"ALT season" (short for Altcoin Season) is a term used in the cryptocurrency world to describe a period when alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) — any crypto other than Bitcoin — significantly outperform Bitcoin in terms of price gains.
Key Features of ALT Season:
Massive Altcoin Gains: Coins like Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and many smaller-cap coins experience sharp price increases.
Bitcoin Dominance Drops: Bitcoin dominance (the percentage of the total crypto market cap that is Bitcoin) tends to fall, as money flows into altcoins.
Retail Hype & FOMO: Many new or casual investors jump in, pushing up prices. Social media buzz and meme coins often spike during this time.
Speculative Frenzy: Projects with little or no fundamental value can still pump — largely due to hype and momentum.
Indicators That ALT Season Might Be Happening:
1. Bitcoin dominance is falling.
2. Ethereum starts outperforming Bitcoin.
3. Small and mid-cap coins start going parabolic.
4. Meme coins and low-cap tokens see huge gains.
5. Social media and Google Trends spike for altcoin-related keywords.
Tools to Track ALT Season:
BlockchainCenter's Altcoin Season Index — a popular metric to see if it's "Bitcoin Season" or "Altcoin Season".
Tips During ALT Season:
Be cautious — high gains come with high risks.
Don’t chase pumps — consider entry points and risk management.
Take profits periodically.
Watch for exit signals, as these seasons often end abruptly with sharp corrections.