The stablecoin market continues to expand, gaining $2.03 billion in the past seven days to reach a total capitalization of $304.6 billion, according to DefiLlama.

Once seen as a niche tool for traders, stablecoins have become a core pillar of digital finance—offering speed, low fees, and stability amid crypto’s volatility.

Tether (USDT) remains the dominant player with 58.9% market share and a $179.3 billion cap, followed by USDC at $74.8 billion and USDe at $14.3 billion. Together, these top three stablecoins account for over 85% of the market.

Other rising names include DAI, USDS, BUIDL, and PayPal’s PYUSD, which recently surpassed $2.5 billion in value.

The sector has grown from under $3 billion in 2018 to over $300 billion in 2025, reflecting its vital role in DeFi, payments, and global liquidity. Stablecoins now act as the bridge between traditional finance and blockchain, providing reliability across global markets.

This week’s $2 billion growth highlights continued trust and adoption, even amid broader crypto market turbulence.

The crypto market is booming as Donald Trump takes office, with Bitcoin hitting a record $109,700 and total crypto capitalization soaring to $3.84 trillion.
While Bitcoin dominates headlines, altcoins are gaining traction — signaling the start of a potential alt season.

Solana (SOL) leads the charge, boosted by meme coins like the official Trump ($TRUMP) token, which skyrocketed from $0.35 to $75.8, giving Solana renewed network activity and investor appeal.

Other strong performers include Toncoin (TON), Near Protocol (NEAR), Ethereum (ETH), and Dogecoin (DOGE) — each showing growth as traders diversify beyond BTC and ETH.
Analysts predict altcoins could see explosive upside once Bitcoin consolidates, as liquidity shifts into smaller-cap assets with strong fundamentals.

Despite market saturation, experts emphasize choosing projects with utility, transparency, and active communities. With rising developer activity and new use cases, the altcoin market remains full of opportunities for early investors.

Despite recent market turbulence, BitMine CEO Tom Lee and BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes remain confident that Ethereum (ETH) will reach $10,000 by the end of 2025.

Speaking on the Bankless Podcast on October 14, Lee projected Ethereum to trade between $10,000 and $12,000, while Hayes said he remains “fully confident” in that price target.

At press time, Ethereum trades around $4,188, meaning a rally to $10,000 would represent a 142% gain. Both analysts consider this growth achievable, pointing to Ethereum’s long consolidation phase since its 2021 all-time high of $4,878.

“Ethereum has been accumulating for four years and just broke out of its range,” Lee said. “This isn’t a blow-off top — it’s a search for a new equilibrium.”

Lee added that major fundamentals expected in 2026 could further strengthen Ethereum’s position, calling current levels “a strong setup for the next phase.”

While historical data suggests a more conservative year-end target of around $5,000, the analysts agree that Ethereum’s momentum signals renewed investor confidence and a strong foundation for long-term growth.