Ethereum, Solana and XRP React to Bitcoin Crash—Why These Altcoins Are Showing Strength

The Bitcoin price tanked below $90,000, creating shockwaves across the cryptocurrency markets, triggering massive liquidations and profit-taking. The global market capitalisation has dropped from levels close to $4 trillion to levels close to $3 trillion, while the volume surged close to $230 billion. Amid the rising bearish influence over the markets, the top altcoins, Ethereum, XRP & Solana, are displaying massive strength. 

This suggests that liquidity is rotating from Bitcoin to other top altcoins, as market participants appear to be more focused on the prices of ETH, XRP & SOL. 

How the Big Three, ETH, XRP & SOL Moved

As Bitcoin’s sharp drop rattled the market, the immediate question was how major altcoins would react. While the broader sentiment weakened, Ethereum, Solana and XRP each showed a noticeably different price response, revealing where traders are rotating—and where resilience may be emerging.

• The Ethereum price briefly slipped below $3000, marking an intraday low of around $2950, but quickly reclaimed the psychological barrier of $3000. As the price dropped below $3,100, the trading volume increased from $33 billion to over $48 billion to prevent excess bearish action. Currently, the bulls are trying hard to secure the support at $3000, and if they do, the upcoming death cross can be averted. 

• XRP price, on the other hand, stays strong above $2, even though it lost the crucial support zone between $2.24 and $2.27. The token has not printed a huge bearish candle like Bitcoin, which suggests the traders are optimistic about the XRP price, with the upcoming ETFs being the main reason. Similar to Ethereum, the buyers have kept the price above $2.15, which indicates the hidden strength amidst the widely spread bearish narrative. 

• While the other top cryptos are trying hard to prevent excessive bearish action, the Solana price has begun with a parabolic recovery. After hitting lows below $130, the price has reclaimed levels above $135 in a short while, hinting towards buyers utilizing the buying opportunity. The SOL ETF can be considered as a main reason behind the growing optimism around Solana, which could help the price defend the crucial support in the coming days. 

What’s Causing the Bitcoin–Altcoin Divergence?

The latest market shake-up shows a clear divergence between Bitcoin and major altcoins, and several factors are driving this split. Bitcoin faced intense selling pressure as large holders trimmed exposure and derivatives markets saw rapid unwinding, pushing the asset below key psychological levels. But altcoins reacted differently because their liquidity, narratives and investor profiles vary widely. 

Some traders rotated into selectively stronger altcoins like XRP to hedge volatility, while others reduced positions in high-beta assets such as Solana. Meanwhile, Ethereum’s muted reaction reflects its deeper liquidity and ETF-related flows, which tend to buffer sharp swings. Overall, the divergence stems from a mix of profit-taking, uneven risk appetite and narrative-driven positioning—signaling that traders are no longer treating the entire market as a single correlated block.

Wrapping it Up!

Despite the turbulence triggered by Bitcoin’s drop below $90,000, the altcoin response shows that market behavior is becoming more selective. Ethereum, Solana and XRP demonstrated varying degrees of resilience, hinting that traders are weighing individual fundamentals rather than reacting in lockstep with Bitcoin. As the market stabilizes, the next major trend may come from altcoins that hold their structure and maintain stronger narratives. For now, all eyes remain on Bitcoin’s ability to reclaim lost levels—a move that will ultimately determine whether this divergence widens or snaps back into sync.