What Is Altcoin Season?
Altcoin Season refers to a market phase in which altcoins (all cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin) significantly outperform BTC. This typically occurs after a period of Bitcoin dominance, when investors start seeking higher returns from alternative projects.
How to Identify an Altcoin Season
One popular indicator is the Altcoin Season Index, which suggests an altseason is underway when at least 75% of the top 50 altcoins outperform Bitcoin over the past 90 days.
Other signs include:
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Strong rallies in lesser-known tokens
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Increasing trading volume in altcoin pairs
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Surge in sector-specific narratives (like DeFi, AI, Layer 2, or meme tokens)
Why Does It Happen?
Altcoin seasons are part of the crypto market cycle. As Bitcoin appreciates, it often attracts institutional attention and new retail investors. Over time, profits from BTC flow into altcoins as investors look for higher multipliers. It’s a momentum-driven shift, often fueled by FOMO (fear of missing out) and trending narratives.
The Role of Memecoins
Memecoins like Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) often stand out during altcoin seasons due to their extreme volatility and viral nature. Although they usually lack strong fundamentals, their explosive potential and community hype can lead to massive short-term gains.
Curious about what makes memecoins so unique—and risky?
Read our full guide on what memecoins are and how they work.
Real Cases of Sudden Memecoin Surges
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Just a Chill Guy (CHILLGUY): In 2024, this memecoin surged more than 52,000%, jumping from $0.00073027 to $0.3805 in less than a year. (source)
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GOAT (Goatseus Maximus): Launched in 2023, this token soared from a $4,000 market cap to over $117 million within days, fueled by an autonomous AI agent and viral social media exposure. (source)
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MOODENG: In May 2025, this memecoin jumped 533% in a single week, reaching a market cap of $242 million. (source)
Caution During Altseason
While the potential for gains is high, altcoin seasons are also marked by extreme volatility and an influx of low-quality projects riding speculative waves. It’s not uncommon for tokens to surge hundreds of percent in days—only to crash shortly after.
To navigate this period wisely:
- Research the fundamentals of each project
- Have a clear entry and exit strategy
- Avoid blindly chasing hype on social media
Conclusion
Altcoin Season is one of the most exciting—and risky—times in the crypto market. Understanding the signals and dynamics can help you engage more strategically, with less emotion and more awareness.
Have you experienced an altseason? Share your story in the comments.
