Bitcoin’s historic surge past $100,000 has solidified its position in “uncharted waters,” but the altcoin market is in disarray, with some tokens struggling to keep up while others promise a boom.
Bitcoin has become the clear leader of the 2024 crypto bull market, with an impressive 150% year-to-date performance. In contrast, most altcoins have lagged behind, including the second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum (ETH). Ethereum is up just 69% this year and has yet to reclaim its 2021 all-time high.
However, altcoins like XRP and Solana have outperformed most of the market, emerging as potential leaders in what analysts are calling the next “alt season.”
Historically, an altcoin season begins when Bitcoin’s dominance of the total crypto market cap decreases, typically below 40%. Currently, Bitcoin accounts for 54% of the $3.86 trillion crypto market cap, suggesting that the market has yet to fully transition into an altcoin rally.
According to Mena Theodoru, co-founder of crypto exchange Coinstash, Ethereum will play a key role in signaling the change.
“Historically, when momentum shifts from Bitcoin to ETH, it signals broader market confidence in altcoins or the start of an altseason,” Theodoru said.
Ethereum’s surge above $4,000 for the first time since March has reignited investor optimism, with over $2 billion inflows into ETH-based exchange-traded funds this month alone.
Bitstamp USA CEO Bobby Zagotta echoed this sentiment, predicting an imminent altcoin season. “We’re on the cusp of that,” he said. “Altcoins are outperforming Bitcoin in certain areas, and that could rival the bull market we’ve seen in 2021.”
*This is not investment advice.
