● Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade activated in early May has significantly enhanced network performance, driving a 17% price increase in just seven days as ETH eyes the $5,000 milestone.
● XRP has surged 20% this month following the SEC’s reduction of Ripple’s fine from $125 million to $50 million, while CME futures launch on May 18, bringing institutional-grade exposure.
● As altcoins outperform Bitcoin, emerging projects like Bitcoin Pepe are positioned to capture massive upside by combining Bitcoin’s security with Solana-like functionality in an innovative layer 2 solution.
The next phase of this crypto market cycle could be arriving as altcoins demonstrate renewed strength against Bitcoin’s dominance. This resurgence signals the potential beginning of “altseason”: a period when alternative cryptocurrencies outperform Bitcoin and deliver outsized returns.
With Bitcoin recently reclaiming $100k and maintaining strong support above $90k, the stage is set for capital rotation into altcoins. This rotation is already evident with Ethereum’s upward momentum, XRP’s regulatory victories, and Dogecoin’s impressive metrics, while innovative newcomers like Bitcoin Pepe show strong presale performance.
As institutional barriers continue to fall and regulatory clarity improves, smart money is strategically positioning in four of the best cryptos to buy now offering exceptional upside potential as we approach mid-2025.
Altcoin season heats up as market sentiment shifts
Ethereum’s performance has significantly strengthened following the successful Pectra upgrade on May 7, 2025. This technical enhancement has dramatically improved transaction speeds and reduced gas fees, addressing the network’s longstanding scalability issues.
Ethereum saw an exchange net outflow of nearly 230,000 ETH on Friday, the highest since March 7, indicating strong accumulation and low sell pressure.
This bullish sentiment isn’t limited to Ethereum, though. XRP has emerged as a standout performer, charting a remarkable price rebound after finding strong support at the $2.32 level. The token’s recovery coincides with the CME Group’s launch of XRP futures contracts on May 18, providing institutional investors with regulated exposure to the asset.
Meanwhile, Dogecoin has maintained impressive momentum with a 42.5% monthly price increase, outpacing both Bitcoin and Ethereum over the same period. This performance has been driven in part by Saudi Arabia’s increased crypto involvement, including their strategic Bitcoin acquisitions, which has fueled broader market optimism.
The combination of these factors—improving technology, regulatory clarity, and institutional adoption—creates ideal conditions for altcoins to flourish in the coming months. This trend is likely to accelerate, with the Fed expected to cut rates later this year, traditionally a boon for alts.
The best cryptos to buy now as altcoins surge
As altseason momentum builds, four cryptocurrencies stand out as exceptional investment opportunities based on technical fundamentals, market positioning, and growth potential.
Bitcoin Pepe (BPEP)
Bitcoin Pepe is one of the most exciting investment opportunities in the current market, offering ground-floor access to a revolutionary layer 2 solution built on Bitcoin.
Currently available at $0.0342 for the last two weeks of its viral ICO, BPEP has already raised over $10m, with incoming CEX listings on 31st May and a slew of new partnerships priming the presale for a flood of inflows as it draws to a close.
High-profile partnerships with major brands such as Plena Finance and CATAMOTO are drawing waves of new eyeballs, and combined with CEX listing announcements, pulled in $1 million in ICO buys in just 24 hours over the weekend.
Bitcoin Pepe’s mission is to build “Solana on Bitcoin”, combining Bitcoin’s unmatched security with the speed and functionality of Solana. This innovative approach addresses Bitcoin’s inherent limitations while leveraging its $2 trillion market cap and institutional credibility.
Bitcoin Pepe’s layer 2 solution aims to facilitate near-instant transactions with minimal fees, while maintaining settlement on Bitcoin’s main blockchain. This creates an ideal environment for DeFi, NFTs, and the revolutionary PEP-20 token standard, which allows anyone to issue assets natively on the Bitcoin network.
With the crypto market increasingly favoring utility-focused projects, Bitcoin Pepe’s infrastructure play positions it perfectly to capture value as Bitcoin continues its institutional adoption curve. As the first meme-specialized layer 2 on Bitcoin, BPEP offers a unique combination of memetic appeal and much-needed BTC innovation.
