The so -called altcoin season is often mentioned in the media and social networks. Many investors are probably looking forward to him. What is the altcoin season? What are its formal criteria? Most importantly: what specific dangers does this event be fraught with for investors? Explain.

What is Altcoin season

Before talking about the season, we recall what it is customary to understand by altcoins – all cryptocurrencies, except for the first, bitcoin. The altcoin season, respectively, is called the situation in the market, when the increase in the value of altcoins overtakes the increase in the cost of bitcoin. It is reasonable to notice that there are a lot of cryptocurrencies now. What specific coins should rise in drifting pace? In addition, there are stablecoins, the cost of which is almost unchanged. How to be with them?

To solve the problem, a formal criterion was invented – The index of the altcoin season. What is he like?

The index of the altcoin season

The altcoin season index is calculated by comparing the dynamics of prices of various cryptocurrencies. Only the TOP-100 (according to another TOP-50) coin) fall under comparison. For the landmark, the price dynamics of bitcoin is taken. Comparison is carried out over the past three months or, to be more accurate, 90 days. Stablecoins, as well as wrapped tokens, are not taken into account when calculating the index.

To argue that the market of altcoins has developed on the market, if the price growth of 75% of the TOP-100 cryptocurrencies is more than the BTC growth. If less than 25% of the coins show the dynamics in three months better than the flagship, then the market is “bitcoin” in the market.

What is the situation in the summer of 2025? Is the altcoin season now or not?

Altcoin season 2025

In fact – neither one nor the other. The altcoin season index in July 2025 is near its average values. The Coinglass portal shows that the index is 45, that is, only 45% of influential coins show the dynamics bitcoin outdoor bitcoin. It is worth noting that Coinglass uses a rather complex formula for calculating the index. In addition to changes in price, market capitalization, moods in social networks, trade volume and volatility are taken into account.

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Source: Coinglass.com

The BlockChaincenter portal leads similar numbers. Its analysts are calculated according to the 50 largest cryptocurrencies in capitalization.

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Source: Blockchaincenter.net

The numbers Coinmarketcap are more modest: the altcoin season index is there only 33. In other words, only the third part of the TOP-100 cryptocurrencies is ahead of the growth of bitcoin.

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Source: Coinmarketcap.com

All three influential portals are solidarity: the last time the altcoin season was observed in December 2024, when the index rose above the 85 mark. True, this period lasted extremely shortly – while the bitcoin season could be seen in May, in June, and in July 2025.

Are there any signs that altcoins will soon become the dominant power in the market?

Signs of approaching the altcoin season

Firstwhat should you pay attention to – a decrease in bitcoin dominance. In such periods of time, the share of BTC market capitalization among all cryptocurrencies decreases. This indicates some weakening of bitcoin and strengthening altcoins.

Second – Large cryptocurrencies, for example, ether or SOL, begin to demonstrate growth relative to BTC.

Third – increasing fear of missed benefits (FOMO). Investors see that altcoins begin to grow strongly one after another. This causes an increase in the average daily trading volumes of large cryptocurrencies (with the exception of BTC) on exchanges.

But even having received all these altcoin season signals, investors cannot feel absolutely calm. Why?

The dangers of the altcoin season

The altcoin season often takes place very quickly. To determine with the accuracy when it begins and ends is unrealistic. Therefore, you need to immediately get rid of the thoughts that it will be possible to take at minimums, and selling on maximums – this is from the category of luck.

In addition, it is worthwhile to understand that even in the altcoin season you can not buy any coin.

In such periods, there will be cryptocurrencies that will begin to decline in price. Not only bitcoin will fall. It is worth remembering that in the same index of the altcoin season, only coins from the TOP-100 (or TOP-50) by capitalization are taken into account. Yes, and that is not all. In total, cryptocurrencies for July 2025 – over 37 million. So the idea that the altcoin season came and you can buy anything except Bitcoin is fundamentally incorrect and threatens the loss of capital. The choice of cryptocurrency for investing money should be made on the basis of a meticulous analysis of the market situation.

Conclusion

The altcoin season in 2025 has not yet been in the short term, judging by the metrics, it is not expected. Bitcoin is still strong. The altcoin season index shows from 33%-for the top 100 coins on capitalization-up to 45% for the TOP-50. This is far enough from the required 75%.

This material and information in it is not an individual or other other investment recommendation. The view of the editorial office may not coincide with the opinions of analytical portals and experts.