"Expectations for Altcoin Season in 2026"

As 2026 approaches, the biggest question on investors' minds is: Will an 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 dropped to 17 this week. In the last 90 days, only 17 out of the top 100 assets in the markets have outperformed Bitcoin (BTC).

The performance in 2025 proves how distant altcoins are with their low risk appetite. Bitcoin experienced a sharp pullback from the record level of $126,000 in October and is now seeking balance in the $80,000–$90,000 range. During this process, while Bitcoin lost about 6 percent in value throughout 2025, some small-cap tokens have 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 in the last week (approximately $5.53 million) to cash out. Subsequently, it was revealed that he made purchases totaling about $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 key altcoins on analysts' radars are as follows: Solana (SOL), which has dropped by 58.6 percent from its peak in January 2025, indicating that renewed growth in the ecosystem could carry price revaluation potential. Ethena (ENA) is currently trading at around $0.203 and is an important part of Hayes' portfolio. There is a strong growth indicator for Pendle (PENDLE) within 2025. ether.fi (ETHFI) has decreased from $1.60 in September to $0.70 and is noteworthy for its position in the liquid restaking sector.

Another altcoin project to closely follow for 2026 is Minotaurus (MTAUR). Market analysts are assessing long-term growth scenarios of 50 percent potential for this project. If investment is made in this project from 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.