The crypto market cap has surged to nearly $4 trillion, positioning the digital asset sector just behind Apple, the world’s largest company by market capitalization. This staggering growth has reignited bullish sentiment across the industry and sparked debate on whether crypto is now solidifying its place as a dominant force in global finance.
According to real-time data from TradingView, the total crypto market capitalization has reached approximately $3.98 trillion as of July 21, 2025. This marks one of the highest valuations in the history of the crypto market, driven by coordinated rallies across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and dozens of altcoins.
Meanwhile, Apple currently sits at a $4.09 trillion valuation, meaning the entire crypto industry is less than $110 billion away from surpassing the tech giant.
What’s Fueling the Crypto Market Cap Explosion?
This explosive move isn’t without fundamental drivers. Several factors are contributing to the massive spike in the crypto market cap, including:
- The approval of multiple crypto-friendly bills in the U.S. House of Representatives, bringing long-awaited clarity for digital assets.
- Growing institutional participation through ETF inflows and corporate treasury diversification.
- Ongoing global inflation concerns, which continue to position Bitcoin as a digital hedge.
- The rise of layer-2 adoption and Web3 infrastructure expansion.
JUST IN: The total crypto market cap has hit a new ATH of $4T. pic.twitter.com/gE8hRFegwz
— CoinGecko (@coingecko) July 18, 2025
Notably, the recent tweet from CoinGecko confirmed that the crypto market has now officially become the second most valuable financial ecosystem in the world by total market size.
Bitcoin and Ethereum Lead the Rally
The dominance of Bitcoin (BTC) continues to play a central role in this upward trend. BTC is currently trading above $118,000, contributing to over 45% of the total crypto market cap. Ethereum (ETH), meanwhile, recently reclaimed the $3,700 level and is benefitting from renewed demand as the ETH ETF narrative continues to build.
Together, BTC and ETH account for more than half of the entire market value, but what’s truly driving attention is the explosive growth in altcoins, especially in sectors like AI, Real World Assets (RWA), and GameFi.
Could the Crypto Market Cap Surpass Apple?
While surpassing Apple’s valuation would be symbolic, it would also represent a watershed moment for digital assets. Many analysts believe it’s not a question of if, but when.
A sustained breakout above the $4 trillion mark could shift public perception, pushing large institutional players and sovereign wealth funds into more aggressive accumulation. Furthermore, as more nations explore stablecoin frameworks and blockchain-based settlements, the market cap could reflect not only speculative value but real economic infrastructure.
A Historic Moment for Crypto
The climb toward Apple’s market cap is more than a headline—it reflects a decade-long transition where crypto moved from niche technology to mainstream financial powerhouse.
While risks remain—especially around regulation, monetary policy, and scalability—market participants are beginning to realize that crypto may no longer be the “alternative.” It is becoming the standard.
Final Thoughts: What the Crypto Market Cap Milestone Signals
This near-parity between crypto market cap and Apple’s valuation underscores the accelerating convergence of technology, finance, and digital ownership. Whether the $4 trillion milestone leads to a healthy correction or a new leg up, one thing is clear: crypto is no longer just a trend—it’s a trillion-dollar revolution.