- Altseason dynamics have shifted, with macro forces outweighing past cycle patterns.
- Market sentiment remains low, but strong altcoin development signals hidden value.
- Falling interest rates and dollar weakness may spark a broader altcoin resurgence.
The long-awaited “altseason” remains a hot topic in the crypto community. Investors are eager for a breakout in alternative cryptocurrencies after years of underperformance. According to Michaël van de Poppe, an analyst analysis, despite Bitcoin soaring above $100,000, many altcoins still lag far behind their all-time highs.
When #Altseason?
— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) June 8, 2025
One of the most asked questions, as people are looking to make a large return, willing to bet everything on it.
Altseason hasn't come for a long time, the question is: when will this start to appear?
I think we're not too far off, and it's all about… pic.twitter.com/8GtMzDD0Zt
Shift in Market Cycles
Altseason is no longer what it used to be. In 2017, nearly every altcoin saw explosive growth. However, 2021 told a different story. While Bitcoin surged, most older altcoins failed to keep up. Only newer tokens gained traction, largely driven by hype. Fast forward to 2025, and altcoins continue to face a persistent bear market, worsened by the meme coin frenzy in 2024.
Despite the gloom, this cycle appears to deviate from the past in key ways. Bitcoin reached a new all-time high before the halving, breaking the traditional four-year cycle narrative. In contrast to earlier cycles, the first quarter of 2025 has been particularly rough for altcoins. This divergence suggests that macroeconomic forces may now hold more influence than crypto-native timelines.
Altseason is a Psychological Play
The psychology of the market is a major driver of altseason. Historically, most retail investors buy after significant rallies. By the time an altseason becomes obvious, early investors have already captured the biggest gains. The smart money accumulates during fear and low sentiment, not during euphoria.
Currently, altcoins remain deeply undervalued. Sentiment is near rock bottom. However, strong development activity continues across many projects, especially in DeFi. This disconnect between value and price could indicate that the best entry points are now—not later.
Reading the Bigger Picture
Several macro indicators suggest that altseason could be on the horizon. Central banks are pivoting policies, hinting at lower interest rates ahead. A falling dollar and recovering Chinese Renminbi also support a broader risk-on environment. If this plays out, Ethereum and other altcoins could outperform Bitcoin, much like in previous periods of dollar weakness.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin holds steady at $105,589, showing only a minor increase. Ethereum lags at $2,486, while BNB and Solana remain nearly flat. Despite this, some like XRP have shown resilience, gaining modestly.
