Expectations for the Altcoin Season in 2026

As we approach 2026, the biggest question on investors' minds is: Will an altcoin season come? Current market data shows that Bitcoin dominance continues and there are high risks for altcoins. According to CoinMarketCap data, the Altcoin Season Index fell 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 in 2025 demonstrates how distant altcoins are from low-risk appetite. Bitcoin faced a sharp pullback from its $126,000 record level in October and is currently seeking equilibrium in the range of $80,000–$90,000. During this period, Bitcoin lost about 6% of its value throughout 2025, while some low-cap tokens experienced declines of up to %90% from their peak prices.

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

Four significant altcoins on analysts' radar are as follows: Solana (SOL) has fallen by 58.6% from the January 2025 peak, indicating that ecosystem growth has the potential to be revalued in the event of a price increase. Ethena (ENA) is currently trading at $0.203 and is an important part of Hayes' portfolio. There is a strong growth indicator for Pendle (PENDLE) throughout 2025. ether.fi (ETHFI) has dropped from $1.60 in September to $0.70 and stands out with its position in the liquid restaking sector.

Another altcoin project that should be closely monitored for 2026 is Minotaurus (MTAUR). Market analysts are evaluating long-term growth scenarios of 50% for this project. If an investment is made in this project today, a 50% increase occurring from the 0.00020 USDT level could theoretically take investors to the $3,960 level. As a result, investors should continue to carefully watch market changes and price movements.