Crypto Market Surges on Bitcoin ETFs, DeFi and AI
Crypto market cap topped $4T on July 18, driven by Bitcoin and Ethereum gains. Bitcoin traded near $119k, making up 60% of the cap, while Ethereum hit $3,600. XRP, UNI and DOGE saw double-digit gains ahead of ETF approvals.
Institutional adoption then accelerated growth. Bitcoin ETF inflows exceeded $53B for IBIT, with total 2025 ETF inflows forecast to surpass $70B. Bitcoin now represents 31% of institutional crypto holdings and its market cap reached $2.13T, up 75.6% year-on-year. Price targets rose to $200k (Standard Chartered) and $185k (Galaxy Digital).
DeFi TVL doubled to $55B, led by HBAR partnerships with Nvidia and Intel. Bitcoin’s DeFi ecosystem expanded 600% to $6.68B.
On-chain AI activity jumped 86%, fueling a $60B AI blockchain market and 4.5M daily dApp users on platforms like BitTensor (TAO).
NFT and meme coin markets remained strong, with Pudgy Penguins’ floor above $100k and tokens like WIF, GOHOME driving $60.3B in value on SOL. Traders should watch Bitcoin ETF inflows and AI–DeFi integration for further market momentum.
Bullish
The combined news of a $4T market cap rally, record Bitcoin ETF inflows, rising institutional adoption, and robust DeFi and AI-blockchain growth signals strong bullish momentum. In the short term, ETF inflows and positive price forecasts can drive further price spikes in BTC and altcoins. In the long term, increasing institutional holdings, expanded DeFi TVL, and AI integration support sustainable market expansion and higher valuation floors.