Ethereum has been use widely for ICO purchase which have given this coin a high recognition. And also ripple has been on test for her technology in financial institutions to use since it can process trasactions than bitcoin. Will these two coins replace bitcoin and become number 1 on the coinmarketcap
Ethereum is ideed the second most powerful cryptocurrency next in line with bitcoin and its possible that it will take over as the leading crypto in the future. Anything can happen and we dont know the reason about it. But one thing is for sure, even ETH will take as the number one currency, bitcoin will exist forever.
Ethereum won't be the number one crypto because bitcoin will always be number one. Maybe Ethereum can be a substitute for the top position but it is only in terms of price not in other cases.
Why is that?
Because bitcoin is the forerunner of cryptocurrency so that people who invest and trade altcoin are also the main goals to get more bitcoin.