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BTC $96,420 +2.34% ETH $3,280 +1.82% SOL $185.40 -0.92% BNB $642.50 +0.45% XRP $2.18 +3.12% DOGE $0.082 -1.50% ADA $1.05 +0.80% AVAX $42.10 +1.15%
BTC $96,420 +2.34% ETH $3,280 +1.82% SOL $185.40 -0.92% BNB $642.50 +0.45% XRP $2.18 +3.12% DOGE $0.082 -1.50% ADA $1.05 +0.80% AVAX $42.10 +1.15%
07/26/2025

Web3 Last Week: Ethereum Surges, Stablecoins Shake Things Up, Solana Makes Its Comeback, and a Lineup of Alpha Opportunities You Can't Afford to Miss

The Web3 market had a turbulent week — sharp price swings, capital flows, shifting policy roadmaps, and a fresh wave of investment from the big players. Here are the standout themes investors and the community shouldn't sleep on: 1. Ethereum Kicks Into High Gear Ethereum just posted its fourth consecutive week of gains, breaking past $3,800 and pulling in massive inflows from both institutional and retail investors. * The spot Ethereum ETF, one year after launch, recorded net inflows of over $35 billion in June, with July on track to

Web3 Last Week: Ethereum Surges, Stablecoins Shake Things Up, Solana Makes Its Comeback, and a Lineup of Alpha Opportunities You Can't Afford to Miss

The Web3 market had a turbulent week — sharp price swings, capital flows, shifting policy roadmaps, and a fresh wave of investment from the big players. Here are the standout themes investors and the community shouldn't sleep on:

1. Ethereum Kicks Into High Gear

Ethereum just posted its fourth consecutive week of gains, breaking past $3,800 and pulling in massive inflows from both institutional and retail investors.

  • The spot Ethereum ETF, one year after launch, recorded net inflows of over $35 billion in June — and July is expected to shatter that record.
  • ETH supply on OTC desks is drying up. According to Wintermute, "no one is willing to sell ETH off-exchange anymore," signaling that buyers have the market firmly in their grip.
  • Financial companies using ETH as a treasury asset are issuing convertible bonds (CBs), leveraging ETH's high volatility to attract capital — giving them a clear edge over companies holding BTC.
If this trend holds, ETH could realistically push toward $10,000 — and the direct beneficiaries would include ETH-holding institutions, ETF issuers, DeFi protocols, Layer 2s, and Ethereum infrastructure like wallets, nodes, and even the NFT market.

2. Stablecoins and U.S. Policy Are Reshaping the Landscape

Tether Expands Into a Wide Range of Investments

Tether — the issuer of USDT — has invested in 120+ companies spanning renewable energy, AI, education, data, and even brain-computer interface technology. These investments come from $13.7 billion in 2024 profits and are entirely separate from the USDT reserve fund.

Ethena (ENA) Makes Waves

ENA — the token behind the USDe stablecoin project — surged 20% overnight after news broke that a treasury company plans to purchase $260 million worth of ENA. At the same time, capital flowing into USDe hit $7.5 billion, with sUSDe yields reaching 10% APY — well above traditional money market funds.

South Korea Leads Asia

More than one-third of South Korea's population is now actively trading crypto — surpassing the number of domestic stock market investors. Data from Hanwha Finance shows that the 20–50 age group holds up to 14% of their financial assets in crypto.

The U.S. Enters the Era of Crypto Legislation

This past week, three crypto-related bills cleared the U.S. Congress with strong bipartisan support — establishing clear legal standing for digital assets.

  • Pantera says the U.S. is reclaiming its position as the global crypto hub.
  • a16z states: "The CLARITY Act will usher in a golden era of legitimate innovation in crypto."

3. Solana Is Back in the Race

After a quiet stretch, Solana has reclaimed the $200 level, leading the charge in real-world asset tokenization.

  • xStocks: TSLA, AAPL, and other stocks can now be traded as tokens on Solana through platforms like Backed.fi.
  • Metaplex — the infrastructure powering 99% of assets issued on Solana — is quietly making its move: last month it generated $1.7 million in fees, with $1.1 million used to buy back MPLX tokens.
  • According to Arkham Intelligence, Coinbase currently holds $5 billion in SOL, equivalent to 4.7% of total circulating supply — making it the largest whale.

4. Alpha Opportunities and Notable Players to Watch

The Winklevosses — From Facebook to Bitcoin Billionaires

The Winklevoss twins currently hold around 70,000 BTC (~$4.5 billion), along with significant positions in Filecoin, ETH, and even an English football club. Gemini — the exchange they founded — is gearing up for an IPO and continuing its global expansion.

Polymarket — An Airdrop Opportunity Is Coming

Polymarket — the prediction market platform — is expected to airdrop 10% of its tokens to active users. To land in the top 10% eligible for rewards, you'll need a trading history with an average transaction value above $500.

MetaMask Odyssey: Worth Participating?

The Odyssey program only awards 10 prizes per week, with rewards of ~$500 each. However, community speculation suggests the campaign may be tied to a planned MetaMask token launch, after Joseph Lubin confirmed that LINEA will be the first step in ConsenSys's product tokenization roadmap.

Conclusion

This week marks a pivotal moment defined by:

  • Ethereum returning to center stage
  • The U.S. clearing a clear legal path for crypto
  • Stablecoins redefining their role in the financial system
  • Solana cementing its status as digital asset infrastructure
Don't miss the chance to watch where money, policy, and technology converge — because that's exactly where the "quiet winners" of the next growth cycle get their start.