As Bitcoin holds firm around $87K–$91K (with occasional dips testing lower supports), many altcoins continue to bleed relative value. Here's the breakdown:
Bitcoin Dominance Rising (59%+): Institutional money & ETF inflows keep flowing heavily into BTC as the "safe" crypto play. Dominance climbing toward 60% squeezes capital out of alts—no classic rotation yet.
Regulatory & Market Structure Delays: U.S. market structure bill progress is stalled, capping valuations for DeFi, exchanges, and smaller alts. Benchmark notes infrastructure/BTC best positioned, while alts lag amid uncertainty.
K-Shaped Market & Risk Aversion: Top assets (BTC, maybe ETH) rally or hold, but mid/small-cap alts face bearish pressure. Weak retail demand, poor tokenomics in many projects, and fragmented liquidity mean alts stay volatile and underperform.
No Full Altseason Trigger: Altcoin Season Index hovers mid-range (around 55), not signaling a broad shift. Analysts like those at Wintermute say fresh BTC rallies or major catalysts needed to revive alts—2026 isn't repeating 2021 dynamics.
Healthy consolidation? Or deeper trouble for most alts? Many warn a large chunk won't survive the year without real utility/innovation.
What do you think—is altseason delayed or dead for now? Share your favorite under-the-radar alts, BTC predictions, or questions below—love hearing your takes! Thanks for reading, stay sharp & take care out there!
