Once hailed as Bitcoin’s ($BTC) closest competitor, Ethereum is faltering in 2025. Despite Ether’s ($ETH) standing as the second-largest cryptocurrency, it’s lagging in a market where Bitcoin has jumped 160% and XRP an eye-popping 524.1%, exposing Ethereum’s fading dominance.
XRP is becoming more popular now than ETH; hell, even Dogecoin ($DOGE) is.
I always think of it like this: If you ask 100 random people in a grocery store if they’ve heard of Bitcoin, 100% or close to 100% of them will have. Ethereum, maybe 50 to 75%. XRP, those same numbers. A few others, like Solana ($SOL) or Dogecoin, would be up there.
To counter the slump, founder Vitalik Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation are doubling down. From governance tweaks to courting Wall Street, they’re refocusing efforts to pitch ETH.
Ethereum Looks to Wall Street with Etherealize

A key part of Ethereum’s strategy is Etherealize, a startup founded by former bond trader Vivek Raman with backing from Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation. Based in New York, the company aims to market Ethereum as the go-to blockchain for financial institutions while developing new products tailored to their needs.
“If there’s any time it’s going to work, it’s right now,” said Raman, noting that Ethereum is primed to meet institutional demands for “safety, security, reliability, and a track record.”
Uh oh. Does any of this sound strange to you? Ethereum is giving up its game to play Solana’s game of cozying up to big finance. Too little, too late? Either way tokenization is the name of the game for Etherealize. By turning conventional financial assets into digital tokens for blockchain trading, the company is betting on making Ethereum the go-to platform for blockchain-based finance.
Leadership Shake-Ups at Ethereum
Ethereum’s push to court Wall Street is taking on new urgency as Solana gains steam. Known for its speed and affordability, Solana has won over developers and drawn attention with headline-grabbing projects like the Trump-backed $TRUMP and $MELANIA memecoins.
Its blistering growth in the past year has outshone both Ethereum and Bitcoin, putting a spotlight on Ethereum’s slipping dominance.
We are indeed currently in the process of large changes to EF leadership structure, which has been ongoing for close to a year. Some of this has already been executed on and made public, and some is still in progress.
What we're trying to achieve is primarily the following…
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 18, 2025
The Ethereum community isn’t holding back. Critics have blasted the foundation for dragging its feet and obsessing over obscure technical pursuits instead of adapting to bigger market shifts.
Buterin, in a post on X, didn’t deny it. He confirmed major leadership shake-ups are in motion.
“We are indeed currently in the process of large changes to EF leadership structure,” Buterin wrote, emphasizing the goal of improving alignment between leadership and the community.
Ethereum must balance technical sophistication with a more aggressive push into mainstream adoption to secure its future. Initiatives like Etherealize point to a promising start, but the network faces stiff competition from nimbler rivals.
$WEPE – Wolf of Wall Street Crypto With Nearly $60m Raised
If you’re looking for a rising star marketing itself as a Wall St. legend, $WEPE has been making noise with its ambitious plans and supportive community.
With a going presale raising nearly $60 million, WEPE has already drawn attention for its innovative tokenomics, which offer deflationary mechanics and rewards for long-term holders.
Fiat is dead. Frogs are taking over. 🐸⚔️ pic.twitter.com/FvfZBG6rCQ
— Wall Street Pepe (@WEPEToken) January 23, 2025
$WEPE is still flying under the radar, but early adopters could see impressive gains as its projects mature. Look out for this one if you want to be ahead of the curve.
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EXPLORE: SOL Price Smacks New Weekly High As New Solana Layer 2 Cracks $11M Funding
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