Ethereum News: Ether Breaks $4K for First Time Since December as Altcoin Momentum Builds

Key TakeawaysETH surpasses $4,000 for the first time in eight months, up 3.5% in the past 24 hours.ETH/BTC ratio nears yearly highs as Bitcoin dominance drops to 60.7%, with analysts warning of a possible long-term breakdown toward 40%.Whale and institutional purchases — including $40.5M OTC buys and a $5B ETH treasury shelf filing — signal renewed confidence.Altcoin rally widens: XRP +9%, SOL +3.5%, DOGE +5.3%.Ether treasury stocks rise, with Bitmine Immersion +13% and Sharplink Gaming +4%.ETH Hits Key Milestone Amid Altseason StrengthEthereum’s native token ETH surged above $4,000 on Friday, its highest level since December 2024, according to Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView. The move marks a 3.5% daily gain, lifting ETH’s year-to-date performance to +25% and its year-over-year return to +112%.The rally comes as Bitcoin (BTC) trades flat near $116,800, pushing the ETH/BTC ratio up 3% in the past hour and 42% over the last month.Whales and Institutions Accumulate ETHMarket observers point to growing whale and institutional activity:A 10.4K ETH ($40.5M) OTC purchase by a large holder.Fundamental Global Inc filing a $5B shelf offering to buy additional ETH.Blockchain tracker Lookonchain reported a whale leveraging ETH positions via Aave to acquire more ETH at the $4,000 level.Analyst Rekt Capital noted ETH’s growing share of the total crypto market cap, estimating it is “50–60% of the way” through its macro uptrend, according to Cointelegraph.Bitcoin Dominance Under PressureBTC’s market dominance fell to 60.7%, testing critical support. Analysts see potential for a short-term rebound, but warn the eventual breakdown could send dominance into the 40% range.Altcoins and Related Stocks RallyThe broader altcoin market extended gains:XRP rose 9%SOL gained 3.5%DOGE climbed 5.3%Publicly traded companies with ETH exposure also saw a boost — Bitmine Immersion (BMNR) jumped 13%, while Sharplink Gaming (SBET) added 4%.