Bitcoin has surged past the $88,000 mark, yet altcoins have not followed with a major breakout. However, crypto analyst Rekt Capital suggests that the altcoin market may be showing early signs of a rally. If its market capitalization moves toward $315 billion, it could pave the way for the long-anticipated altcoin season.
Altcoins Recover After a Sharp Drop
Altcoins are starting to show strength after successfully retesting an important support level. Earlier this year, the altcoin market saw a steep 55% decline from its peak. Since then, it has regained momentum, bouncing back from key support zones.
Rekt Capital’s analysis shows that the market has rebounded from a macro wedge pattern and is now testing the $250 billion level. This level has historically played a key role in shaping price trends, making it a crucial point to watch.
In previous cycles, similar setups have led to significant price increases, which makes the current movement particularly important for investors. If the market can stay above $250 billion, the next major target would be $315 billion, a level that has acted as strong resistance in the past.
Is Altcoin Season Finally Coming?
According to Blockchain Center, last year saw brief altcoin rallies, but none lasted long enough to be considered a full altcoin season. Typically, an altcoin season occurs when 75% of the top 50 altcoins outperform Bitcoin over a 90-day period, usually following a Bitcoin surge.
Blockchain Center’s Altseason Index recorded short bullish runs in January, March, and December 2024, but they were too brief to mark a true altcoin season. Unlike previous cycles from 2015-2018 and 2019-2022, the current 2023-2025 cycle has yet to produce a clear shift in favor of altcoins.
As of now, the Altcoin Season Index stands at 20, indicating that Bitcoin remains dominant. This suggests that altcoin season may still be some time away, but investors are closely watching for signs of change.
Guess we’ll just have to keep our eyes glued to those numbers, and see if the altcoins decide to finally throw their own party
FAQs
What are the top 3 altcoins?
The top 3 altcoins by market cap are usually Ethereum (ETH), Binance Coin (BNB), and Solana (SOL), but rankings can change based on market trends.
When will the next altcoin season start?
Altcoin season may start if the market cap reaches $315B, as per analyst Rekt Capital. Current trends suggest Bitcoin still dominates the market.
Altcoins have been attracting investor attention this weekend, with Bitcoin and Ethereum prices stagnating around $85,000 and $2,000, respectively, since Friday. Prominent crypto analysts have published data insights showing investors are increasingly rotating capital toward altcoins after recent U.S. macroeconomic updates.
Analysts Predict Altcoin Season as Fed Rate Pause Triggers Risk-On Appetite
The altcoin market had a rough start to March 2025 when U.S. President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on Canada and Mexico. However, the macroeconomic landscape has since improved. The Trump administration made adjustments to the tariffs, while U.S. CPI and PPI data indicated that inflation risks from the tariffs were overestimated.
This shift in sentiment was further reinforced after the latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on Wednesday, where the U.S. Federal Reserve announced a pause in interest rate hikes.
S&P 500 Performance, March 23, 2025 | Source: NASDAQ
Traditional finance (TradFi) investors reacted by moving capital out of safe-haven assets like gold and into stocks, pushing the S&P 500 up by 31.7 points last week.
Crypto markets appear to be following suit, with traders increasingly rotating funds from Bitcoin and Ethereum into altcoins.
Crypto Analysts Signal Imminent Altcoin Breakout
Adding to the growing optimism around altcoins, two major crypto analysts took to social media to highlight technical indicators pointing to an incoming “Alt Season”—a market phase where altcoins significantly outperform Bitcoin.
“2025 #ALTSEASON starts in less than 3 days now,” alongside a chart illustrating past cycles of altcoin dominance relative to Bitcoin.
Crypto analyst Sensei (@SenseiBR_btc) made a bold declaration, March 21, 2025 ,
The accompanying chart showed clear historical patterns where altcoins surged against Bitcoin, with a third major rally seemingly about to begin.
In response, OBI Real Estate (@Obirealestate) weighed in on the discussion, adding, “Markets are buzzing, timing will be everything.”
Key Takeaways: Why This Weekend Matters for Altcoins
Capital Rotation: With Bitcoin and Ethereum trading sideways, traders are diverting funds toward altcoins, anticipating stronger returns.
