Altcoin Index: How to Know If Altseason Has Arrived

What Is the Altcoin Season Index?

The Altcoin Season Index, tracked by CoinMarketCap, is a data-backed signal showing whether altcoins are outperforming Bitcoin in the short to medium term. It crunches the performance of the top 50–100 altcoins over a rolling 90-day window and compares that to BTC’s gains.

If 75% or more of these altcoins are beating Bitcoin, you’re officially in Altcoin Season.
If fewer than that outperform BTC, it’s still Bitcoin Season—and you might want to wait before chasing low-cap gems.

Current Market Snapshot

As of now, here’s the market dominance split:

• BTC Dominance: 60.0%
• ETH Dominance: 11.4%

Translation? Bitcoin is still the main character. But when that dominance drops closer to the 40s, it usually signals the start of wild altcoin moves.

This data isn’t just trivia. It’s used by smart traders to time entries, rotate portfolios, and ride the market momentum.

Why Altseason Matters

Altcoin seasons tend to produce some of the highest ROI opportunities in crypto—if timed correctly. Here’s why:

• Altcoins often follow BTC’s rally, but with higher volatility
• Once Bitcoin cools, capital flows into smaller coins
• Meme coins, DeFi tokens, and Layer-1s can 10x in weeks

But miss the timing, and you’re catching falling knives instead of gains.

How Traders Use the Index

Here’s how experienced traders approach it:

• BTC Season: Stack stablecoins or ride BTC momentum
• Altcoin Season Beginning: Start rotating into ETH, SOL, AVAX, or trending tokens
• Full Altseason: Go risk-on, pick niche coins, and watch for blow-off tops
• End of Altseason: Take profits, reallocate, avoid greed

Many pair the Altcoin Index with technical indicators like RSI or moving averages. But even by itself, the index offers a macro view of market sentiment that’s hard to ignore.

What to Watch Next

If BTC dominance starts falling toward 50% or lower, that’s your cue. Historically, that’s when the altcoin engine starts firing.

Also watch for:

• ETH flipping BTC in 90-day performance
• Low-cap coins pumping on X (Twitter)
• Sudden surge in meme coin volume

These are all signs that altseason isn’t just a buzzword—it’s happening.

FAQs

1. What is Altcoin Season?
Altcoin Season is when most major altcoins outperform Bitcoin over a 90-day period, typically signaling a shift in trader sentiment and capital flows.

2. What triggers Altcoin Season?
Usually, a strong Bitcoin rally followed by consolidation or slowdown allows altcoins to shine. Falling BTC dominance is a key sign.

3. How can I use the Altcoin Index?
Use it to gauge overall market trend and sentiment. If more than 75% of top altcoins are outperforming BTC, it’s a signal to start rotating into alts.

4. Where can I trade altcoins safely?
Gate.com offers access to a wide range of altcoins, trading tools, and early listings—ideal for taking advantage of altseason opportunities.

5. Is now a good time to buy altcoins?
With BTC dominance at 60%, we’re not in full altseason yet—but it’s worth keeping your watchlist ready. Use the index and price action as your guide.