The global cryptocurrency market capitalization maintained above $3.1 trillion on Thursday as bullish macroeconomic indicators fueled investor optimism. Here's a breakdown of the key developments:
Market Drivers Behind Today's Rally
Trump Announces UK Trade Deal
President Donald Trump revealed a newly finalized trade agreement with the UK early Thursday, hinting at additional pending agreements. This announcement followed weeks of market anticipation, propelling major assets like BTC and ETH past critical resistance levels ($100,000 and $2,000, respectively).
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Macroeconomic Tailwinds
- China confirmed discussions to renegotiate existing tariffs
- Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for the third consecutive meeting
- Combined factors created ideal conditions for capital inflows into crypto markets
Bitcoin Breaks $100K Barrier
- Price Action: BTC peaked at $101,525 (Coingecko data)
- Trading Volume: 24-hour volume doubled from $35B to $76B, signaling strong buyer interest
- Technical Outlook: Sustained volume during price surges typically precedes further upward momentum
Ethereum Ecosystem Outperformance
The Pectra upgrade successfully deployed Wednesday coincided with favorable macro conditions, creating a perfect storm for ETH's rally:
| Metric | Change |
|---|---|
| ETH Price | +13% ($2,002.25) |
| Ecosystem TVL | $535B |
| 24-hr Volume | +30% |
Top Gainers:
- PEPE: +17% ($0.00006) – Meme coin resurgence
- Virtuals Protocol: +21% ($1.62) – DeFi infrastructure hype
- Chainlink: +9.4% ($15) – Cross-chain integration narrative
- AAVE: +10.6% ($187) – Lending platform revival
Layer-1 Altcoin Roundup
- XRP: +4.7% ($2.23) despite legal uncertainties
- ADA: +8.1% ($0.7246) – Needs $0.75 breakout confirmation
- DOGE: +8.3% ($0.1863) – Social-driven momentum
- SOL: +8.0% ($157.76) – Network activity offsets meme volatility
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Regulatory and Ecosystem Developments
OCC Greenlights Crypto Trading for Banks
The Office of the Comptroller of Currency now permits national banks to:
- Buy/sell cryptocurrencies for clients
- Outsource custody and execution services
- Requires demonstrated risk management capabilities
Ethereum Foundation Allocates $32M
2025 Q1 grants will fund:
- Developer tooling improvements
- Zero-knowledge proof research
- Execution layer enhancements
- Community education initiatives
FAQ: Your Crypto Market Questions Answered
Q: Will Bitcoin maintain its $100K level?
A: Sustained volume suggests strong support, though consolidation periods typically follow major breakthroughs.
Q: What makes PEPE a top performer today?
A: Whale accumulation and renewed meme coin interest created perfect momentum conditions.
Q: How does Trump's trade deal affect crypto?
A: Pro-growth policies traditionally increase risk appetite, benefiting speculative assets like cryptocurrencies.
Q: Is Ethereum's rally sustainable post-upgrade?
A: Yes—ecosystem development funding and institutional DeFi adoption provide fundamental support.
Q: Which altcoins show the most promise?
A: Infrastructure projects (Chainlink, Virtuals Protocol) and established DeFi (AAVE) currently lead the pack.
The global crypto market cap now stands at $3.21 trillion** with **$1.73 trillion daily volume, reflecting one of the strongest risk-on environments since 2024's bull run inception. Traders should watch for potential sector rotation into small-cap alts if BTC stabilizes near current levels.