Altcoin Season Index Dips to 17 as Bitcoin Faces Challenges: Implications Explained

The cryptocurrency market is currently facing a downturn, particularly affecting altcoins, which have seen a significant decline in their prices. The Altcoin Season Index has dropped dramatically, indicating that the altcoin market is struggling. This article analyzes the recent performance of altcoins and what the current index levels mean for investors.

Key Takeaways

The Altcoin Season Index has hit a low of 17, indicating that only 17 out of the top 100 altcoins have outperformed Bitcoin in the last 90 days.
Major altcoins have dropped between 30% and 80% from their all-time highs.
A score below 75 on the index suggests that we are not yet in an altcoin season, and scores closer to 100 indicate a potential altcoin market peak.

Top 3 Altcoins to Buy Before the Next Market Rally

Altcoin Season Index Shows Bearish Trends

The Altcoin Season Index, found on the CoinMarketCap website, measures the performance of altcoins relative to Bitcoin. It assesses the top 100 altcoins and compares their 90-day performance with that of Bitcoin to determine the existence of an altcoin season.

Currently, this index has plummeted below 20, landing at a score of 17. This score signifies that only 17 of the top 100 altcoins have performed better than Bitcoin over the last three months. With such a low score, it is clear that altcoins are in a bear market. Notably, Ethereum, which typically leads altcoin rallies, has also underperformed. Ethereum has seen a decrease of 28.30% in the past 90 days, while Bitcoin has experienced a drop of 21.10%.

Altcoin Season Index
Source: CoinMarketCap

Indicators of Bullish Altcoin Trends

To determine if the altcoin market is in a bullish phase, the Altcoin Season Index must reach a score of 75 or higher. This threshold indicates that the majority of altcoins are outperforming Bitcoin over a three-month period, and their collective market capitalization exceeds that of Bitcoin.

Scores below 75 suggest the market has not entered a true altcoin season. The lower the score, the more likely it is that altcoins are in a bear market. Conversely, if the Altcoin Season Index approaches 100, it could signal that the altcoin market is near its peak.

Altcoin seasons typically feature rapid price increases, often with 100% daily rallies. The last significant altcoin season occurred in 2021, and while many anticipated a resurgence in 2025, the current market conditions do not reflect that expectation.

Altcoins Market Cap Chart
Altcoin market cap continues to trend low | Source: Crypto Total Market Cap Excluding BTC on Tradingview.com