Altcoin Season

Altcoin season, or “alt season,” is a period in the crypto market when altcoins (any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin) outperform Bitcoin in terms of price gains. During this time, investors shift their funds from Bitcoin into altcoins, leading to massive price rallies in coins like Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and many others.

Historically, altcoin seasons have followed major Bitcoin bull runs. For example, after Bitcoin’s rise in late 2017, altcoins surged in early 2018. Ethereum rose from under $10 in early 2017 to over $1,300 in January 2018. A similar pattern occurred in 2021: Bitcoin hit $64,000 in April, then altcoins like Dogecoin, BNB, and Solana experienced explosive growth through May.

Altcoin seasons are driven by hype, new blockchain projects, and lower entry prices that attract retail investors. They also reflect growing interest in technologies beyond Bitcoin, such as smart contracts, DeFi, and NFTs.

Traders often track the Bitcoin dominance chart to spot altcoin seasons. When Bitcoin dominance drops below 50%, it often signals the start of altcoin momentum.

Altcoin seasons offer huge opportunities, but also high risk. Timing is key, as altcoins often crash harder than Bitcoin after the peak.