5 Altcoins Gaining Market Momentum as Bitcoin Dominance Wanes

• The Altcoin Season Index has surged to 50, signaling a potential shift from Bitcoin to altcoins.
• XRP is seeing a 430% payment surge in 2025, fueled by global demand and rising ETF approval odds.
• SEI, HBAR, and SUI are attracting serious institutional backing, hinting at long-term potential.

After a long lull in the market, the altcoin space is showing signs of awakening with the Altcoin Season Index rising from 34 to 50 and Bitcoin’s dominance dipped to 60.7%, pointing to capital slowly rotating to select crypto assets. 

While the broader crypto crowd hasn’t felt the full effect of an altseason just yet, trader VirtualBacon believes it may have quietly started weeks ago, adding that this cycle appears more selective and stealthy. 

XRP: Quiet Growth Turns Loud

According to Dune Analytics, XRP Ledger payments have skyrocketed over 430% in 2025, rising from 1.5 million weekly payments in 2023 to more than 8 million this year. 

Institutions are loading XRP

On July 1 alone, nearly 1 million transactions were processed, marking a clear sign of network activity surging to new highs. Payments now make up over 60% of XRPL’s usage, and over 2,800 new accounts are being created daily. 

Also, Polymarket shows an 86% chance of an XRP ETF approval, as institutions are getting ready to flood the market with inflows.

Related: 2025 Altseason: Ethereum Surges 170% as Bitcoin Dominance Declines—Is a Blow-Off Top Near?

SEI: Users are exploding 

Sei is rapidly becoming one of the fastest-growing Layer 1 networks in crypto. Its number of active addresses has nearly doubled in just three months, from 380,000 to 752,000 users, thanks to the launch of native USDC and partnerships with Ondo Finance and Backpack. 

These moves have improved liquidity, expanded DeFi opportunities, and encouraged on-chain development. If broader market sentiment turns bullish, SEI could be one of the first altcoins to make a breakout run.

Related: Crypto’s Golden Age Starts But Altseason Falters: Here’s Why

HBAR: Enterprise-Backed and ETF-Ready

Hedera’s strength comes from its deep ties to major corporations. The Hedera Governing Council is backed by giants like Google, IBM, and Boeing, giving the project a unique mix of decentralization and corporate credibility.

Two separate HBAR ETF applications are currently under review by the SEC, including one from Canary Capital filed via NASDAQ. The decision window is approaching fast, with a ruling expected in just a few weeks. 

SUI: ‘Big Money’ is backing it

Sui’s latest upgrade, based on the EdDSA cryptographic model, positions the network for long-term resilience. But what’s really catching attention is the $450 million private placement by Mill City Ventures III, a Nasdaq-listed firm that plans to allocate 98% of that capital into SUI tokens. 

Major backers include Pantera Capital, Electric Capital, and Galaxy Asset Management, all of whom see long-term value in the Sui blockchain. 

This “industry-first” partnership with the Sui Foundation effectively makes SUI the first public treasury crypto holding of its kind. 

SOL: ETF Frenzy

Since early 2024, heavyweight firms like VanEck, 21Shares, Bitwise, Grayscale, Franklin Templeton, and Fidelity have all submitted applications for Solana spot ETFs. 

The sheer volume and variety of filings, including those that allow staking rewards, reflect massive institutional interest in Solana’s high-speed, scalable network. 

With ETF approval timelines ranging from “under review” to “immediately effective,” a green light from the SEC could unleash a flood of new capital into SOL. 

Fund managers view Solana as one of the most promising blockchain platforms for next-gen applications. As Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs become mainstream, Solana may be next in line to benefit.