I was explaining to a friend yesterday why Bitcoin hitting $100,000 is significant, when he asked if this meant he should finally buy some.

"Well," I said, "that's rather like asking if you should start learning to drive after the motorway's already built." Perfectly possible, but you've missed the scenic route.

This perfectly captures where we find ourselves in crypto right now – Bitcoin has made itself comfortable in the six-figure club, while everyone debates whether the party's just getting started or if we should be calling for taxis. Meanwhile, other cryptocurrencies are starting to make some rather interesting moves of their own, rather like uninvited guests who've turned out to be surprisingly good company.

The question isn't whether Bitcoin will stay above $100K (it seems quite settled there), but what happens next in this evolving digital asset landscape.

Bitcoin's New Neighbourhood 🏠

Bitcoin appears to have found its footing above £100,000, and the view from up there is rather spectacular.

Think of Bitcoin's journey like moving house – it's spent months looking at properties in the $90K-$100K range, finally bought something nice above $100K, and now everyone's wondering if it can afford the mortgage payments. The early signs suggest it's settling in quite well, thank you very much.

Corporations continue accumulating Bitcoin like stamp collectors at a rare philatelic auction, while nation states and even football clubs are "knocking back the orange pill" (as our crypto-native friends so eloquently put it). With tariff uncertainty rocking traditional finance, Bitcoin's moment in the spotlight feels particularly well-timed.

The predictions from major institutions range from bullish to "blimey, that's optimistic." While specific numbers vary wildly, the consensus seems to be that $100K might soon feel as quaint as reminiscing about $10K Bitcoin – which, let's be honest, wasn't that long ago.

What does this mean for your portfolio? If you're waiting for a drop back to $70K, you might be in for disappointment. The new normal appears to be significantly higher than the old normal.

The Great Altcoin Awakening 📈

Early signs suggest we're witnessing the beginning of "altcoin season" – that magical time when other cryptocurrencies remember they exist.

Here's where things get interesting, rather like watching a chess match where the pawns suddenly start making aggressive moves. Bitcoin dominance (the percentage of total crypto market cap that Bitcoin represents) remained surprisingly low during last week's market wobble. Normally, it shoots up during turbulent times as investors flee to crypto's equivalent of a safe haven.

The fact that it didn't suggests other cryptocurrencies are showing unusual resilience. It's like discovering your eccentric uncle is actually quite sensible with money – unexpected but potentially very revealing.

Three key indicators to watch:

• Bitcoin ETF outflows while Ethereum ETF inflows continue
• Investors viewing Bitcoin as "too pricey" and seeking alternatives
• The Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas potentially marking a local peak for Bitcoin dominance

This rotation makes perfect sense when you consider market psychology. Bitcoin has become crypto's digital gold – stable, reliable, but perhaps lacking the explosive potential that draws risk-seeking investors.

Could we be witnessing the early stages of a broader crypto market expansion beyond Bitcoin's shadow?

Trump vs. The Federal Reserve: A Modern Soap Opera 📺

Political pressure on monetary policy is creating uncertainty that could paradoxically benefit cryptocurrency.

The ongoing drama between Trump and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reads like a particularly absorbing episode of political theatre. Trump reportedly summoned Powell to the White House last week (rather like being called to the headmaster's office), prompting the Fed to issue a statement insisting on its independence.

This tension stems from Trump's tariff policies and their interaction with monetary policy – a complex dance that makes ballroom dancing look straightforward. The uncertainty around tariffs has kept investors cautious about taking risks, but as that uncertainty potentially decreases, we might see more money flowing into riskier assets like altcoins.

The nuclear option – Trump attempting to take control of the Fed – would be catastrophic for traditional markets but potentially rocket fuel for crypto. After all, cryptocurrency was literally designed as an alternative to government-controlled monetary systems.

Fortunately, cooler heads seem to be prevailing, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent exploring more conventional solutions like adjusting bank regulations to support bond purchases.

The Hyperliquid Phenomenon: Defying Crypto Gravity 🍯

HYPE token has risen from $8 to $32 while most crypto projects struggle with post-launch selloffs.

Hyperliquid's success story reads like a cryptocurrency fairy tale, except it's actually happening in real life. The project launched without venture capital funding (revolutionary in crypto), airdropped 31% of tokens to users (typically a recipe for disaster), and yet the token price has consistently climbed rather than crashed.

The secret sauce? Community-first tokenomics and an "Assistance Fund" that uses platform fees to buy back tokens. It's like having a automatic support system that kicks in whenever selling pressure appears – roughly 63-97% of platform revenue goes toward these buybacks.

"HYPE is essentially a fair launch BNB – and if history repeats, we should see it climb into the top 10 leaderboard sooner than later."

The numbers are rather impressive: over 94,000 users received airdrops averaging 2,915 HYPE tokens each. At current prices, that's roughly $100,000 per recipient. Not bad for being an early user of a trading platform.

The practical implication? Hyperliquid has shown that thoughtful tokenomics can overcome the typical post-launch death spiral that plagues most crypto projects.

Looking Forward

The crypto landscape is evolving rather like London's skyline – familiar landmarks remain, but the view keeps changing in fascinating ways. Bitcoin has established itself as digital real estate in an expensive neighbourhood, while other cryptocurrencies are finding their own paths to relevance.

Whether we're entering a full alt-coin season or just experiencing a brief respite from Bitcoin dominance remains to be seen. But the signs are encouraging for those who believe crypto's future involves more than just one very expensive digital coin.

The interplay between traditional finance uncertainty and crypto adoption continues to create opportunities for those paying attention. Rather like spotting trends in British weather, it requires patience, observation, and the occasional guess.

What's your take on this potential altcoin awakening? Are you positioned for a broader crypto rally, or are you sticking with Bitcoin's steady climb?