Google searches for “altcoin” have reached their highest level since 2021 and interest in “Ethereum” is at a two-year peak, according to Google Trends data. The surge comes alongside a flurry of crypto-related exchange-traded fund (ETF) activity and shifts in digital asset treasuries that may draw attention beyond Bitcoin.
Google Trends has recorded similar surges before. In early 2018, “altcoins” spiked months after Bitcoin’s late-2017 peak, as retail attention turned toward a wave of new cryptocurrencies launched through initial coin offerings (ICOs).
In early 2021, the term “altcoin” reached some of its highest readings on record during a broad rally fueled by decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and large-cap coins such as Ether, Cardano and BNB.
While Google Trends doesn’t predict market direction or provide exact search counts, it can highlight periods when retail curiosity intensifies.
Altcoin ETF momentum builds
Institutional appetite for altcoins is growing, with crypto ETF activity now stretching beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. In the first half of 2025 alone, US regulators received at least 31 altcoin ETF applications.
Among notable filings, Canary Capital submitted a proposal in March for an SUI spot ETF that directly tracks the Sui token. Shortly after, Cboe BZX requested approval to list Canary’s fund, potentially marking the first US ETF to hold SUI. Meanwhile, Nasdaq filed the necessary paperwork for 21Shares’ spot SUI ETF, initiating the SEC’s formal review process.
Analysts from Bloomberg Intelligence, including Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart, are optimistic about approval for other altcoin ETFs. They have pegged approval odds for Solana (SOL), XRP and Litecoin (LTC) at 95%, with additional applications — including those for Dogecoin (DOGE), Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), Hedera (HBAR), and Avalanche (AVAX) — garnering approval odds as high as 90%.
Related: Bitcoin, Ether, XRP price bump pushes market sentiment to ‘Greed’
Crypto treasuries beyond Bitcoin
Corporate treasury strategies are also expanding to include a broader portfolio of altcoins. Ether is now a preferred reserve asset for several firms. Names like Metaplanet, BitMine, and SharpLink Gaming collectively hold billions of dollars in Ether (ETH) and, in many cases, stake their holdings to earn additional yield.
And the trend isn’t confined to ETH. Several companies, including Upexi and DeFi Development Corp., are building sizable Solana positions in their digital treasuries.
DeFi Development Corp. holds nearly one million SOL, worth about $200 million with today’s prices, and stakes the tokens to generate additional yield. Upexi has also increased its SOL holdings to two million in July, most of which is being staked.
Chainlink has also emerged in treasury discussions, with the launch of the Chainlink Reserve on Aug. 7, a mechanism that converts usage fees and enterprise payments into (LINK) tokens to boost long-term network sustainability.
Altcoins on the rise
Data from CoinGecko shows that altcoins have been steadily gaining in recent weeks. Ether price has climbed 30% over the past seven days and 78% year-to-date, now trading about $4,722, just shy of its all-time high of $4,878.26 set on Nov. 10, 2021.
At the time of writing, other major altcoins have also posted steady gains over the past week, including XRP (+10%), SOL (+19.3%), SUI (+15%), and LINK (+43%).
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