Ether Emerges as Top Contender Amid Bitcoin Rally.

While Bitcoin continues to surge, crypto traders are turning their attention to Ether ahead of the upcoming "Shanghai Hard Fork" upgrade to the Ethereum blockchain network. Ether has outperformed Bitcoin in the past week, with prices rising 3% to over $1,900. The upgrade is expected to make staking easier, which could support prices, but may also cause selling pressure as some investors exit their positions. Altcoins like Cardano and Polygon have also seen gains, while memecoins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu have weakened.