BPEP lists on exchanges on 31st May, potentially driving price appreciation from current levels, and giving presale buyers a significant mark-up on listing day. The window is rapidly closing to secure a discounted entry ahead of a potential price spike in less than two weeks.
Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum continues to cement its position as the dominant smart contract platform, with its recent Pectra upgrade driving significant price appreciation. Currently trading around $2,600, ETH has gained 17% in just seven days, demonstrating remarkable strength.
The network’s fundamentals have never looked better. Ethereum’s upcoming Fusaka upgrade will introduce PeerDAS, a feature designed to dramatically reduce Layer-2 costs by sampling off-chain data. This technological advancement has prompted analysts to project price targets of $10,000 by year-end.
ETH’s institutional adoption continues to grow, with market data showing it currently holds 80.17% of real-world assets (RWA) and 53.29% of total value locked (TVL) in DeFi. According to crypto analyst Ted Pillows, this dominant position, combined with potential ETF staking options, creates a powerful case for ETH reaching $12,000 in 2025.
More conservative estimates put Ethereum at a maximum price of $5,925 by the end of 2025, representing a significant upside from current levels. With the Ethereum ecosystem’s continued growth and the potential approval of Ethereum ETF staking, ETH remains one of the strongest investment opportunities in the current market.
XRP (XRP)
XRP has emerged as one of the market’s strongest performers in May 2025, with its price surging 20% this month to around $2.60. This impressive rally follows several significant developments that have fundamentally improved XRP’s outlook.
The most impactful catalyst has been the resolution of Ripple’s long-standing SEC lawsuit. On May 8, 2025, the SEC reduced Ripple’s fine from $125 million to just $50 million, effectively closing the case that had labeled XRP an unregistered security. This regulatory clarity removes a major barrier to adoption and opens the door for institutional participation.
Capitalizing on this momentum, CME Group launched XRP futures contracts on May 18, providing institutional investors with a regulated way to gain XRP exposure. Each full contract covers 50,000 XRP, while micro contracts represent 2,500 XRP, creating major buy pressure for Ripple.
XRP is establishing a V-shaped recovery pattern with strong support at $2.32, signaling continued upward momentum. Analysts have established a near-term price target of $3.40, which would represent a return to XRP’s 2018 levels.
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Dogecoin has quietly outperformed market leaders with a remarkable 42.5% price increase over the past 30 days. Currently trading around $0.22, DOGE has maintained strong support above $0.21 despite market volatility.
The original meme coin is seeing major inflows, with recent whale accumulation totaling $1 billion worth of DOGE. This institutional-level buying suggests smart money is positioning for a potential breakout toward $0.29 in the near term.
Technical indicators show Dogecoin forming a potential bull flag pattern, with price action consolidating after a strong upward move. Prominent analyst Solberg Invest has identified a breakout of a multi-month descending trendline, establishing a price target of $0.90.
This bullish sentiment is supported by Bitcoin’s strength, with some analysts seeing Dogecoin as a leveraged play on the broader crypto market. Saudi Arabia’s recent Bitcoin strategy has likely indirectly benefited Dogecoin, as sovereign adoption increases overall market confidence, and this could continue as crypto creeps further into the mainstream.
Why altcoin season could deliver exceptional returns
The convergence of favorable market conditions creates a perfect storm for altcoin growth in mid-2025. Bitcoin’s stability above $100k provides a solid foundation, while decreasing exchange balances suggest strong holder conviction across the market.
Ethereum’s technological advancements, XRP’s regulatory clarity, and Dogecoin’s whale accumulation point to significant upside potential as the altcoin season progresses.
However, early stage projects like Bitcoin Pepe offer the greatest opportunity. Still available in presale, and facing the powerful tailwinds of strategic partnerships and CEX listings, BPEP’s promise to build “Solana on Bitcoin” is potentially a profitable one—and the last few days of its ICO represent the last chance to lock in maximum gains.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and the market can be unpredictable. Always perform thorough research before making any cryptocurrency-related decisions.