3 Promising Altcoins to Buy as Bitcoin ETF Inflows Surge Past $1.3B

• Institutional buying, ETF prospects, and DeFi growth drive Solana’s strong upside potential.
• Regulatory clarity and network upgrades position Cardano for strategic long-term growth.
• Inflation cut, partnerships, and institutional products make NEAR a rising ecosystem contender.

The approval of Bitcoin ETFs created a rush of new capital in crypto markets. Inflows recently passed $1.3 billion, showing growing confidence from institutions and retail investors. While Bitcoin remains the anchor, many traders are looking at alternative assets for higher returns. Certain altcoins stand out because of strong fundamentals, rising adoption, and investor interest. Solana, Cardano, and NEAR Protocol are three names attracting serious attention right now.

Solana (SOL)

Solana Blockchain continues to gain traction among large investors and institutions. Over $88 million worth of SOL was purchased in just three days. This buying activity reduced sell pressure and pushed the market closer to higher levels. Analysts project price targets between $400 and $733 for 2025, highlighting strong confidence. Activity within the Solana network keeps expanding across DeFi, NFTs, and SocialFi. Public companies now hold more than $1.7 billion worth of SOL, showing rising corporate trust. On top of that, multiple ETF applications tied to Solana are under review by the SEC. Forecasts suggest a 99% chance of approval before October, which could attract massive inflows. For investors seeking early positioning, Solana stands out as a top option.

Cardano (ADA)

Cardano is focused on scaling and infrastructure upgrades, even as it faces regulatory delays. The SEC pushed back the review of Cardano’s proposed spot ETF until October 26, 2025. This delay caused ADA to slip by 8%, but long-term holders appear unfazed. Data shows $57 million worth of ADA flowing out of exchanges, hinting at accumulation.Development also remains steady, with $71 million dedicated to upgrades. Hydra v1.0 scaling and Ouroboros Leios consensus are at the core of these plans. Analysts argue that Cardano’s direction largely depends on ETF approval, with potential upside to $1.18 if cleared. Strategic investors view the current uncertainty as an opportunity to enter before clarity arrives.

NEAR Protocol (NEAR)

NEAR Protocol has been strengthening its ecosystem with recent upgrades and new partnerships. A major update reduced annual inflation from 5% to 2.5%, easing selling pressure for holders. At the same time, enhanced developer tools now support more seamless cross-chain swaps. Institutional presence is also growing. Bitwise recently launched a NEAR Staking ETP on Germany’s Xetra exchange, opening exposure to new investors. Partnerships with Everclear now link NEAR to more than 20 blockchains, boosting liquidity and adoption. With rising utility and strong technical growth, NEAR continues to hold a spot among the most promising altcoins.

Bitcoin ETFs have shifted investor focus to the broader crypto market. Solana benefits from rising institutional support and possible ETF approval. Cardano builds for the future while awaiting regulatory clarity. NEAR strengthens cross-chain access and draws institutional interest.