Macro Trends: Improved inflation outlook and the Fed’s rate pause have boosted risk-on sentiment across global markets.
Technical Indicators: Historical charts from top analysts suggest that the long-awaited Alt Season could be days away from starting.
As traders look ahead, this weekend may present a critical window of opportunity to accumulate promising altcoins before a broader market breakout.
3 Top Trending Altcoins to Watch in the Week Ahead
Bitcoin (BTC) has surged past the $85,000 mark, signaling strong market sentiment despite a slight 0.9% decline in global crypto market cap over the past 24 hours. While BTC’s resilience suggests growing confidence, a look at broader market trends reveals that large-cap altcoins remain stagnant, while smaller-cap assets are seeing significant moves.
Crypto market performance, March 23 | Source: CoinMarketCap
Ethereum (ETH) remains subdued at $2,000, showing only a 0.5% gain in 24 hours. Similarly, Cardano (ADA) and Binance Coin (BNB) also moved sideways, conslidating at the $0.70, $620 respectively, while Solana (SOL), trading at $132 leads the top 10 assets with a 2.4% gain.
However a closer look at the Coinmarketcap above shows low-cap altcoins, are attracting significant search traffic, a move that could attract further capital inflows in the coming trading seesions.
1. Trump Memecoin (Official Trump) – Political optimism fuels rally
The Trump-themed memecoin is trading at $11.81, up 5.9% in the last 24 hours, making it one of the most notable gainers. This rally alligns with improved sentiment surrounding recent U.S. policy discussions and Trump’s appearance at the Blockwork’s Digital Assets Summit, last week.
With increasing political relevance and heightened social media buzz, this token is one to watch closely. A break above key resistance levels in the coming days could drive further gains.
2. Pi Network (PI) – Struggling to Break $1, But Buzz is Growing
Last week, PI endured major sell-offs as the network migration trigger mixed reactions among investors. However, Pi Network is now flashing recovery signals. At press time on Sunday, March 23, PI network price is facing strong resistance at the $1 mark, struggling to establish a breakout. However, with the token has become one of the most discussed assets in the last 24 hours, investor interest is evident.
If buying pressure continues and $1 resistance caves, a significant breakout could follow, making this an asset to monitor for a potential price explosion.
Ethereum’s native cross-chain bridge token, Wormhole (W) price, has surged 23.9%, driven by increased demand as investors rotate funds across chains.
Wormhole Price Action, March 23 | Source: Coingecko
The boost in market optimism, combined with the Fed’s recent decision to pause interest rate hikes, has further supported capital flows into decentralized finance (DeFi).
With more activity on cross-chain protocols, Wormhole’s demand could continue to rise, making it a strong candidate for further upside in the days ahead.
In Summary:
While Bitcoin’s dominance remains strong above $85,000, altcoins, particularly low-cap assets, are gaining momentum. The surge in Trump memecoin, Pi Network’s rising popularity, and Wormhole’s DeFi-driven gains all signal that the altcoin market could be gearing up for major moves. Traders should watch for key breakout levels as these assets continue to gain traction
Bitcoin price action has recently sent shockwaves across the broader market with its volatility, flagging a potential bull cycle end. Notably, CryptoQuant CEO on Tuesday said that the “BTC bull cycle is over,” triggering market concerns globally. Nevertheless, the latest market statistics, such as rising stablecoin inflows, broader advancements, and bullish price chart formations, conversely signal that a rally lies ahead.
CryptoQuant CEO Says Bitcoin Bull Cycle Is Over, Is It True?
BTC price lost nearly 1% value and exchanged hands at $83,179 as of press time. The coin mainly stagnated around the $80K-$85K price level over the past week.
In an X post on March 18, CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju conveyed that he believes the flagship coin’s bull cycle is over. Besides, Young anticipates 6-12 months of a bearish or sideways trading session for the crypto ahead.
The CEO says, “Every on-chain metric signals a bear market.” Notably, this comment stems from the CEO’s observations of fresh liquidity drying up and new whales selling at lower prices.
Additionally, the bull cycle end warning is in sync with PCA (Principal Component Analysis), a metric to analyze on-chain aspects. Young reveals that after analyzing aspects like MVRV, SOPR, and NUPL to compute a 365-day moving average, the signal identifies an inflection point, a.k.a trend reversal ahead.
