Bitcoin Nears $100K Milestone as Solana ETF Hopes Surge

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The cryptocurrency market is experiencing a powerful surge, with Bitcoin (BTC) closing in on the highly anticipated $100,000 milestone and Solana (SOL) rallying amid growing optimism around a potential spot ETF approval. Market sentiment has reached euphoric levels, driven by record inflows into stablecoins, strong institutional participation, and major developments across key blockchain ecosystems.

Market Momentum Reaches New Heights

According to Gate.io market data as of November 22 at 4:00 UTC, the total crypto market capitalization has hit an all-time high of $3.24 trillion, signaling widespread confidence and accelerating adoption. This surge is underpinned by strong price movements across major digital assets.

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ETF Flows and Altcoin Strength

Traditional markets also showed resilience, with the S&P 500 up 0.53%, Nasdaq flat at +0.03%, and the Dow Jones gaining 1.06%. Meanwhile, spot gold climbed to $2,678 per ounce, up 0.30%, highlighting continued demand for alternative assets.

Fear & Greed Index Hits Record High

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index soared from 82 to 94, marking extreme greed and the highest level ever recorded. This reflects heightened investor optimism but also warns of potential overheating in the short term.

Top Gainers: TROY, SOLO, and SLERF Shine

TROY – Up 71% on New Product Launch

TROY surged approximately 71% over the past 24 hours, with a circulating market cap of $64 million. The token powers a multi-functional ecosystem including GameFi, centralized and decentralized exchanges (CEX/DEX), staking, NFT trading, derivatives, and data analytics.

Recent catalysts include the launch of a meme token incubation platform and the introduction of TROY perpetual contracts on major exchanges—driving increased speculation and demand.

SOLO – Up 42.8% on Tokenized Stock Partnership

Sologenic (SOLO) jumped 42.8%, reaching a market cap of $146 million. Built on the XRP Ledger, SOLO enables trading of both crypto and traditional assets like stocks, ETFs, and commodities across over 30 global exchanges.

On November 21, Sologenic announced a partnership with Texture Capital to launch SoloTex, a platform aimed at redefining tokenized stock issuance in the U.S. This collaboration strengthens SOLO’s role in bridging traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi), boosting investor confidence and driving price momentum.

SLERF – Up 36.77% After CEX Listing News

SLERF, a meme coin on the Solana blockchain, gained 36.77% with a market cap of $172 million. Known for its vibrant community and cultural appeal, SLERF saw a sharp rise after a major centralized exchange announced the launch of a SLERF/USDT perpetual contract—sparking renewed interest from traders and speculators.

Key Data Insights

Stablecoin Inflows Hit Record High

According to Glassnode, stablecoin inflows into exchanges reached a record $9.7 billion in a single month—a strong indicator of rising demand for crypto assets. This surge often precedes upward price pressure on Bitcoin, as investors prepare to buy.

With growing macroeconomic uncertainty and increased institutional participation, Bitcoin’s appeal as a digital safe-haven asset continues to grow. These dynamics could be the catalyst that pushes BTC toward the $100K threshold.

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Funding Rates and Liquidations

As of November 22 (UTC), Coinglass data shows:

Both indicate slight long-side pressure but remain within healthy ranges.

The total liquidation volume over the past 24 hours reached $466 million**, with **$259 million in short liquidations—dominated by BTC ($151M) and ETH ($83M). This suggests that recent price rallies have primarily squeezed bearish positions without triggering broad altcoin liquidations.

Ethereum On-Chain Activity Soars

On November 15, Ethereum’s daily on-chain transaction volume spiked to $7.13 billion, the highest level of 2024 and a 85% increase from early November. This resurgence reflects growing network usage, likely driven by DeFi activity, NFT mints, and Layer-2 ecosystem expansion.

Market Catalysts: ETFs, Regulation & Ecosystem Growth

SEC Chair Gary Gensler to Step Down in January 2025

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) confirmed that Chairman Gary Gensler will officially step down on January 20, 2025. During his tenure since April 2021, Gensler oversaw thousands of enforcement actions, recovered $21 billion in penalties, and returned $2.7 billion to harmed investors.

His departure may signal a shift in the SEC’s regulatory approach to cryptocurrencies. The appointment of a new chair could influence future policies on digital asset classification, ETF approvals, and innovation-friendly frameworks—potentially opening doors for faster adoption.

Solana Spot ETF Progress Gains Momentum

FOX Business reporter Eleanor Terrett revealed on November 21 that the SEC is engaged in active discussions with multiple issuers—including VanEck, 21Shares, Canary Funds, and Bitwise—regarding Solana spot ETF applications. Several have already filed S-1 forms, and a 19b-4 listing application is expected soon.

While no approval is guaranteed—especially given past withdrawals—market participants remain optimistic that favorable regulatory shifts could lead to a breakthrough in 2025. Following the news, SOL surged nearly 7%, climbing from $242 to $259 and nearing its all-time high.

Stripe and USDC Join Aptos Ecosystem

Payment giant Stripe has expanded its crypto services to the Aptos (APT) blockchain, now supporting native issuance of Circle’s USDC stablecoin via the Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP). This integration allows seamless USDC transfers between Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, and Aptos.

Merchants can now convert fiat directly into USDC on Aptos, enabling smoother integration between traditional finance and blockchain-based systems. The move enhances capital efficiency, strengthens DeFi infrastructure, and positions Aptos as a competitive player in cross-chain payments and global remittances.

Funding & Innovation: New Projects Raise Millions

Over the past 24 hours, blockchain projects raised more than $33.1 million, with major investments focused on wallets and gaming:

Airdrop Opportunity: SuiNS Name Service

Sui Name Service (SuiNS), a domain project on the Sui blockchain, has opened its token airdrop redemption through its official website. Users who hold SuiNS NFTs can claim their rewards by:

  1. Requesting testnet tokens
  2. Visiting the domain site and minting a name
  3. Completing Crew Task 3

Note: Airdrop details may change. Always verify through official channels and conduct due diligence before participating.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is Bitcoin likely to reach $100,000 soon?
A: With BTC trading near $98,300 and strong institutional inflows into spot ETFs, combined with record stablecoin deposits on exchanges, many analysts believe the $100K milestone is within reach in late 2024 or early 2025—if bullish momentum holds.

Q: What does Solana ETF approval mean for investors?
A: A spot Solana ETF would allow traditional investors to gain exposure to SOL without holding crypto directly. It could bring massive capital inflows, increase liquidity, and validate smart contract platforms beyond Ethereum.

Q: Why are stablecoin inflows important?
A: Rising stablecoin deposits on exchanges often precede buying activity. When investors move USDT or USDC onto exchanges, they’re typically preparing to purchase volatile assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum—acting as a leading indicator of price rallies.

Q: How does Stripe’s USDC integration benefit Aptos?
A: Native USDC support via CCTP improves security, reduces reliance on bridged tokens, and enables seamless cross-chain transactions. It attracts developers building DeFi apps and strengthens Aptos’ position in global payments.

Q: What happens when funding rates are positive?
A: Positive funding rates mean long positions pay shorts—common in bullish markets. Extremely high rates can signal over-leverage and potential corrections.

Q: Are high liquidation volumes bullish or bearish?
A: Large short liquidations (like recent $259M) are often bullish short-term signals—they indicate strong upward pressure that forces leveraged sellers to exit at a loss.

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