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In a significant market development, Ethereum (ETH) has surpassed the $4,000 mark for the first time in over ten months, closing the first week of December with a remarkable 40% surge in the weekly time frame. This upswing has been closely tied to a broader rally in the crypto market, particularly with Bitcoin (BTC), which recently reached new all-time highs. Ethereum Surges 61% As ETF Demand Grows According to Bloomberg, Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States experienced unprecedented demand, recording a daily inflow of $428 million on Thursday alone.  This surge in investment interest reflects a growing confidence in Ethereum, particularly following Donald Trump’s election victory on November 5, which ignited a bullish sentiment across the crypto landscape. Since then, Ethereum has outperformed Bitcoin, boasting a staggering 61% increase in value. Related Reading: Trump’s Crypto Czar David Sacks Is Super Bullish For Solana: Here’s Why The appointment of Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has further bolstered enthusiasm for Ethereum. Atkins, a proponent of pro-crypto regulation and a member of the advisory board for the advocacy group Token Alliance, is seen as a positive force for the crypto industry.  Bloomberg suggests that under his leadership, the restrictions preventing investors from earning yield on staked Ether through ETFs could be reconsidered, enhancing the appeal of these investment vehicles. Altcoin Season In Full Swing Nick Forster, founder of the crypto trading platform Derive.xyz, noted, “Now that Bitcoin has hit $100,000, it appears that investors are seeking the next opportunity.”  Forster highlighted that Ethereum remains significantly below its all-time high of $4,878 reached in November 2021, prompting many investors to shift their focus and explore the potential for gains in altcoins like ETH. The increasing interest in Ethereum is also evident in the derivatives market, where open interest in Ether futures contracts on CME Group Inc. has reached record levels, significantly outpacing the growth in Bitcoin futures.  Le Shi, managing director at market-making firm Auros, remarked that US institutions tend to favor regulated investment vehicles, resulting in a higher concentration of activity in CME Ether futures and ETH ETFs. Additionally, the founders of Glassnode—Yan Allemann, Jan Happel, and Rafael Schutlze-Kraft—have pointed to the resilience of altcoins amid Bitcoin’s recent volatility.  Related Reading: Dogecoin Still In Consolidation – Analyst Expects $0,63 If We Get A Breakout Despite Bitcoin experiencing a 13% dip, altcoins have largely maintained their value, indicating a robust market sentiment. The Altcoin Index hitting 100 further confirms that the market is in the midst of an “Altcoin Season,” with expectations for significant moves as the weekend approaches. Looking ahead, the outlook for the market’ second largest crypto remains optimistic, with increasing expectations for both institutional and retail investments as the current market cycle unfolds.  Analysts have already predicted that gains could soon surpass Ethereum’s previous all-time price, setting the stage for a potentially transformative period in the cryptocurrency market. At the time of writing, ETH trades at $3,990.  Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com