Crypto Turns Green: Is This the New Normal?

May 20, 2025 — After a brief cooling period, the crypto market is back in rally mode. Every top 100 token has surged into the green today, pushing total market cap to $3.46 trillion, with $124 billion in 24-hour trading volume. Bitcoin flirted with $106.5K before retreating slightly, while Ethereum and Solana led the charge with standout gains.

What’s Powering the Rally?

This isn’t just another hype cycle. Behind the upswing is a potent mix of institutional moves and policy developments:

The U.S. Senate advanced the GENIUS Act, a landmark stablecoin regulation bill;
JPMorgan confirmed it will allow clients to gain exposure to Bitcoin, despite Jamie Dimon’s historical criticism;
Spot ETF inflows hit $785M last week, bringing year-to-date inflows to $7.5B.

It’s no longer just retail momentum—Wall Street is steadily laying track into the crypto space.

Key Movers Today

Ethereum (ETH): +7.1%, bouncing back hard to trade above $2,540
Solana (SOL): +4.8%, approaching $170 with ETF speculation bubbling
Bitcoin (BTC): +3%, currently at $105,498
Aave (AAVE): +24.3% in a breakout move
CRV & VIRTUAL: Both posted double-digit gains

What’s remarkable is the breadth—not a single coin in the top 100 declined.

Sentiment Shifts and Market Psychology

According to Unity Wallet’s COO, James Toledano, this rally feels different from the November 2024 surge. “The ingredients are similar—rapid price increases, institutional momentum—but this time it’s not just froth. It’s structure.”

The Fear and Greed Index dropped slightly to 68, still in optimistic territory. But the caution here is warranted: optimism can become overconfidence, and we’ve seen what that leads to.

Levels to Watch

Resistance: $106,500 (recent high), followed by $110,000 psychological barrier
Support: $103,870 and $102,250—below that lies the deeper zone at $97,000

These levels will be critical for swing traders in the coming days, especially as fresh economic data and any shake-up from Coinbase’s security investigation unfold.

So…Buy or Wait?

The real question is whether this is a breakout or just another bounce. With institutional flows and clearer regulations supporting the rally, we could be setting a new price baseline, not revisiting old highs temporarily. But remember: even solid trends include corrections.

Takeaway: This surge is rooted more in policy and adoption than speculation. That’s bullish long-term. But in the short term? Chasing green candles rarely ends well without a plan.