Charles Esther
Interest in altcoins and Ethereum is surging, with Google Trends showing search activity for “altcoin” at its highest level since 2021 and Ethereum interest peaking over the last two years.
This rise in curiosity coincides with increased crypto ETF activity and a growing trend of corporate treasuries diversifying beyond Bitcoin.
Historical Context of Altcoin Searches
Google Trends has previously recorded similar spikes.
In early 2018, searches for altcoins surged after Bitcoin’s late-2017 peak, as retail investors turned attention to a wave of initial coin offerings (ICOs).
In early 2021, interest in altcoins hit one of its highest records, driven by rallies in DeFi projects, NFTs, and large-cap tokens such as Ether, Cardano, and BNB.
While Google Trends cannot predict market movements, it highlights periods of heightened retail curiosity.
Institutional Interest in Altcoin ETFs
Interest from institutional investors in altcoins is growing.
In the first half of 2025, US regulators received at least 31 altcoin ETF applications, expanding investment options beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Notable filings include Canary Capital’s SUI spot ETF and Nasdaq’s 21Shares SUI ETF, which are under SEC review and could mark the first US ETFs tracking the Sui token.
High Odds for Altcoin ETF Approvals
Analysts from Bloomberg Intelligence are optimistic about approval prospects for several altcoin ETFs.
Approval odds are high for Solana (SOL), XRP, and Litecoin (LTC) at 95%, with other applications, including Dogecoin (DOGE), Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), Hedera (HBAR), and Avalanche (AVAX), rated around 90%.
This suggests increasing institutional acceptance of altcoins alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Corporate Treasuries Diversify Beyond Bitcoin
Companies are now holding altcoins as part of their digital treasuries.
Ether has become a preferred reserve asset for firms like Metaplanet, BitMine, and SharpLink Gaming, which collectively hold billions in ETH, often staking tokens to earn additional yield.
Solana Gains Traction in Corporate Holdings
Some companies, including Upexi and DeFi Development Corp., are building large Solana (SOL) positions in their treasuries.
DeFi Development Corp. holds nearly one million SOL, worth around $200 million, while Upexi increased holdings to two million SOL in July, staking most of the tokens to earn yield.
Chainlink Enters Treasury Strategies
Chainlink (LINK) has also gained prominence, with the launch of the Chainlink Reserve on August 7.
The mechanism converts usage fees and enterprise payments into LINK tokens to support long-term network sustainability, offering firms an alternative reserve asset.
Altcoins Continue Strong Performance
Data from CoinGecko shows altcoins posting steady gains over recent weeks.
Ether has climbed 30% over seven days and 78% year-to-date, trading around $4,722, close to its all-time high of $4,878.26 set in November 2021.
Other major altcoins, including XRP (+10%), SOL (+19.3%), SUI (+15%), and LINK (+43%), have also recorded significant weekly gains.
Altcoins Capture Investor Attention
The combination of ETF developments, treasury diversification, and strong price performance signals growing interest in altcoins from both retail and institutional investors.
Market attention may continue to shift beyond Bitcoin as Ethereum, Solana, and other tokens see broader adoption and investment inflows.
