Bitcoin Hits $90K, Meme Coins Soar… But What’s Up With Ethereum?

While Bitcoin is smashing records and the market buzzes over ETF launches and meme coins, Ethereum feels oddly… absent. Sitting at $3,100, Ethereum is 44% below its all-time high. The ETH community’s lack of energy is palpable, and institutional interest seems to be elsewhere.

Even as Bitcoin ETFs rake in billions, Ethereum ETFs are struggling to capture attention. Why is ETH lagging behind in a bull market? Let’s explore this mystery alongside the day’s hottest crypto headlines.

Headlines That Matter

1. The a16z Tweet That Skyrocketed an AI Token

One cryptic message — “Check your DMs” — from a16z’s Eddy Lazzarin to an AI project’s lead sent the token surging 50% overnight. The project, powered by an AI agent named Eliza, now boasts a $480M market cap despite being just one month old. Is this a case of strategic partnership or speculative overreaction?

2. Bitcoin ETF Options Launching Soon

The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) is gearing up for Bitcoin ETF options, possibly launching as early as Nov. 19. This new tool could supercharge BTC’s momentum, but will it lead to another ETF-driven price rally or a “sell the news” event?

3. MicroStrategy’s Insatiable Bitcoin Appetite

With 331,200 BTC (1% of total supply), MicroStrategy just dropped $4.6B for 51,780 BTC — and they’re far from done. A plan to raise another $1.75B signals their intent to hoard even more Bitcoin. Are they the Black Hole of Bitcoin, and does this centralization pose a risk?

4. The “Crypto Queen” Who Rapped About Her Own Crimes

Heather Morgan, aka Razzlekhan, gets 18 months in prison for laundering $10.8 billion in Bitcoin. The kicker? She wrote articles about preventing crypto crime while hiding stolen BTC from the 2016 Bitfinex hack.

5. Bitcoin ETFs’ Staggering $138B Milestone

Bitcoin ETFs now control $138B in assets, with $1.67B flowing in just last week. Bitcoin’s recent climb to $93,400 is pushing this trend, while Ethereum ETFs remain a distant afterthought. What’s holding ETH back?

What’s Up With Ethereum?

Lagging Institutional Interest

Ethereum ETFs aren’t catching the institutional wave like Bitcoin’s. Could concerns about Ethereum’s long-term scalability and transition to PoS be playing a role?

2. Market Sentiment Shifts

Bitcoin is the clear market leader during this rally, with narratives around “digital gold” resonating louder than Ethereum’s utility-focused use case.

3. Competition from Layer-2s

While Ethereum struggles to maintain dominance, Layer-2 solutions (Arbitrum, Optimism) and rival chains like Solana and Avalanche are eating into its market share.

What’s Next for ETH?

Catalysts to Watch:

• Upgrades like EIP-4844 (Proto-Danksharding) could improve Ethereum’s scalability and bring it back into the spotlight.
• Institutional adoption of Ethereum-focused products (DeFi and NFTs) could reignite momentum.

What to Do as an Investor?

• Keep an eye on ETH/BTC ratios to gauge if Ethereum’s underperformance is a temporary dip or a sign of shifting dynamics.
• Long-term believers can consider DCA strategies if ETH fundamentals remain strong.

For now, Ethereum might feel like the quiet kid at a party, but don’t underestimate its ability to make a comeback. What are your thoughts? Let’s discuss! 👇

Bitcoin Hits $90K, Meme Coins Soar… But What’s Up With Ethereum? 🤔 was originally published in The Capital on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.