Bitcoin Back to $83,000 but Why Are Ethereum, Solana, XRP Weak?

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) continues to outperform altcoins like Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), Solana (CRYPTO: SOL), XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), which have dropped between 2% and 5% over the past 24 hours.

Only 11 of 66 large-cap altcoins finished last week higher, while Bitcoin dominance climbed toward 59.5%.

On the other hand, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $679 million in weekly outflows, their largest since late June, while Ethereum ETFs shed $542 million.

Why BTC Dominance Rises As Altcoins Struggle

Prominent crypto analyst Benjamin Cowen warned that Bitcoin dominance (BTC.D) may continue climbing as monetary policy moves toward a more restrictive stance. It could eventually revisit its 2025 highs before a sustained decline.

Unlike the previous cycle, he does not expect BTC.D to rise indefinitely.

Cowen pointed to rising interest rates and strengthening U.S. dollar as major headwinds for altcoins, suggesting that capital could increasingly favor Bitcoin.

He believes eventual interest rate cuts and a weaker dollar could trigger renewed strength in altcoin-to-Bitcoin trading pairs, potentially pushing BTC.D towards the low-50% or even upper-40% range.

Cowen expects altcoins to continue losing ground against Bitcoin until monetary conditions become more accommodative, potentially a year or two away.

Will Support Hold Before The Next Rally?

Heavily followed analyst Kevin warned that Bitcoin faces a deeper correction ahead of CPI data, with $77,000 to $83,000 as critical support.

Holding this range could trigger a rally toward $93,000 to $100,000, while a breakdown risks a decline to $67,000 to $76,000.

He favors a pullback to establish a bullish higher low before a more sustainable rally in late 2026 or 2027, with altcoins potentially facing steeper losses.

What’s Next?

Wintermute’s Oct.13 report identified two major catalysts needed for a sustainable crypto recovery:

• A breakout in 30-year Treasury yields above 5.64% or BTC’s repeated failure to hold $82,500 would strengthen the bearish outlook.
• Wednesday’s CPI report could reveal whether higher energy costs are fueling broader inflation, potentially strengthening expectations for further Fed rate hikes.

The research firm remains constructive on Bitcoin’s longer-term outlook but cautioned against chasing altcoin rallies until liquidity conditions improve.

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