Expectations for the Altcoin Season in 2026

As we approach 2026, the biggest question on investors' minds is: Will the altcoin season come? Current market data shows that Bitcoin dominance continues, and high risks persist for altcoins. According to CoinMarketCap data, the Altcoin Season Index has dropped to 17 this week. Over the last 90 days, only 17 out of the top 100 assets in the markets have outperformed Bitcoin (BTC).

The performance of 2025 demonstrates how distanced altcoins are due to a low risk appetite. Bitcoin experienced a sharp pullback from its record level of 126,000 dollars in October and is currently seeking balance in the 80,000–90,000 dollar range. During this period, Bitcoin has lost about 6 percent of its value throughout 2025, while some low-volume tokens have experienced declines of up to 90 percent from their peak prices.

Notable figures such as BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes have been signaling changes in the world's risk appetite. According to on-chain data, Hayes sold 1,871 Ethereum in the last week (approximately 5.53 million dollars) to convert to cash. He then made purchases totaling approximately 609 thousand dollars in the projects Ethena (ENA), Pendle (PENDLE), and ether.fi (ETHFI). This move is seen by analysts as a transition strategy.

The four major altcoins on analysts' radar are as follows: Solana (SOL), which has dropped 58.6 percent from its January 2025 peak, indicating that ecosystem growth holds potential for re-pricing in case of a price increase. Ethena (ENA) is currently trading around 0.203 dollars and constitutes an important part of Hayes' portfolio. There is a strong growth indicator for Pendle (PENDLE) within 2025. ether.fi (ETHFI) has declined from 1.60 dollars in September to 0.70 dollars, attracting attention with its position in the liquid restaking sector.

Another altcoin project to closely watch for 2026 is Minotaurus (MTAUR). Market analysts are considering long-term growth scenarios of 50 percent for this project. If investment is made today, a 50 percent increase from the level of 0.00020 USDT could theoretically bring investors to the level of 3,960 dollars. In conclusion, investors should continue to closely monitor changes in the markets and price movements.