Expectations for Altcoin Season in 2026

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

The performance of 2025 illustrates how distant altcoins are from a low-risk appetite. Bitcoin experienced a sharp pullback from its record level of $126,000 in October and is currently seeking balance in the $80,000–$90,000 range. During this process, while Bitcoin lost approximately 6 percent of its value throughout 2025, some smaller-cap tokens faced declines of up to 90 percent from their peak prices.

Notable figures like BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes are signaling that the risk appetite in the world may change. According to on-chain data, Hayes sold 1,871 Ethereum (approximately $5.53 million) to cash out over the past week. He then made purchases totaling around $609,000 in the projects Ethena (ENA), Pendle (PENDLE), and ether.fi (ETHFI). This move is seen by analysts as a transition strategy.

Four key altcoins on analysts' radar are as follows: Solana (SOL), which has fallen 58.6 percent from its January 2025 peak, indicating that ecosystem growth could have price revaluation potential in a possible price rise. Ethena (ENA) is currently trading at $0.203, and is a significant part of Hayes’ portfolio. There is a strong growth indication for Pendle (PENDLE) within 2025. ether.fi (ETHFI) has dropped from $1.60 in September to $0.70, drawing attention with its position in the liquid restaking sector.

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