Source Ki Young Ju, X
Although these market dynamics triggered market concerns of a Bitcoin correction/consolidation ahead, other developments conversely stirred up the crypto market.
Stablecoin Inflow Surge Sparks Optimism
According to an X post by Matrixport on March 18, stablecoin inflows continue to surge despite the recent market turmoil. Both Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC) witness constant inflows, conversely bringing more liquidity to the market.
Source: Matrixport, X
Reportedly, the stablecoin growth recorded in Q4 last year has moderated, although the uptrend still persists. Fresh capital continues to flow into the crypto market despite a turbulent action amid macro heat, signaling renewed investor sentiment.
This saga, in turn, sparked bullish sentiments as Bitcoin demand could also rise ahead.
Metaplanet Continues Buying Spree
Simultaneously, Japan’s Metaplanet’s acquisition plans continue to underscore a burgeoning institutional interest in the flagship asset. The Japanese public company acquired 150 BTC worth $12.5 million on March 18 as a part of its treasury operations.
Source: Metaplanet, X
The constant buying is a solid confidence booster for market participants, indicating an institutional shift towards the crypto asset class. CoinGape reported that the Singapore Exchange (SGX) is also eyeing the launch of Bitcoin futures contracts amid rising adoption in the Asian landscape.
Meanwhile, even Michael Saylor’s Strategy bought 130 coins for $10.7 million recently. Altogether, these broader developments signaled that a price rally is possible when looking at long-term prospects.
Price Rally Awaits?
Crypto analyst ‘Stockmoney Lizards’ posted on X this Tuesday, stating that BTC is in a corrective channel, characterized by lower highs and lower lows. However, this bearish momentum is waning, per the analyst. The current price chart formation shows a bullish divergence in the daily time frame.
For context, bullish divergence signals a reversal in a downtrend, suggesting that price gains loom. However, the analyst also revealed that a potential dip to mid-low 70s is anticipated. Nevertheless, <80k remains as a string accumulation zone for many.
Source: Stockmoney Lizards, X
In conclusion, the Bitcoin bull cycle may not be over long-term, although short-term volatility may be expected amid broader trends.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin believes that the direction of blockchain applications often mirrors the intentions and ethics of their creators. He cites that projects like Pump.fun are derived from bad social philosophy.
In a recent discussion, he highlighted how the impact—positive or negative—of crypto projects is shaped by the values driving their development.
Buterin Says Pump.fun and Terra Reflect What Not to Build in Crypto
Buterin praised a handful of decentralized applications that align with Ethereum’s long-term vision. These include Railgun, Farcaster, Polymarket, and the messaging app Signal.
On the flip side, he criticized platforms such as Pump.fun, Terra/Luna, and the collapsed FTX exchange, describing them as harmful examples of what not to build.
“The differences in what the app does stem from differences in beliefs in developers’ heads about what they are here to accomplish,” Buterin explained.
Vitalik Buterin Talking about Social Philosophy in Crypto. Source: Warpcast
In the past, he noted that tools like Polymarket could move beyond betting on elections and serve as useful mechanisms for improving decision-making in governance, media, and even scientific research.
Previously, the Ethereum co-founder had warned about schemes that prioritize hype over substance, such as Terra/Luna and FTX. He has also consistently urged the crypto space, especially DeFi, to build with ethical intent and long-term utility in mind.
How Developer Ethics Shape Blockchain’s Future
To explain his views on Ethereum’s unique development path, Buterin compared it to C++, a general-purpose programming language.
Unlike C++, Ethereum is only partially general-purpose. Many of its core innovations, like account abstraction or the shift to proof-of-stake, rely heavily on developers’ commitment to Ethereum’s broader mission.
“Ethereum L1 is not quite in that position: someone who doesn’t believe in decentralization would not add light clients, or FOCIL, or (good forms of) account abstraction; someone who doesn’t mind energy waste would not spend half a decade moving to PoS… But the EVM opcodes might have been roughly the same either way. So Ethereum is perhaps 50% general-purpose,” Buterin said.
Buterin furthered that Ethereum apps are around 80% special-purpose. Because of this, the ethical framework and goals of the people building them play a critical role in shaping what the network becomes.