Cryptocurrency Weekly Gainers (Sep 15–21): Stellar Up 22.71%, Ethereum Rises 17.54%

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The past week in the cryptocurrency market revealed a clear divergence in performance between Bitcoin and major altcoins. While the flagship digital asset remained range-bound, several prominent altcoins surged, reigniting speculation about the long-awaited "altseason."

Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, traded in a tight corridor between $10,000 and $10,500 for most of the week. Despite a brief dip below $10,000 on Thursday, the price showed resilience, reflecting a period of consolidation. Notably, Bitcoin’s network hash rate continued to climb, signaling growing mining activity and network security—yet this fundamental strength did not immediately translate into price momentum.

Market sentiment around Bitcoin remains cautious, largely due to mixed expectations surrounding Bakkt’s upcoming Bitcoin futures. On one hand, the launch is seen as a milestone for institutional adoption, potentially drawing traditional capital into the crypto space. On the other hand, memories of the CME Bitcoin futures debut in 2017—which was followed by a sharp price drop—linger among seasoned investors. This uncertainty has kept large-scale movements at bay, leaving Bitcoin in a holding pattern.

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Meanwhile, the altcoin market told a different story—one of momentum and optimism. Led by strong performances from Ethereum and Stellar, many top-tier altcoins posted double-digit weekly gains, fueling renewed excitement across the ecosystem.

Stellar Shines with 22.71% Weekly Surge

Stellar (XLM), currently ranked #10 by market capitalization, emerged as the top performer among major cryptocurrencies this week, rising 22.71% to trade at $0.071367. At one point, XLM surged over 30% within just two days, drawing attention from traders and analysts alike.

While some speculated that the rally might be driven by coordinated price manipulation ahead of a potential dump, no large-scale transactions were flagged by WhaleAlert—a trusted blockchain monitoring tool—suggesting organic demand may have played a role.

A key catalyst behind Stellar’s momentum could be the announcement from the Stellar Development Foundation: plans to airdrop 2 billion XLM tokens (worth approximately $124 million) over the next 20 months. This initiative aims to expand network usage and support ecosystem growth, particularly in underserved financial markets.

The combination of positive sentiment, strategic distribution of tokens, and increased developer activity has positioned Stellar as one of the most watched projects in the current market cycle.

Ethereum Powers Altcoin Rally with 17.54% Gain

Ethereum (ETH), ranked second in market cap, climbed 17.54% to reach $217.77, breaking through key resistance levels at $190, $200, and $210 during the week. As the backbone of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), Ethereum’s resurgence signaled broader confidence in the smart contract ecosystem.

A significant milestone occurred this week: Ethereum’s daily transaction fees surpassed those of Bitcoin for the first time. This reflects growing on-chain activity—driven by decentralized exchanges, lending platforms, and yield farming protocols—all built on the Ethereum network.

Despite ongoing challenges related to scalability and high gas fees, investor confidence remains strong due to the upcoming Ethereum 2.0 upgrade. The transition to proof-of-stake promises greater efficiency, lower energy consumption, and improved throughput—key upgrades that could solidify Ethereum’s dominance in the long term.

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Cardano Advances Toward Incentivized Testnet

Cardano (ADA), currently ranked #11, gained 12.95% to reach $0.051976 this week. The uptick coincided with growing anticipation around the Jörmungandr testnet—a critical step toward enabling staking and delegation on the Cardano network.

Set to launch in September, this testnet phase will pave the way for ADA holders to participate in network validation and earn rewards later this year. The initial version of Jörmungandr was released in June, but the upcoming iteration will bring enhanced stability and functionality.

With its research-driven approach and methodical development roadmap, Cardano continues to attract interest from both retail and institutional investors seeking long-term value.

TRON Climbs in Rank Amid Major Upgrade Announcements

TRON (TRX), now ranked #13 after rising from #14 last week, posted a 12.44% gain to reach $0.017753. The rally followed CEO Justin Sun’s announcement of five major upgrades expected within two weeks:

These upgrades aim to enhance scalability, privacy, and interoperability—addressing some of the key limitations of current blockchain infrastructure.

TRON’s growing ecosystem, which includes decentralized applications (dApps) and stablecoin integration, continues to drive user adoption across Asia and beyond.

XRP Sees 10.71% Bounce Amid Legal Clarity Push

XRP, ranked third by market cap, rose 10.71% to $0.290932—marking one of its strongest weekly performances in recent months. The rally occurred against the backdrop of Ripple’s ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

This week, Ripple filed court documents arguing that purchasing XRP does not constitute an investment in Ripple itself. The company emphasized that there is no “common enterprise” between Ripple and XRP buyers and that it never promised profits to token holders.

These arguments are central to Ripple’s defense that XRP is not a security under U.S. law—a classification that could have far-reaching implications for the entire crypto industry.

Regardless of legal outcomes, the renewed market activity suggests growing confidence among investors who view XRP as a viable digital payment solution.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What caused Stellar’s price to jump over 20% this week?
A: Stellar’s rally was likely driven by the announcement of a $124 million XLM airdrop over 20 months, combined with strong organic trading volume and no signs of whale manipulation.

Q: Why did Ethereum outperform Bitcoin this week?
A: Ethereum benefited from rising DeFi activity, higher transaction fees surpassing Bitcoin’s, and ongoing optimism around the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade.

Q: Is the “altseason” returning?
A: While early signs are promising—with multiple top altcoins gaining over 10%—sustained momentum will depend on broader market conditions and continued innovation in DeFi and smart contract platforms.

Q: How might Bakkt’s Bitcoin futures impact prices?
A: If Bakkt attracts institutional inflows without triggering profit-taking, it could support long-term price appreciation. However, volatility may follow initial launches, as seen with CME futures in 2017.

Q: What are the implications if XRP is ruled a security?
A: A negative ruling could restrict trading access in certain markets and impact other tokens with similar characteristics. A favorable outcome would strengthen utility-based token narratives.

Q: When will Cardano enable staking rewards?
A: Following the September rollout of the Jörmungandr testnet, full staking and delegation features are expected to go live later this year.

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Core Keywords:

As the crypto market evolves, these developments highlight how technological progress, ecosystem growth, and regulatory clarity are increasingly shaping investor behavior—far beyond simple price speculation.