
Bitcoin hits $105,941, nearing its all-time high with a 2.82% daily gain and $2.1T market cap.
Ethereum gains 8.27% to $2,567.46 amid rising ETF hopes and macro strength.
Ripple launches cross-border payments in UAE as XRP rises to $2.38.
US Senate moves forward on stablecoin bill with bipartisan backing.
The global crypto market today, on May 20, 2025, as of 10.45 AM, surged 2.81% to $3.34T. The market soared on the back of Bitcoin’s sustained rally and Ethereum’s sharp upward momentum. Bitcoin neared its all-time high again while Ethereum posted one of its best daily gains in recent months. The broader crypto market is also benefiting from increased regulatory clarity, rising institutional interest, and key network developments.
Let’s explore the movements in crypto prices today of the top ten tokens to make informed decisions.
Bitcoin (BTC) continues to dominate headlines, trading at $105,941.58, up 2.82% in the last 24 hours. Its market cap now stands at a staggering $2.10 trillion, with a daily trading volume of $59.84 billion.
BTC recently notched its highest-ever weekly close just below $106,500, surpassing its previous record of $104,400 set in December. The all-time high of $109,358 reached on January 20 appears closer than ever. “Bitcoin just had its highest daily candle close... ever,” investor Scott Melker posted to X on May 19. Analyst Rekt Capital noted that “Bitcoin will develop a brand new higher high.”
BTC’s dominance in the market has now surged to 53.2%, the highest in over three years. Open interest in BTC futures has also hit a record $36 billion, signaling rising trader conviction. Michael Saylor’s company, MicroStrategy, also bought another 7,390 BTC last week. Thus, reaffirming bullish institutional sentiment even amid regulatory scrutiny and a new class-action lawsuit.
Ethereum (ETH) saw an impressive jump of 8.27%, reaching $2,567.46. With a market cap of $309.96 billion and a 24-hour volume of $27.78 billion, it outpaced Bitcoin in daily performance. ETH’s total circulating supply stands at 120.72 million.
Analysts attribute the rise to expectations around Ethereum-based spot ETFs and strong macroeconomic support. “Ethereum jumped 12% in 24 hours, breaking over important resistance levels,” said analysts. Market observers are closely watching the $2,600 resistance level as a potential springboard for further gains.
XRP gained 1.67%, reaching $2.38. Its market capitalization stands at $139.62 billion and daily volume at $3.52 billion. The increase comes amid major strategic moves by Ripple in the Middle East. Ripple announced the launch of blockchain-powered cross-border payments in the UAE. The company partnered with Zand Bank and fintech firm Mamo.
According to Ripple’s May 19 statement, Zand Bank and Mamo will utilize “Ripple Payments” to facilitate the transfers. This move follows Ripple’s earlier success in securing a crypto payments license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority. Thus, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global crypto hub.
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BNB (BNB) rose 2.11% to $650.62, adding to its market cap of $91.66 billion. Solana (SOL) also posted a 3.56% gain, trading at $169.85. SOL's trading volume was a solid $4.4 billion, and its market cap now sits at $88.31 billion. TRON (TRX) moved up 2.79% to $0.2685, showing stable growth supported by increased developer activity and user adoption.
Dogecoin and Cardano Bounce Slightly
Dogecoin (DOGE) rose 3.48% to $0.2262, while Cardano (ADA) gained 2.53% to reach $0.7421. DOGE’s market cap now stands at $33.79 billion, with a volume of nearly $2 billion. ADA’s market cap is $26.21 billion. These altcoins continue to remain highly sensitive to social sentiment and speculative trading.
Stablecoins showed minimal movement as Tether (USDT) traded at $0.9996 and USD Coin (USDC) at $0.9995. These assets remain critical for liquidity across decentralized exchanges and CeFi platforms. Their combined trading volume exceeds $104 billion, underlining their pivotal role in market functioning.
Meanwhile, the stablecoin bill took a step forward in the US Senate. “The Senate has voted to move forward with legislation to regulate a form of cryptocurrency called stablecoins…”, noted US Senate Warren. The bill’s future depends on further negotiations, but the move highlights crypto’s growing political influence.
The total global cryptocurrency market capitalization has exceeded $2.65 trillion to $3.34T, growing by over $250 billion in just five trading days. Bitcoin remains the primary driver of this momentum. However, Ethereum’s rise and XRP’s expansion also support the rally. If the ETF inflows continue and macro conditions remain favorable, analysts believe the crypto market has further upside potential.
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