What Is Altcoin Season (Altseason)?

In the world of cryptocurrencies, besides the well-known Bitcoin, there are a huge number of other coins that operate according to their own rules. The altseason is one of the most interesting phenomena in the crypto market, which always creates increased excitement among crypto enthusiasts. During this period, investor funds flow into projects other than Bitcoin, resulting in altcoins growing at a significantly higher rate than Bitcoin. Keep reading to learn more.

What Is Altcoin Season?

First, let's clarify the terminology. Anything that is not Bitcoin is referred to in the crypto world as altcoins (from the word “alternative coins”). Among them are both very serious technological giants, such as Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL), and “meme” coins, such as the most famous Dogecoin (DOGE), Pepe (PEPE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB).

Altseason in cryptocurrency refers to changes in market sentiment when alternative coins begin to rise in price much faster and stronger than Bitcoin. During this time, Bitcoin Dominance falls, and capital flows en masse into other assets, causing their charts to skyrocket.

What causes altseason? This usually happens when Bitcoin has already grown significantly and its price “freezes” in place or begins to decline slightly. Investors who have already profited from Bitcoin start looking for new opportunities and shift their money to cheaper and riskier coins in the hope of earning even more. New technologies, simplification of laws, and general optimism in the market also influence this.

Altseason’s Characteristics

The main feature of the altseason is the decline in Bitcoin's dominance. While it usually accounts for 60% of the entire market, its share falls below 40-50% at the height of the season. At the same time, trading volumes on exchanges rise sharply: people begin to actively buy and sell even those coins that no one had heard of yesterday.

So, if you see the following signs, it means that the altcoin season is approaching:

1. The behavior of Bitcoin. BTC stops growing rapidly and enters a waiting mode (flat).

2. Ethereum rally. ETH is often called the “king of altcoins”. If its price starts to grow faster than Bitcoin, this is the first and most reliable signal for the rest of the market.

3. The influx of “crypto dollars”. If a lot of stablecoins (such as USDT) enter the exchange, it means that traders have a lot of “fuel” to buy new coins.

4. Hype on social media. When everyone starts talking about new coins, it's a sure sign that liquidity has gone to the people.

Altcoin Season Index

To avoid reading tea leaves, professionals use a special tool — the Altseason Index. It displays a number from 0 to 100. The rule is simple: if 75 out of 100 top coins grow faster than Bitcoin over three months, then the index is above 75 and we are officially in altseason.

• Below 25: Bitcoin time. It's better to keep your money in it.

• From 25 to 75: Neutral zone. The market is choosing where to go next.

• Above 75: Full-fledged altseason. A time of maximum profit and maximum caution.

In December 2025, the index fell to 17, which meant the return of Bitcoin's dominance after a rapid autumn growth.

You can follow this index on popular resources: Blockchain Center (considered the most accurate), CoinMarketCap (the most convenient for beginners), or Coinglass (for those who want to see more technical data).

Potential Risks

The altseason is not only easy money but also a huge risk. Altcoins are very capricious: they can grow by 50% in an hour and fall by 90% in the next.

The main dangers that await beginners are:

• The risk of losing everything. Many projects are created solely for the sake of hype. As soon as interest wanes, the price drops to zero, and the coin never rises again.

• Fraud. During periods of hype, many fake projects (so-called Rug Pulls) appear, whose creators simply steal investors' money.

• Emotions. Fear of missing out (FOMO) causes people to buy at the peak, when the price is already poised to collapse.

To put it simply, Bitcoin is relatively reliable (low risk), major altcoins are the golden mean (medium risk), and new sectors such as AI or meme coins are a lottery where the risk of losing money is as high as possible.

How to Make Money During Altseason?

Earning money on altcoins is like sliding down a waterfall: money flows from large vessels into small ones.

First, it is better to hold Bitcoin while it is growing. When it stops, part of the profit is transferred to Ethereum. Then it is the turn of such large projects as Solana or XRP. And only at the very end, when euphoria reigns in the market, can you try trading small and risky coins, such as new meme coins.

The main advice, especially for beginners, is to use a dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy. Don't invest everything at once, but buy little by little at regular intervals. And most importantly, lock in your profits! If your coin has doubled in value, take at least part of your investment out so that you don't end up with nothing when the market goes down. Also, don't forget to follow the market and the news to predict the next price reversals.

Never invest your last money or borrowed funds in cryptocurrency. Profits in crypto are only considered real when you have exchanged your coins back into dollars.

In this article, we explained what altseason is and how you can make money during this period. If you still have questions, leave them in the comments!