As October trading gets underway, Ethereum, Solana and Sui are emerging as focal points for crypto investors, while a broader retest of altcoin market support is dividing traders between dip-buying opportunities and the risk of further downside. The altcoin market gauge TOTAL3, which tracks the market capitalisation of all cryptocurrencies excluding Bitcoin, Ethereum and stablecoins, is sitting at a key support level. A sustained defence with rising volume could strengthen the case for an altcoin rebound, while a breakdown may extend selling pressure.
Ethereum (ETH) is attracting attention ahead of Glamsterdam, described as the network's largest upgrade since the Merge. ETH opened the week near $2,727 and has repeatedly struggled to break through the $2,800 area, with three rejections creating a tight range. Rollout begins on the Sepolia testnet on October 6, with mainnet deployment targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. The upgrade package includes enshrined proposer-builder separation to reduce dependence on external MEV infrastructure, and Block-Level Access Lists to improve transaction processing through parallel execution.
Solana (SOL) offers an ecosystem-driven narrative despite trading about 60% below its record peak. SOL is around $121, compared with a high of $295. Trading activity across decentralised exchanges remains strong, consumer-focused applications continue to launch, and institutional exposure has improved after Charles Schwab added SOL alongside Avalanche and Chainlink for millions of clients. Spot Solana ETFs remain available, although inflows have slowed and price has struggled to move beyond the $120 region.
Sui (SUI) is the momentum standout among the group, trading near $1.23 after gaining roughly 60% over the past month, supported by a rally of nearly 80% from strong support. Despite the advance, SUI remains far below its all-time high of $5.37. Sui Basecamp 2026 is scheduled for October 7 and 8 in Singapore, while Mysten Labs continues to focus on payments, stablecoins and AI-powered transactions. More than $1 trillion in stablecoin transfer volume has passed through the ecosystem since August 2025, and recent Bitcoin collateral support helped fuel the latest move.
Elsewhere in the altcoin market, traders are monitoring XRP, Cardano (ADA), Pi Network (PI) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) as TOTAL3 retests its support zone. XRP remains tied to cross-border payments and market liquidity, ADA is viewed through development and network adoption, Pi Network's mobile-focused model faces questions over sustainable demand, and SHIB carries meme-coin volatility. These assets are considered watchlist candidates rather than confirmed buying opportunities, with volume, price stability and overall demand needed to confirm any rebound.
