Altcoin season shows a selective power, with liquidity and usage concentrated in a small number of tokens. Bitcoin's dominance remains above 60%, controlling most assets, but capital continues to rotate into names with specific functionalities. Exchange tokens, DeFi protocols, and privacy networks now play a unique role in shaping this phase of altcoin season.
Seasonal changes are rarely consistent. Traders direct the flow of the order book to places that can absorb scale, where lending platforms provide actual yields, or where privacy features are still needed. OKB, Aave, and Monero represent one of these categories respectively, and together illustrate the type of rotation driving the current cycle.
OKB: Exchange linkage and fee utility
According to CoinMarketCap data, OKB's trading price is close to $210, with a market cap of approximately $4.5 billion. Daily trading volume is rising with the help of OKX trading discounts and staking features.
The token hit an intraday high above $243 today before closing lower. Exchange-linked assets like OKB typically benefit during altcoin seasons, when turnover rises and users seek direct incentives in the venue. Regular token burns associated with activity continue to reduce supply, adding another structural feature for traders monitoring liquidity changes.
Aave: Core of DeFi lending
Aave's trading price is close to $300, with a market cap of $4.56 billion and daily trading volume nearing $1 billion. The protocol underpins the decentralized lending market, supporting collateralization and staking.
Aave's relevance during altcoin season comes from its on-chain utility. Even as other categories slow down, lending activity persists, providing stable usage for the token itself. Recent pricing shows a narrow range between $288 and $303, indicating concentrated liquidity rather than speculative peaks.
Monero: Privacy-based settlement
Monero's trading price is around $262, with a market cap of nearly $4.8 billion and a daily trading volume of about $115 million. The price movement over the past few days ranged from $261 to $279.
Monero continues to serve as a privacy-oriented settlement layer, attracting traders and holders seeking anonymity. During altcoin season, XMR typically draws a unique group of participants who prioritize confidential transfers over mainstream visibility. Even when attention shifts elsewhere, this foundation helps sustain trading.
Altcoin season retains potential
This phase of altcoin season shows activity focused on tokens with clear trading or platform functionalities. OKB benefits from its role in exchange trading. Aave provides the foundation for the decentralized credit market. Monero prioritizes privacy.
Each token has sufficient depth of liquidity to support larger trades without disrupting the stability of the book, whereas smaller assets often lack this element.
Indicators confirming a broader altcoin season include broader growth in spot trading volume, normalization of financing rates after a leverage spike, and tighter correlations within the category. Prior to this, the market rewards assets with utility, settlement functionality, or consistent trading depth.
