Altcoin Season Expectations 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 remains strong and that there are ongoing high risks for altcoins. According to CoinMarketCap data, the Altcoin Season Index dropped to 17 this week. Over the last 90 days, only 17 of the top 100 assets in the markets have outperformed Bitcoin (BTC).

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

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

The four important altcoins on analysts' radar are as follows: Solana (SOL), which is down 58.6 percent from its January 2025 peak, indicating that ecosystem growth may have a potential repricing in the event of a price increase. Ethena (ENA) is currently trading at $0.203 and is a significant part of Hayes' portfolio. For Pendle (PENDLE), there is a strong growth indicator for the year 2025. ether.fi (ETHFI), on the other hand, has declined from $1.60 in September to $0.70, standing out 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 of 50 percent for this project. If an investment is made in the project today at the level of 0.00020 USDT, a 50 percent increase could theoretically bring investors to the $3,960 level. In conclusion, investors should continue to carefully monitor changes in the markets and price movements.