This weekly update tracks some of the largest cryptocurrencies by market share: bitcoin and ether. While both are considered to be high-risk when it comes to investing, the two have foundational differences that investors should know. We've also included XRP, as it was one of the largest cryptocurrencies when this series began. According to Wikipedia, a cryptocurrency is "a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange that uses cryptography to secure its transactions, to control the creation of ...

Citigroup recently raised its year-end price target for ether to $4,500 from $4,300, due to strong flows from exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and digital asset treasuries, per a Reuters article, as quoted on Yahoo Finance. Meanwhile, the brokerage cut its bitcoin forecast to $133,000 from $135,000.Ethereum (ETH) is skyrocketing this year, outperforming Bitcoin. Ethereum has gained 32% this year while Bitcoin has added about 27% (as of Oct. 1, 2025). Ethereum continues to dominate due to growing interest in sta ...

For a better understanding of crypto market cycles, read more here. Bitcoin This weekly update tracks some of the largest cryptocurrencies by market share: bitcoin and ether. While both are considered to be high-risk when it comes to investing, the two have foundational differences that investors should know. We've also included XRP, as it was one of the largest cryptocurrencies when this series began. According to Wikipedia, a cryptocurrency is "a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange that ...

Group 1: Cryptocurrency Overview - The article discusses major cryptocurrencies, specifically Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP, highlighting their foundational differences and market positions [1][6]. - Bitcoin is recognized as the first cryptocurrency and has evolved into a mainstream financial asset since its inception in 2009 [2][3]. - Ether, launched in 2015, operates on the Ethereum blockchain and holds the second-largest market share among cryptocurrencies [4]. Group 2: Price Performance - Bitcoin's closing price has increased, reaching its highest level in four weeks, with a year-to-date increase of approximately 23% and is about 6% below its record close from August 2025 [3]. - Ether's closing price rose over 5% in the past week, now close to $4,600, with a year-to-date increase of around 37% and is approximately 5% below its record close from August 2025 [4]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - An index has been created to compare Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP, using a logarithmic scale to illustrate relative percentage changes and long-term growth since November 9, 2017, with Bitcoin currently leading [6]. - XRP, launched in 2012 by Ripple, was once among the larger cryptocurrencies but has seen its position affected by the emergence of new coins [5]. Group 4: ETF Developments - On January 10, 2024, the SEC approved several spot Bitcoin ETFs from various issuers, including Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund [7]. - On July 23, 2024, multiple spot Ether ETFs were launched, including Grayscale Ethereum Trust and Franklin Ethereum ETF, providing new investment opportunities in the Ether market [8].

ETF Basics & Regulations - Spot ETFs are backed by actual crypto held at a custodian, unlike futures ETFs [4] - In the EU, direct investment in US-listed crypto ETFs is restricted, leading to the creation of ETP alternatives [8] - In the UK, retail investors are banned from buying crypto ETFs or ETPs, but the FCA is considering lifting the ban on ETNs [9] Bitcoin ETFs - BlackRock's IBIT became the fastest-growing ETF in history, now controlling over $85 billion in AUM and holding over 717,000 BTC [15][16] - Fidelity's FBTC controls over $2.16 billion in AUM with over 206,000 BTC [22] - Grayscale's GBTC charges a 1.5% fee, six times more than Fidelity or BlackRock, and holds around 222,000 BTC, roughly a third of its initial holdings [32][33] Ethereum ETFs - BlackRock's ETH holds over $6.4 billion in AUM and holds over 2.1 million ETH [39] - Fidelity's FET holds almost 570,000 ETH with over $1.2 billion in AUM [44] - Grayscale's ETH holds just over 570,000 ETH with around $3.8 billion in AUM [48] ETP Alternatives - Coin Shares physical Bitcoin ETP (BITC) holds just under $2 billion in AUM and charges a fee of 0.25% [51] - 21Shares offers an Ethereum staking ETP (AE) with over $450 million in AUM, a staking yield of 1.52%, and a fee of 1.49% [51]

Core Insights - Bitcoin has surged to a record high of nearly $112,000, driven by growing risk appetite and sustained institutional demand [2] - The cryptocurrency market is supported by a weakening U.S. dollar, which has seen a decline of 10.65% over the past six months [4] - Anticipation of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve is boosting investor confidence in digital currencies, with a 68.3% likelihood of a rate cut in September [6] Institutional Adoption - Increasing interest from institutional investors is sending a positive signal to the market, reflecting confidence in digital currency [2] - Goldman Sachs anticipates three quarter-point rate cuts this year, which could further enhance investor risk appetite [6] Regulatory Environment - Pro-crypto moves by the Trump administration and expectations of Congress passing crypto legislation are leading to fresh capital inflows into the sector [7] - The U.S. House of Representatives is preparing to consider key digital asset bills, including the Genius Act and the CLARITY Act, which aim to establish regulatory frameworks for stablecoins and clarify the boundaries between regulatory bodies [8][9] Market Dynamics - A tech-driven equity rally, particularly led by Nvidia, has also contributed to Bitcoin's record high [3] - The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) has fallen 1.4% over the past month, indicating a weakening dollar that benefits cryptocurrencies [4] Investment Opportunities - Several ETFs are available for investors looking to increase exposure to digital currencies, including iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) [10][11] - IBIT has the largest asset base of $76.31 billion and has outperformed other funds, gaining 54.86% over the past year [12]

Group 1 - Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) has reached a 52-week high and is up 129% from its 52-week low price of $43.34/share [1] - The Fidelity Bitcoin Reference Rate aims to reflect the performance of bitcoin in U.S. dollars and the fund charges 25 basis points in annual fees [1] - Increased investor risk appetite and institutional demand are driving Bitcoin to record highs, with growing interest in alternative currencies due to volatility in the U.S. dollar [2] Group 2 - FBTC is expected to continue its strong performance in the near term, indicated by a positive weighted alpha of 89.30, suggesting potential for further gains [3]