Weekend Watch: July 13, 2025
A captivating saga unfolded this weekend—Bitcoin may be standing its ground, but altcoins like Stellar (XLM) and Hedera (HBAR) stole the show.
1. 🟨 Bitcoin: Calm Before the Storm?
BTC remains pinned at approximately $118,000, just shy of its weekend record high. After a dramatic climb from $105K–$110K early in the week up to nearly $119K, it cooled slightly but maintained solid footing .
Even with President Trump imposing 30% tariffs on the EU and Mexico and threatening further hikes, Bitcoin shrugged off much of the noise—hovering around $117.5K–$118K into Sunday .
Takeaway: Bitcoin’s resilience suggests a strong sentiment anchor, even as macroeconomic ripples emerge.
2. 🌟 Altcoin Stars: XLM, HBAR & BONK Shine Bright
While BTC holds steady, altcoins have ignited spectacular rallies:
Altcoin 24‑H Gain Weekly Gain Notable Milestone
XLM +17.5 % +85 % Leading the charge
HBAR +15 % +50 % Breaking beyond $0.22
BONK +12 % — Joining the double-digit rally
Other gainers—ALGO, IMX, MNT—rose too, but nothing beat the explosive moves of XLM and HBAR .
3. 💰 Market Snapshot: Greener Pastures
The crypto market cap surged by ~$20B overnight, culminating at roughly $3.76 trillion .
BTC dominance hovers near 62–63%, nudged lower by the altcoin spike .
On-chain action and ETF demand (like BlackRock’s ETH product) added further bullish momentum .
4. 🌍 Macro Backdrop: Tariffs & Trade Tussles
President Trump’s sweeping tariff measures—25% on Japan/South Korea, 30% on EU/Mexico, and threats to enact more—stoked risk sentiment .
Historically, such trade tensions weigh on markets—but crypto markets right now appear to interpret this as "buy the dip", especially with BTC rebounding and alts soaring.
🎯 Why This Matters
Bitcoin’s stability signals strong institutional confidence—it’s shrugging off macro volatility.
Altcoin surges, particularly in XLM and HBAR, highlight how tactics like sector rotation can unlock alpha.
Macro headlines remain key triggers—tariffs can spark sell-offs, but also fuel relief rallies.
🔮 Weekend Outlook: What’s Ahead?
Will BTC break again? Another leg to test ~$119K–$120K could be in play if risk-on returns post-tariff headlines.
Altcoin season? Sustained flows into XLM and HBAR might inspire spillover to other crypto assets.
Macro watch: Midweek U.S. trade numbers and further tariff shifts could govern near-term heartbeat.
✨ Final Take
Bitcoin’s stability is impressive, but XLM and HBAR are the weekend’s rockstars—blazing past with eye-popping gains. With macro uncertainties swirling, market players should keep a balanced watch: BTC for steadiness, alts for sprint opportunities, and global trade news for sudden turns. Buckle up—crypto’s just getting started.
*🎧 Enjoyed this recap? Keep watching the skies—or rather, charts—to catch the next crypto wildfire.*