The global crypto market has witnessed renewed bullish momentum, crossing the $3.87 trillion mark in total market capitalisation. Powered by a strong altcoin rally, the market saw a 2.52% increase in the last 24 hours despite a dip in trading volume. Investor sentiment remains high, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index firmly in the “Greed” zone at 64.

Bitcoin and Ethereum Lead Market with Modest Gains

Bitcoin ($BTC), the world’s largest cryptocurrency, posted a 1.55% rise to trade at $117,513.64, maintaining a market dominance of 60.5%. Ethereum ($ETH), the second-largest crypto by market cap, outperformed Bitcoin with a 2.77% surge, reaching $3,740.01, and increasing its market share to 11.7%.

This uptick in the top two cryptocurrencies has strengthened market confidence, especially after a volatile period. The overall trading volume dropped 12.99% to $194.52 billion, suggesting a temporary slowdown in active trading despite price gains.

Altcoins Outshine with Explosive Growth

Altcoins have taken centre stage in the latest market rally. Major tokens like Solana ($SOL), Dogecoin ($DOGE), and Sui ($SUI) reported positive momentum alongside the wider market climb. However, the biggest winners of the day were lesser-known altcoins that delivered staggering returns.

• $CATX led the charts with an extraordinary 2,359.85% spike, now trading at $0.000006346.
• Wrapped COINBASE ($COIN) followed with a 665.35% gain to hit $0.008513.
• Trumpwifhat ($TRUMP) climbed 528.79%, reaching $0.01297.

Such sharp rallies highlight the speculative altcoin enthusiasm fuelling the current wave of market expansion.

DeFi and NFT Sectors Continue Upward Trend

Decentralised Finance (DeFi) also saw strong growth, with the Total Value Locked (TVL) rising 1.65% to $139.072 billion. Leading the DeFi space is Lido, which posted a 2.57% increase to reach $33.785 billion in TVL. Interestingly, Pit Finance recorded an eye-popping 1,154,305% rise in 24-hour TVL, underscoring the dynamic nature of decentralised finance platforms.

In parallel, the NFT market is regaining momentum. Sales volume surged 2.22%, reaching $26.71 million. The standout performer was CryptoPunks, generating $7.95 million in daily sales, a 177.40% increase reclaiming its status as a top-selling NFT collection.

Smarter Web and Galaxy Digital Make Headlines

Institutions are continuing to make significant strides in the crypto space. UK-based web design firm Smarter Web Company has revealed plans to boost its Bitcoin holdings to 1,825 BTC, valued at over $215 million. This move reflects the growing confidence among businesses to adopt Bitcoin as a long-term strategic asset.

Meanwhile, Galaxy Digital has executed a major $9 billion Bitcoin sale, marking one of the largest single BTC transactions in 2025. In another development, Binance has announced the beta launch of its new web platform supporting Solana and BSC trading, aiming to enhance accessibility and growth in the DeFi ecosystem.

Momentum Driven by Altcoins and Innovation

The latest surge in the total crypto market cap, led by altcoin gains and institutional activity, suggests a robust bullish phase. While trading volumes have temporarily slowed, investor sentiment remains confident, as indicated by the Greed Index. As DeFi and NFTs continue to mature, and companies like Binance and Smarter Web deepen their crypto integrations, the market appears poised for further upside in the coming weeks.

However, caution remains essential amid high volatility, especially with explosive altcoin pumps that may invite sharp corrections. Nonetheless, the broader fundamentals appear strong, signalling healthy market conditions as we move through the second half of 2025.