The cryptocurrency market is floating around a $3.33 trillion valuation, with Bitcoin inching ever closer to its historic peak. Hovering within 5% of its all-time high, Bitcoin’s dominance is crystal clear. But not every coin in the top ten has fared so well. In fact, many are still trailing far behind, caught in a holding pattern that feels more like a stall than a surge.
Bitcoin Stays Strong, Altcoins Lag Behind
It’s been 44 days since Bitcoin (BTC) touched its weighted all-time high of $111,814 on 22 May 2025. Over the past 24 hours, the digital heavyweight has ranged between $107,933 and $108,295—keeping it within 3.3% of its ATH. Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest crypto by market cap, is currently trading at $2,514, which puts it 48.4% below its high of $4,878 reached back in November 2021.
XRP finds itself priced at $2.21, down 34.8% from its ATH of $3.40 on 15 January this year. Binance Coin (BNB) is holding steadier, trading at $656, just 17% off its peak of $788. Solana (SOL), however, remains sharply down at $147—nearly 49% below its ATH of $293 set in January. Tron (TRX) isn’t doing much better, priced at $0.283, representing a 34.3% drop from its December record of $0.431.
Dogecoin (DOGE), the original meme coin, sits at $0.163—still a long way from its May 2021 high of $0.731, down by a painful 77.6%. Meanwhile, Cardano (ADA), though still clinging to a spot in the top ten, is the most bruised of the lot—down 81.5% from its all-time high.
Among the newer tokens, hyperliquid (HYPE) offers a glimmer of resistance. After peaking at $45.57 in June, it’s only slipped 14.1%. SUI, on the other hand, hit $5.35 back in January and has since dropped 46%.
XRP: Technicals Point to a Storm Beneath the Surface
At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $2.22 with a market cap of $131 billion. The coin is moving within a tight intraday range of $2.20 to $2.24. This period of low volatility signals a potential breakout, especially with traders repeatedly testing these narrow bounds. Scalpers may look to buy near $2.20 and sell close to $2.26 until a more decisive move unfolds.
A breakout above $2.26 could hint at a new bullish phase, while a drop below $2.196 might trigger a downward spiral. On the 4-hour chart, XRP shows a more cautious picture. The rounded top pattern from $2.147 to $2.327 and declining volume suggest buyer fatigue. Unless XRP breaks above the $2.28 mark with strength, the bearish undertone may persist.
From a daily perspective, XRP is still structurally bullish. It’s holding above $2.20 after bouncing off a local low of $1.908 in mid-June. A series of bullish engulfing candles near the $1.90–$2.00 zone shows underlying demand. The main challenge now lies in breaching the resistance around $2.30–$2.34. Any decisive movement above this band could signal another rally. Still, a dip below $2.15 would weaken the case for upside.
Indicators Signal Tension, Not Direction
Oscillators across different time frames are neutral. RSI is at 52.45, Stochastic %K at 77.74, and CCI at 68.33—all pointing to indecision. The ADX, sitting at 12.50, confirms the trend remains weak. MACD shows slight bullishness, but the Stochastic RSI Fast reading of 89.88 indicates XRP might be short-term overbought.
The moving average data is mixed. Short-term EMAs and SMAs (like EMA 10 at $2.206 and SMA 10 at $2.199) remain bullish. The mid-range averages echo that optimism. But longer-term indicators are conflicted. EMA 50 and SMA 100 suggest positivity, while SMA 50, EMA 100, and SMA 200 lean bearish. This push-and-pull reflects a market waiting for clarity—a catalyst.
The Verdicts: Bullish Hope or Bearish Warning?
Bullish View: The daily chart is the bulls’ best friend. As long as XRP holds above $2.20 and breaks past $2.30 with volume, it has room to run. Short- to mid-term indicators are supportive, and momentum could tilt in favour of buyers.
Bearish View: Beneath the surface, momentum may already be slipping. Lower highs, declining volume, and an overbought short-term profile offer warning signs. A break below $2.20—or more critically, $2.196—could start a retracement to $2.15 or lower.
While Bitcoin steals headlines, the rest of the market feels like it’s stuck in a waiting room—listless, but not lifeless. And for many altcoins, the question isn’t just when they’ll break out, but whether they can at all.
