Author: Yan Krivonosov

What is altseason and how was it before

Altseason (altseason) is a period in the crypto market when alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) show significantly higher growth rates compared to Bitcoin. This phenomenon occurs when capital begins to flow from BTC into other crypto assets after a substantial rise in the first cryptocurrency.

Historically, the most prominent altseasons were observed in:

1. 2017 — after Bitcoin's rise from $1,000 to $20,000, capital rushed into altcoins. Ethereum grew by 13,000%, Ripple (XRP) by 36,000%, and many insignificant projects showed astronomical returns.

2. 2021 — Bitcoin reached $69,000, after which a massive rise in altcoins began. Solana (SOL) showed a growth of 12,000%, Binance Coin (BNB) by 1,300%, and meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu became real "rockets".

A characteristic feature of all previous altseasons is that they began after a substantial rise in Bitcoin, when its market dominance (BTC Dominance) began to decline from levels above 60%.

Why altseason will repeat in 2025

We are currently witnessing a classic preparation for a powerful altseason, and the foundation for it is even stronger than in previous cycles. Here’s why:

1. The inevitable market cycle

The crypto market develops cyclically, and after nearly 4 years of a bear market (2022-2024), we have entered a growth phase. Historically, altseasons have occurred 12-18 months after Bitcoin's halving (which was in April 2024). We are currently in that period.

BTC has already shown significant growth — from $30,000 in early 2024 to $123,000 in July 2025. Bitcoin's dominance has started to decline from 64% to 59.5% over the past few weeks, which is a clear signal of capital flowing into altcoins.

2. The influence of macroeconomic factors

Two key laws initiated by the Trump administration significantly affected the market:

- Allowing the use of BTC in real estate transactions — attracted institutional capital
- Reducing regulatory barriers for cryptocurrencies — created a favorable investment environment

These changes led to the following:
- 144 public companies have already announced accumulating Bitcoin on their balance sheets in the model of Michael Saylor
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs accumulated 200,000 BTC ($9.5 billion) in just one month
- Institutional investors began to massively enter the market through regulated instruments

3. Growth of the altcoin ecosystem

Modern altcoins are not just "copies of Bitcoin," as in 2017. They represent entire ecosystems with real use-cases:

- Ethereum — leader in DeFi and smart contracts, preparing to launch an ETF for staking
- Solana — high-performance blockchain with a growing ecosystem (TVL $138 billion)
- Ripple (XRP) — resolution of the dispute with the SEC opened the way for institutional adoption
- TON — integration with Telegram provides access to 800 million users

Meanwhile, the Altcoin Season Index has already reached 53 points and continues to grow. For a full altseason, it needs to surpass 75, which analysts predict will happen in Q3-Q4 of 2025.

Why everything is just beginning: numbers and facts

1. The market capitalization of altcoins could reach $1.1 trillion in the current cycle, with the current level around $700 billion — a growth potential of almost 60%.

2. Growth leaders are already showing impressive results:
- Ethereum: $3,665 (+85% since the beginning of the year)
- Solana: $197 (+120%)
- XRP: $3.46 (+210%)

3. Sectoral trends:
- AI crypto: +2,939.8% since the beginning of the year
- Meme coins: +1,313.5%
- DeFi: TVL $138 billion

4. Influx of capital:
- ETH ETFs attracted $2.18 billion in a week in July and so on.

Phases of altcoin rotation: where are we now?

The market is going through classic phases of capital flow:

1. Bitcoin phase (completed at this point) — BTC rose from $30,000 to $123,000
2. Ethereum phase (current) — ETH grows amid ETFs and updates
3. Major altcoin phase (beginning) — SOL, XRP, BNB are already hitting ATH

Altcoin mania phase (ahead) — growth of small and medium projects

We are currently at the intersection of the 2nd and 3rd phases, as confirmed by:
- The decline of BTC dominance to 59.5%
- The growth of the ETH/BTC pair
- The increase in trading volumes on DEX


Despite optimistic forecasts, it is essential to remember the risks:
- Regulatory changes may affect individual projects
- High volatility remains
- Not all altcoins will show growth — selection must be deliberate

However, the current fundamental factors (institutional adoption, ETFs, Trump’s laws) create unprecedented favorable conditions for growth. Experts note, "2025 could be the year of another altseason, and preparation for it is already underway."

Given the 4-year bear market, the current cycle could surpass the scales of even 2017 and 2021. As the crypto community says: "Bitcoin sets the trend, and altcoins make fortunes." It seems that the time to make fortunes is right now.

This is just my opinion and not financial advice.