as institutional interest in Ethereum grows.
- Altcoin market cap has surged over 50% since early July, led by LDO and ETH-linked assets.
- Fed rate cuts and regulatory clarity may drive further retail and institutional inflows.
Coinbase reports suggest that a full altcoin season could be approaching. Rising institutional interest in ethereum (ETH) appears to be driving the trend. Bitcoin’s market dominance has dropped from 65% in May 2025 to about 59% in August. This signals early capital rotation toward altcoins.
Altcoin market capitalization has climbed over 50% since early July, reaching $1.4 trillion by August 12. Lido (LDO) has benefited directly from ETH’s rebound and recent SEC guidance on liquid staking.
Other coins such as ARB, ENA, and OP also exhibit higher beta to ETH, though LDO has a standout 58% month-to-date rise. A beta of 1.5 on its part implies heightened volatility in comparison to ETH, boosting both the potential for gains and risk.
CoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Season Index continues in the low 40s. Traditionally, an index of over 75 constitutes a full alt season. A full cycle for altcoins has not yet begun, but market action in the meantime indicates initial rotation could intensify as the month of September gets closer.
Coinbase Sees $7.2T Cash Pile Poised to Fuel Altcoin Rally
Coinbase’s research points to macro and regulatory themes favorable to the altcoin market. There are up to $7.2 trillion deposited in U.S. money market funds, the highest on record. Cash balances have gained $200 billion since June despite the rise in crypto prices. That represents possible opportunity costs of forgone risk-asset exposure.
Crypto liquidity has started to recover after six consecutive months of losses. Stablecoin issuance, spot trading volume, orderbook depth, and free float show heightened activity. Institutional buying, particularly in ETH, reinforces.
Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) and major ETH holders, such as Bitmine Immersion Technologies, now hold large ETH positions. Major ETH treasury companies together hold roughly 2.95 million ETH, well over 2% of the overall supply.
They indicate that altcoins can be boosted both by macro liquidity and regulatory certainty. Coinbase anticipates inflows of capital from money market funds into crypto once there are cuts in Fed rates in September and October.
Regulatory Clarity Boosts Confidence
Most recent guidance from the U.S. SEC on liquid staking has supported LDO’s rallies. Staff had clarified that one-for-one passing of rewards through staking services that lack discretionary yield does not constitute securities. That reduces regulatory risk on products relating to ETH. Shifts in the interpretation of the Commission could, however, affect its status in the future.
Going forward, Coinbase has a positive 3Q25 view. Bitcoin dominance’s fall signals slow capital rotation and not a complete altcoin season. Growing altcoin market cap, institutional buying in ETH, and favorable macro setups, however, indicate room for a general altcoin upsurge in the approach to September.
