How Can You Tell When it’s Altcoin Season?

As the cryptocurrency market heats up, one recurring question dominates traders' minds: are we in an Altcoin Season?

The term describes a specific market phase where alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) outperform Bitcoin over a sustained period. Recognizing this shift early can help investors pivot their strategies and capitalize on momentum.

What defines Altcoin Season?

According to the CMC Altcoin Season Index, it’s officially Altcoin Season when 75% of the top 100 coins (excluding stablecoins and wrapped tokens) outperform Bitcoin over the last 90 days. This threshold reflects a broad market rotation away from Bitcoin dominance toward diversified altcoin growth.

Currently, the Altcoin Season Index sits at 33/100, far from the 75-point threshold. That places the market in a Bitcoin-dominant phase, but recent upward movement in the index (from 26 last week to 33 today) hints at early rotation dynamics.

Key signs Altcoin Season has arrived

• Increased Altcoin Dominance
  In previous Altcoin Seasons—like the one in May 2021—the total market cap of top 100 altcoins surpassed 130% of Bitcoin’s. This expansion signals increased capital inflows into altcoins.
• Rapid Price Appreciation
  Altcoins often post dramatic gains in a short span. During early 2021, large-cap altcoins generated 174% average returns, far exceeding Bitcoin’s modest 2% growth in the same timeframe.
• FOMO and Retail Frenzy
  High 24-hour trading volumes and strong bullish sentiment usually accompany Altcoin Seasons. Optimism leads to increased buying pressure, fueling further price momentum and drawing in new participants.
  What does the current data show?

READ MORE:

Binance Founder Says Bloomberg’s USD1 Report is False, Threatens Lawsuit

Although we’re not officially in Altcoin Season yet, the recent rebound in the index suggests increasing investor interest in altcoins. If the trend continues and the index surpasses 50, it could mark the beginning of a broader altcoin rally. For now, Bitcoin remains dominant, but savvy traders are already watching tokens with strong fundamentals or hype potential—just in case altcoin euphoria returns.

Kosta Gushterov

Kosta has been working in the crypto industry for over 4 years. He strives to present different perspectives on a given topic and enjoys the sector for its transparency and dynamism. In his work, he focuses on balanced coverage of events and developments in the crypto space, providing information to his readers from a neutral perspective.