The cryptocurrency market has always moved in cycles, and one of the most anticipated phases is the Altcoin Season ā often called āAlt Season.ā This is the period when altcoins outperform Bitcoin in terms of percentage gains, drawing in both new retail traders and experienced investors. With recent shifts in BTC dominance, many are now asking: Is the next alt season coming?
In this article, weāll break down the signals, compare with previous alt seasons, and look at key assets like ETH, SUI, FET, and more.
š What is BTC Dominance and Why Does It Matter?
BTC Dominance refers to the percentage of total crypto market capitalization that is held in Bitcoin. When BTC dominance is high (above 50%), it means most investors are prioritizing Bitcoin. But when BTC dominance falls while the market cap remains stable or rises ā itās usually a signal that altcoins are gaining strength.
As of July 17, 2025, BTC dominance is hovering around 45.8%, down from its recent peak of nearly 52% earlier in the year. This drop in dominance, especially if Bitcoinās price stays stable or grows slowly, is often seen as the early sign of an upcoming altcoin season.
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š A Look Back: How Did the Previous Alt Seasons Start?
Letās take a step back and look at what happened in past alt seasons:
š¹ Alt Season of Early 2021:
BTC dominance dropped from ~70% to ~40% in just a few months.
Bitcoin surged from $30k to $65k, but during that time, altcoins exploded:
Ethereum (ETH) went from $700 to $4,000+
FET (Fetch.ai) moved from under $0.10 to nearly $1
SUI wasnāt launched yet, but similar Layer 1s like Solana & Avalanche pumped 10ā20x
Crypto total market cap grew from $1 trillion to $2.5+ trillion
Retail euphoria, NFT boom, and DeFi explosion fueled the frenzy.
š¹ Mid-2020 Alt Season:
BTC dominance fell from ~67% to ~58%
Ethereum led the way with the rise of DeFi projects like Uniswap, Aave, and Yearn
Several small-cap alts rose 5xā20x in short periods
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š® Current Signals Pointing Toward Alt Season
As we approach Q3 of 2025, many of the same ingredients from past alt seasons are beginning to appear:
Indicator Current Status
BTC Dominance Dropping (~45.8%)
Bitcoin Price Consolidating near $63k
Market Sentiment Neutral to mildly bullish
ETH/BTC Ratio Rising (strong sign for alts)
Layer 1 Ecosystems Warming up
DeFi/NFT Activity Gradually increasing
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š How Key Altcoins Are Performing Right Now
ā
Ethereum (ETH)
Currently trading around $3,450
ETH has shown strength vs BTC recently
If ETH breaks past $3,800ā4,000, it could trigger massive L2 and DeFi interest
ā
SUI
One of the newest Layer 1 chains gaining traction
From its lows near $0.45, it recently touched $1.10
Developer activity and TVL are steadily growing
ā
FET (Fetch.ai)
A leading AI-focused token
Previously surged from $0.06 to over $2 in 2021ā2022
Now showing signs of accumulation; breakout possible if AI narrative returns
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š§ Why This Could Be the Start of the Next Alt Season
1. BTC dominance is falling ā a classic setup
2. Bitcoin has already made its major move (from ~$25k to $63k+ in 2024ā2025)
3. Ethereum and alt L1s are heating up
4. Retail attention is gradually shifting to cheaper coins with more upside
5. Memecoins and low-cap alts are slowly waking up ā historically a late signal in the alt season cycle
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š° How Big Can This Alt Season Be?
If this is truly the beginning of another altcoin season:
Total crypto market cap could move from current ~$2.3 trillion to $3T+
ETH could revisit $5,000
Small caps like FET, SUI, and AI coins might 3ā5x
Alt-L1s (e.g., AVAX, ATOM, NEAR) could go 2x or more
Regulatory announcements
Overcrowded trades and scams in smaller-cap tokens
Unrealistic expectations ā not every coin will pump
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ā
Conclusion
While nothing is guaranteed in crypto, the current market conditions ā dropping BTC dominance, rising ETH/BTC ratio, and increased interest in altcoin narratives ā all point to the early stages of a possible altcoin season. If youāre in the market, this may be a good time to start researching high-potential projects and position wisely.
Keep watching BTC dominance, Ethereumās strength, and on-chain trends. Altcoin season doesnāt arrive overnight, but the signals often start quietly ā just like now.
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š Altcoin Performance During Previous Alt Seasons: AR, ARB & More
In previous alt seasons, many Layer 2s and data-related tokens surprised the market with explosive gains. Among them, Arbitrum (ARB) and Arweave (AR) were standout performers.
š· Arbitrum (ARB)
ARB, the governance token of the popular Layer 2 scaling solution Arbitrum, was launched in 2023 and quickly gained traction due to its massive ecosystem and low gas fees.
During the mini alt season of early 2024, ARB surged from around $0.90 to nearly $2.40, giving investors a ~160% return in just a few months.
In times of high Ethereum congestion, L2s like ARB are often the first to gain momentum, especially as DeFi and meme coin trading heats up.
In the current market, ARB is consolidating near $1.20ā$1.30, and many analysts see a potential rally if ETH dominance rises.
š· Arweave (AR)
AR, the native token of the decentralized data storage platform Arweave, has also shown strong historical performance during bull phases.
In the major 2021 alt season, AR skyrocketed from $2ā3 range to over $85, representing a 2,500%+ gain.
This huge surge was driven by growing demand for permanent data storage, especially during the NFT and Web3 content boom.
While AR has cooled down since, it still has strong fundamentals and partnerships, including with Solana.
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š Summary of Alt Performance (Past Alt Seasons)
Token Starting Price Peak Price Approx Gain
ETH $700 $4,800 ~585%
FET $0.06 $2.40 ~3900%
AR $3 $85+ ~2700%
ARB $0.90 $2.40 ~160%
SUI $0.45 $1.40 ~210%
These results show that during alt seasons, small-to-mid cap tokens with strong narratives can outperform even Bitcoin and Ethereum in terms of percentage returns.
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š§ What to Watch Now?
As BTC dominance drops and Ethereum gains traction, it's time to keep an eye on high-potential altcoins like ARB and AR. Theyāve proven themselves in the past and could again lead in the early phase of the next altcoin wave.
Always do your own research (DYOR) and manage risk accordingly ā but historically, these types of tokens tend to shine when alt season truly arrives.