But Bitcoin is now old tech (that's my view). Bitcoin is incapable of being a global currency (either today or in 100 years' time).
And as Bitcoin becomes less and less dominant, can other cryptocurrencies now diverge independently from BTC?
Pretty much every cryptocurrency of significant market cap has danced in step with Bitcoin. Until now.
From the market over the last week, we can see the beginnings of alt-coins decoupling from the Bitcoin monster. It's sad to see Bitcoin dwindle away and so many people lose their money, but it has to happen this way. Bitcoin cannot do what we need it to do.
I agree. People get glued to BTC but it was only given as an "idea" and that's what people need to understand. You shouldn't get glued to an idea..you should learn something from it and make it better.
A large % of transactions in/out of XRP are in BTC, so it's understandable.
There's a lot of work to do before Ripple can become independent in its own right. All the tools, people, infrastructure (and money) is there.