Ethereum Leads Modest Gains as Bitcoin Holds Firm Above $81,000

Crypto markets presented a broadly subdued picture in morning trading, with most major coins making marginal moves. Bitcoin held firm above the significant $81,000 level, edging down just 0.06% to $81,220.54.

Ethereum was the standout performer, rising 0.61% to $2,522.98 and providing some encouragement for altcoin bulls. BNB, on the other hand, edged down 0.11% to $724.21, while XRP slipped 0.04% to $1.45.

Other large-cap tokens followed suit, with Dogecoin also edging down 0.03% to $0.09. However, Solana and Cardano both recorded slim gains of 0.10% and 0.08%, respectively, inching up to $104.08 and $0.22.

Avalanche was the session's weakest performer, dropping 0.29% to $7.50. Overall, the market seemed to be consolidating recent moves rather than committing to a clear trend, with Ethereum's relative strength catching traders' attention.