Lead
The Altcoin Season Index currently reads 43, indicating it is not altcoin season. Recent performance data over the last 90 days shows Bitcoin outperforming a broad swath of the top 50 cryptocurrencies, with many altcoins posting mixed or lagging returns.
Key Developments
- The latest reading of 43 places the market below the threshold typically associated with an altcoin-led cycle.
- The index gauges whether altcoins are outperforming Bitcoin over a 90‑day period. An Altcoin Season is generally defined when at least 75% of the top 50 altcoins outperform Bitcoin over that timeframe.
- A recent heatmap of the top 50 cryptocurrencies illustrates Bitcoin in the green, while many altcoins show muted or negative performance, reinforcing the current Bitcoin-favored environment.
For reference and methodology, see the Altcoin Season Index.
Market Context
Historical cycles since 2017 highlight alternating periods of Bitcoin Season and Altcoin Season, reflecting shifting market leadership. A sub-75 reading like 43 typically corresponds to conditions where Bitcoin leadership persists and risk appetite for smaller-cap tokens remains selective.
What the Index Implies
- Momentum currently favors Bitcoin over a broad altcoin basket.
- For an altcoin‑led rotation to materialize, a more broad-based outperformance from altcoins would be required to push the index toward or above the 75 threshold.
- Traders often watch this index alongside measures of market breadth, liquidity, and dominance to assess whether leadership is consolidating or rotating.
Looking Ahead
A sustained improvement in altcoin performance relative to Bitcoin over the coming weeks would be needed to shift the index into Altcoin Season territory. Until then, the reading at 43 suggests a market still biased toward Bitcoin with selective altcoin strength rather than a broad altcoin rally.