XRP Surpasses SOL as Third-Largest Cryptocurrency; Ethereum Spot ETF Sees Five-Day Inflow Streak

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The cryptocurrency market continues to display dynamic momentum, with major shifts in asset rankings and sustained institutional interest. Recent data highlights XRP overtaking both Solana (SOL) and Tether (USDT) in market capitalization, while Ethereum spot ETFs record five consecutive days of net inflows. Bitcoin maintains bullish technical patterns, and alternative sectors like AI, DeFi, and mobile networks show strong growth. This article dives into the latest market movements, key performance metrics, and emerging opportunities shaping the current crypto landscape.

Market Overview: BTC, ETH, and Broader Trends

As of December 2, 2025, according to Gate.io market data:

Bitcoin (BTC) Shows Resilient Uptrend

Bitcoin rose 0.69% over the past 24 hours, trading at $97,159.30. The price oscillated between a low of $95,693.70 and a high of $97,829.30, maintaining an upward trajectory supported by bullish moving average alignment. Short-term support is forming near $95,470, suggesting strong underlying demand. The technical structure indicates continued bullish sentiment, especially with institutional inflows reinforcing market confidence.

Ethereum (ETH) Faces Resistance Amid Consolidation

Ethereum dipped slightly by 0.44%, currently priced at $3,743.94. Despite multiple attempts to突破 resistance around $3,743, the asset remains range-bound. A decisive breakout with strong volume could open the path for further upside. Notably, Ethereum’s spot ETF has seen five consecutive days of net inflows, signaling growing institutional appetite.

👉 Discover how Ethereum’s institutional adoption is accelerating in 2025.

Institutional Flows Signal Strong Confidence

On November 29, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of $320 million**, while Ethereum spot ETFs attracted **$333 million on the same day. These figures reflect robust investor confidence amid macroeconomic uncertainty. The cumulative inflow for Bitcoin ETFs now stands at $30.7 billion, managing 5.47% of Bitcoin’s total market cap. Ethereum ETFs have amassed $573 million in net inflows, controlling 2.55% of ETH’s market value.

Altcoin Sector Growth

Certain altcoin segments are outperforming:

These trends highlight increasing interest in infrastructure-driven narratives such as AI integration, decentralized finance scalability, and self-sovereign identity solutions.

Macro and Commodity Context

Traditional markets also showed positive movement:

The Fear & Greed Index stands at 80, indicating extreme market greed — a sign of strong bullish momentum but also a potential caution for overheating.

Top Gainers: MOBILE, AIFUN, and HMT Surge

MOBILE: +159.01% in 24 Hours

Helium Mobile’s governance token MOBILE surged nearly 160%, reaching a market cap of $236 million. This rally follows a governance proposal approving MOBILE as a primary reward token across all Helium networks starting January 2025. The decision strengthens MOBILE’s utility and long-term value proposition within the decentralized wireless ecosystem.

AIFUN: +129.60% Price Spike

AIFUN, the native token of AI Agent Layer, jumped over 129%. The surge coincides with the launch of a staking mechanism allowing users to lock AIFUN tokens for rewards. This incentivized model increases holding demand and enhances network participation, fueling both price appreciation and ecosystem growth.

HMT: +50.11% on App Upgrade

HUMAN Protocol’s HMT token rose over 50% following the release of HUMAN App 2.0. The update features improved architecture, enhanced UI, and stronger identity verification systems. These upgrades attract more users and developers to the platform, increasing the utility and demand for HMT in human-AI collaboration workflows.

Key Data Highlights

Ethereum ETF Inflows Extend to Five Days

U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs recorded **$333 million in net inflows on November 29**, with daily trading volume reaching $314 million. This marks the fifth straight day of positive flows, reinforcing institutional confidence in ETH’s long-term fundamentals.

Base Network TVL Reaches $3.72 Billion

The Base blockchain now boasts a Total Value Locked (TVL) of $3.719 billion**, with stablecoins making up $3.591 billion — primarily USDC (92.02%). The network processed $799 million in transaction volume and earned $666,801 in fees over 24 hours. With 637,168 active addresses** and 833,000+ transactions daily, Base demonstrates strong user adoption and ecosystem vitality.

👉 See how Base is becoming a hub for next-gen dApps in 2025.

NFT Trading Volume Surges on EVM Chains

On December 1, NFT trading volume across EVM-compatible chains hit **$42 million**. Blur dominated with $25 million in volume, followed by OpenSea at $10.93 million. Increased activity reflects renewed investor interest driven by blue-chip NFT price rallies and improved market sentiment.

$293 Million in Liquidations Over 24 Hours

Total liquidations across crypto markets reached **$293 million**, with short positions accounting for $161 million and longs $138 million. The most affected assets were:

This highlights high leverage usage during volatile moves, particularly around XRP’s sharp rally.

XRP Emerges as Market Cap #3

XRP has surged to become the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, surpassing both USDT ($134.2B) and SOL. With a current valuation of **$141.6 billion, XRP’s price climbed from $0.51 to $2.47 — a staggering 380% increase in one month**.

This rally was fueled by several catalysts:

The momentum reflects broader market optimism about regulatory resolution and institutional adoption potential.

Ripple’s RLUSD Stablecoin Nears Launch

Ripple Labs’ dollar-pegged stablecoin RLUSD is poised for approval by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), potentially launching as early as December 4. Designed as an over-collateralized digital dollar, RLUSD aims to compete with USDC and USDT by emphasizing transparency and compliance.

Key features:

Ripple executives project the global stablecoin market could reach $2 trillion by 2028, creating vast opportunities for compliant issuers.

Upcoming Token Unlocks: JTO, ADA, ENA

Investors should monitor these upcoming unlocks:

Traders are advised to assess potential volatility around these events.

Funding Roundups: DeFi and Gaming Lead

Three projects raised over $10.5 million recently:

These investments signal continued venture interest in stablecoin infrastructure and blockchain gaming.

Airdrop Opportunity: Nordom Tap-to-Earn Campaign

Nordom is offering an early participation airdrop through its Telegram-based Tap2Earn game. Users can earn Nordom Points by:

  1. Playing the mini-game on Telegram
  2. Completing tasks
  3. Referring friends via shareable links

The final tokenomics will be revealed with the whitepaper in Q4 2025, with distribution expected in early 2026 upon exchange launch.

Note: Airdrop details are subject to change; always verify through official channels.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why did XRP surpass USDT in market cap?
A: XRP’s price surged due to regulatory optimism, leadership changes at the SEC, and Ripple’s expanding ecosystem — factors that boosted investor confidence more than USDT’s stable peg.

Q: Is Ethereum ETF momentum sustainable?
A: Yes — five consecutive days of inflows suggest growing institutional trust in ETH as a digital commodity and store of value.

Q: What risks do large token unlocks pose?
A: High unlock percentages (like JTO’s 103%) can lead to sell pressure if recipients liquidate immediately after release.

Q: How does RLUSD differ from other stablecoins?
A: RLUSD emphasizes over-collateralization, third-party audits, and integration with Ripple’s global payment rails for faster cross-border settlements.

Q: Why is Base Network seeing strong growth?
A: Backed by Coinbase and built on Ethereum’s L2 stack, Base offers low fees and seamless UX — ideal for mass-market dApp adoption.

Q: Are NFTs making a comeback?
A: Yes — with Blur driving volume and blue-chip collections gaining traction, NFTs are showing signs of a year-end resurgence.

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