Ethereum vs Bitcoin in 2025: ETH/BTC Ratio, Market Dominance, and Altcoin Prospects

Ethereum (ETH) and Bitcoin (BTC) remain at the forefront of the cryptocurrency market in 2025, yet diverging trends are emerging. Bitcoin reached multiple new all-time highs early in the year, asserting its market dominance, while Ethereum lagged behind and failed to surpass previous records. The ETH/BTC trading pair is a key metric for traders, serving as an indicator of relative strength and potential market rotations between leading cryptocurrencies and altcoins. While past cycles saw a rising ETH/BTC ratio spark altcoin rallies, this momentum has not yet materialized in 2025. Market experts, including Michaël van de Poppe and Dean Popplewell, provide contrasting forecasts: some project that periods of Bitcoin price consolidation could lead to renewed strength in Ethereum and altcoins, while others warn of a continued climb in Bitcoin dominance, potentially putting downward pressure on ETH and the broader altcoin market. Traders are watching the ETH/BTC level and trading volumes closely for any signs of capital rotation. External influences such as regulatory changes, macroeconomic shifts, and network upgrades are also expected to impact the landscape. The consensus among analysts is to remain diversified, monitor key dominance and volume metrics, and stay agile amid uncertainty. For now, the ETH/BTC pair continues to act as a critical gauge of altcoin appetite, with many market participants awaiting an inflection point that could redefine the balance between Ethereum, Bitcoin, and the wider altcoin market.