Crypto prices today are experiencing unprecedented momentum as major digital assets surge across the board following historic legislative victories in the United States. The global crypto market cap has gone up by 3.59% to $3.94 trillion as of 12 PM on July 18, 2025, according to CoinMarketCap data. Bitcoin has broken through key resistance levels and altcoins have posted explosive gains.
Here's how the world's leading cryptocurrencies performed in today's explosive trading session:
Bitcoin price today stands at $120,462.11, marking a robust 1.80% gain over the past 24 hours and a remarkable 2.71% surge over the past week. The world's largest cryptocurrency has achieved a market capitalization of $2.39 trillion, with trading volume reaching $75.07 billion, demonstrating massive institutional and retail participation.
The breakthrough above $120,000 represents a significant technical milestone, with analysts pointing to the legislative clarity as a primary catalyst. Bitcoin spot ETFs continue to attract consistent inflows that have bolstered investor confidence in the token’s long-term prospects.
Ethereum has emerged as today's standout performer among leading cryptocurrencies, skyrocketing 9.03% to $3,643.78. The second-largest digital asset has pushed its market capitalization above $439 billion. It has experienced an impressive 21.72% gain over the past week, reflecting strong institutional adoption and ecosystem growth.
Edul Patel, Co-founder and CEO of Mudrex, notes, “The crypto market is gaining strong upward momentum as the US House passed key crypto bills, boosting investor confidence and regulatory clarity. The total market cap has reached a new all-time high of $3.91 trillion, with altcoins participating in the rally alongside Bitcoin. While BTC is trading around the $120,000 zone, Ethereum and XRP have outperformed, gaining 22% and 38% in a week. Currently trading at $3,600, ETH’s rally is supported by the $5.2 billion ETF inflows since July, eyeing the $4,000 level, with solid support at $3,300.”
XRP has emerged as the session's biggest winner among major cryptocurrencies, exploding 17.53% to $3.61. The third-largest digital asset maintains its position with a market capitalization of $213.67 billion. It has a substantial trading volume of $22.51 billion, indicating massive investor enthusiasm.
Solana (SOL) has posted impressive gains of 6.79% to $182.29, with its market cap reaching $98.04 billion. The high-performance blockchain continues to attract significant trading volume of $8.48 billion, demonstrating sustained investor interest in its ecosystem.
Dogecoin has also joined the rally with spectacular gains of 13.26% to $0.2371, achieving a market cap of $35.61 billion. The meme cryptocurrency's performance reflects the broader market's bullish sentiment and increased retail participation.
BNB is trading at $743.52, up 4.98% with a market cap of $103.56 billion, while TRON (TRX) has gained 5.31% to $0.3288. Cardano (ADA) rounds out the top performers with a 14.78% surge to $0.8629, pushing its market cap above $30.54 billion.
Also Read: Crypto News Today: USDT Hits $160B, Ethereum ETF Holdings Reach Peak, Canary Files Staked Injective ETF
The US House of Representatives has achieved a historic milestone by passing three major cryptocurrency bills after a marathon nine-hour session, the longest vote in House history. Lawmakers voted 294-134 to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, 308-122 in favor of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, and 219-210 for the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act.
The legislative package represents years of work toward establishing comprehensive regulatory frameworks for digital assets. Almost 80 Democrats voted yes for the CLARITY Act and more than 100 for the GENIUS Act, demonstrating significant bipartisan support for responsible crypto innovation.
Circle, the issuer of USDC, announced that the US House of Representatives has voted to approve the GENIUS Act, which is now awaiting the President's signature. This legislation is considered crucial for the future of currency and internet financial systems, indicating strong bipartisan support for responsible innovation.
US President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an executive order that could allow Americans to allocate 401(k) retirement savings into cryptocurrencies and other alternative assets, according to a report by the Financial Times.
However, the White House cautioned that no decision is final. White House spokesperson Kush Desai clarified, "No decisions should be deemed official unless they come from President Trump himself."
The US 401(k) system held $8.9 trillion in assets across over 715,000 plans as of September 2024. If approved, adding crypto to that mix could unlock billions, if not trillions, in demand for digital assets from long-term, institutional retirement flows.
US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins announced that the SEC is evaluating the introduction of an 'innovation exemption' to encourage the advancement of tokenization. During a press conference, Atkins stated that SEC staff are exploring potential adjustments within the existing regulatory framework to support tokenization.
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller has suggested that the Federal Reserve should consider a 25-basis-point interest rate cut during its July meeting. This recommendation comes amid ongoing discussions about the economic outlook and monetary policy adjustments.
The White House Press Secretary has confirmed that US President Donald Trump supports a policy for tax exemption on minimal transactions involving Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. The administration plans to continue pursuing legislative measures to achieve this goal.
Also Read: Top 5 Altcoins to Watch According to Experts This Week
The crypto market is currently experiencing its largest regulatory advance ever, with legislation that is providing the clarity institutional investors have been looking for. Major legislation allowing crypto was passed on 3 fronts - the GENIUS Act, RRA Act, and ESR for the regulatory agenda on capital markets. While some short-term volatility may still occur as the market digests these developments, in the long term, the trend suggests bullish sentiment for all major digital assets.
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1. Why Are Crypto Prices Rising Today?
Crypto prices are experiencing a surge today, with Bitcoin breaking the $120,000 resistance level and Ethereum posting a 9.03% gain. This bullish momentum follows the US House of Representatives passing key crypto legislation, including the GENIUS Act, which is expected to provide regulatory clarity and boost institutional investment in digital assets.
2. What Impact Will the GENIUS Act Have on the Crypto Market?
The GENIUS Act, recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, is a significant step toward establishing a clearer regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. This legislation could drive increased institutional participation, investor confidence, and long-term growth in the crypto market. Many analysts believe it marks the beginning of a new era of crypto adoption.
3. Is Bitcoin’s Price Growth Sustainable After Breaking $120,000?
Bitcoin's price breaking through the $120,000 resistance level is a major technical milestone, and the continued growth can be attributed to both institutional investment and regulatory clarity, especially following the approval of the GENIUS Act. While there could be short-term volatility, the overall outlook for Bitcoin remains positive due to the strong fundamentals supporting its growth.
4. What Are the Latest Market Developments Affecting XRP’s Price?
XRP’s explosive 17.53% gain today is fueled by broader market optimism surrounding US crypto legislation and its potential for clearer regulatory frameworks. XRP's rally, along with Bitcoin and Ethereum, reflects investor confidence in the long-term viability of the digital asset, with increased participation from institutional investors and major inflows into crypto ETFs.
5. How Could Trump's Executive Order on 401(k) Retirement Plans Affect Crypto Prices?
President Trump’s potential executive order to allow 401(k) retirement savings to be allocated into cryptocurrencies could significantly impact the market by opening the door to institutional-level investment. This would introduce trillions of dollars from retirement plans into the crypto space, which could drive up demand for digital assets, boosting their prices in the long term.
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