Ethereum's $6.25B+ institutional surge highlights a major shift: capital now values its utility and yield beyond Bitcoin's pure store-of-value. ETH's smart contracts, DeFi, and staking rewards offer unique advantages, potentially leading it to surpass BTC in market caps during growth cycles. However, Bitcoin's entrenched "digital gold" status, scarcity, and security are unlikely to vanish. ETH isn't simply dethroning BTC; they're evolving distinct roles. ETH leads as programmable infrastructure and productive capital, while BTC remains digital bedrock for preservation. The future likely involves both thriving – ETH driving utility, BTC anchoring scarcity – strengthening the broader crypto ecosystem.
