While major cryptocurrencies in the virtual asset market continue to decline, some altcoins are recording double-digit gains, showing a differentiated trend. The declines in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are relatively limited, but there is no clear sign of buying interest spreading across the broader market.

▲ Ripple Falls 1.8%... 10 Gainers vs 39 Losers

As of market movements on the 17th, Binance Coin (BNB) fell 1.0% and Solana (SOL) dropped 0.8%. Ripple (XRP) declined 1.8%, showing a relatively large drop among major virtual assets.

The ratio of gainers to losers also reflects the market's fragile trend. Of the 49 trading pairs under observation, 10 rose and 39 fell. This means that despite gains in some assets, selling pressure continues to dominate overall.

Investor sentiment is also failing to show clear signs of improvement. The cryptocurrency Fear & Greed Index stood at 49, down 1 point from the previous reading of 50. While it remains in neutral territory, it is difficult to conclude that market participants' risk appetite has expanded.

▲ Celestia Surges 19.6%... Worldcoin and EigenLayer Also Rise

Amid this atmosphere, Celestia (TIA) rose 19.6%, showing strong momentum. Its 24-hour trading volume was tallied at approximately $48.2 million. It recorded a relatively high gain among infrastructure-related virtual assets, drawing market attention.

Worldcoin (WLD) also climbed 6.1%. With a 24-hour trading volume of about $53.6 million, it showed a relatively steady trend among artificial intelligence (AI)-related virtual assets.

EigenLayer (EIGEN) rose 9.2%, standing out in the decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain infrastructure sectors. However, its 24-hour trading volume of around $6.3 million was smaller than that of other gaining assets.

▲ Zilliqa Plunges 25.9%... Layer 1 and 2 Sectors Average 3.6% Decline

Meanwhile, downward pressure was pronounced in Layer 1 and Layer 2-related assets. The sector fell an average of 3.6%, with Zilliqa (ZIL) plunging 25.9%. StarkNet (STRK) also dropped 14.8%. Regarding STRK, it was noted that a vote for governance research purposes is underway, though there is insufficient evidence to conclude that this vote directly caused the price decline.

▲ LayerZero and Chainlink Technical Changes, Expanded Access to Ethereum Staking

The market is also paying attention to technical changes in individual blockchains. LayerZero is moving to end support for existing Metis-related routes according to a schedule planned for this month. Chainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) is also being used as a technological foundation connecting Ethereum staking across multiple networks. Such changes could affect asset movement and operational environments between blockchains, but it is difficult to see them as immediate bullish factors for the entire virtual asset market.

Moves to expand institutional and retail investor access to Ethereum staking are also drawing interest. In the United States, retail securities platforms offering Ethereum staking services to eligible clients have emerged, broadening the intersection between traditional financial services and virtual asset management functions.

By sector, DeFi rose an average of 1.2% over 24 hours, performing relatively better than the overall market. However, whether this strength will persist needs to be confirmed through further trading volume and individual asset trends.

▲ Key Variable Ahead: 'Whether Gains Will Spread'

The key variable for the market going forward is whether gains will remain confined to a small number of assets or spread to other altcoins. If the current distribution of 10 gainers and 39 losers does not improve, it will be difficult to judge a broad market rebound based solely on sharp rallies in a few assets.

The price recovery of major virtual assets, including Ripple (XRP), is also an important point to watch. If weakness in XRP and some Layer 1 and Layer 2 assets persists even while Bitcoin and Ethereum's declines remain limited, differentiation within the market could become even more pronounced.

Ultimately, the virtual asset market is showing an imbalanced trend in which some infrastructure- and AI-related assets are rising while the majority are falling. With investor sentiment remaining at neutral levels, changes in trading volume and the number of gaining assets are expected to be key indicators for judging the market's future direction.

[Virtual assets are highly volatile and high-risk investment objects, and market forecasts may differ from actual outcomes. Investors must make their own judgments and bear responsibility for investment decisions and resulting gains or losses. This article does not recommend the purchase or sale of any specific virtual asset and was written with the assistance of AI.]