The cryptocurrency market is buzzing with speculation: is altseason finally on the horizon? After Bitcoin surged to a new all-time high of $69,324 on March 5, its momentum began to cool — but at the same time, altcoins started flashing strong signs of life. Led by memecoins and AI-themed cryptocurrencies, these digital assets have outperformed BTC over the past week, fueling growing optimism among traders and analysts alike.
While some remain cautious about declaring a full-blown altseason just yet, the data paints an increasingly convincing picture. Investor interest is shifting, market caps are rising, and historical patterns suggest we may be entering a familiar phase of the crypto cycle.
Total Crypto Market Cap Surpasses $2.5 Trillion
Bitcoin’s brief push above $69,000 on March 5 triggered a significant milestone: the **total cryptocurrency market capitalization** crossed **$2.5 trillion. As of the latest data from CoinMarketCap, it stands at $2.52 trillion**, reflecting strong bullish sentiment across the board.
👉 Discover how market momentum is shifting toward high-potential altcoins.
This surge wasn’t driven by Bitcoin alone. The altcoin market cap — which excludes Bitcoin and Ether — also climbed past $1.1 trillion** on the same day. Over the previous three months, this figure jumped approximately **64%**, rising from $697 billion in December 2024 to $1.14 trillion by March 7. In comparison, Bitcoin gained around 56%** during that period.
This outperformance highlights a critical shift: capital is beginning to flow beyond Bitcoin, signaling renewed confidence in the broader crypto ecosystem.
Large-Cap Altcoins Outperform Bitcoin
One of the clearest signs of an impending altseason is when major altcoins consistently outpace Bitcoin in price appreciation. That’s exactly what’s happening now.
According to CoinMarketCap, several large-cap altcoins have posted double- and even triple-digit gains over the past seven days:
- Dogecoin (DOGE): +20%
- Shiba Inu (SHIB): +130%
- Pepe (PEPE): +85%
- Bonk (BONK): +110%
- Dogwifhat (WIF): +95%
These memecoins — once dismissed as jokes — are now leading the charge in market performance, drawing attention from retail investors and traders looking for explosive moves.
Beyond memecoins, AI-driven tokens have also surged:
- Fetch.ai (FET)
- Synesis One (SNS)
- SingularityNET (AGIX)
- Theta Network (THETA)
Each has delivered double- to triple-digit returns in just one week, reflecting growing enthusiasm for blockchain applications in artificial intelligence.
In contrast, Bitcoin’s gain during this period was only 8.5%, underscoring how investor focus is beginning to diversify.
What Defines an Altseason?
Despite these strong signals, some experts argue that we’re not officially in altseason yet. The widely followed Altcoin Season Index by Blockchain Center sets a clear benchmark:
“If 75% of the top 50 coins outperform Bitcoin over the last 90 days, it’s altseason.”
Currently, only 69% of the top altcoins have beaten Bitcoin over the past quarter. While this number has been rising steadily — and may soon hit the 75% threshold — it hasn’t crossed the line.
Still, history suggests we’re close. K33 Research recently pointed out that since the November 2022 market bottom, Bitcoin’s market cap has more than doubled relative to all other cryptocurrencies excluding ETH. This mirrors the pattern seen in early 2020, just before altcoins took off in a major rally.
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As K33 analysts noted, “Judging by history, altcoins will start outperforming about the time we are now.”
Expert Perspectives: When Will Altseason Begin?
Market veterans offer differing views on when — or if — altseason will fully ignite.
CrediBULL’s Two Scenarios
Analyst CrediBULL outlined two potential paths following Bitcoin’s all-time high:
- Mega Breakout Scenario: Bitcoin rapidly doubles after hitting its ATH, pulling most capital with it. Altcoins remain subdued until BTC pauses.
- Consolidation Scenario: Bitcoin retests its previous high but consolidates or stalls for weeks. In this case, altcoins tend to rally immediately after BTC touches ATH.
CrediBULL emphasizes:
“The common theme here… is that after BTC hits prior ATH, alts begin rallying at the first major pause/consolidation of BTC, whether that’s at prior ATH or far above it.”
Given that Bitcoin has entered a consolidation phase post-$69K, many believe we’re approaching that critical inflection point.
Michaël van de Poppe’s Caution
MN Trading founder Michaël van de Poppe remains cautious, noting that altcoin market cap still needs to grow by 40–60% to reach its 2021 peak levels above $1.1 trillion. Until then, he believes true altseason momentum remains unrealized.
Charles Hoskinson’s Memecoin Benchmark
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson offered a more symbolic marker:
“That moment DOGE flips Cardano. It’s officially alt-season kids.”
With DOGE currently trading below ADA in market cap, this event hasn’t occurred — but given DOGE’s recent surge, it may not be far off.
Core Keywords Driving This Trend
The current market movement revolves around several key themes:
- Altseason
- Altcoin market cap
- Memecoins
- AI cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin consolidation
- Crypto market cycle
- Outperformance vs Bitcoin
These terms reflect both technical indicators and investor psychology shaping today’s market dynamics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is altseason?
Altseason refers to a period in the cryptocurrency market when altcoins significantly outperform Bitcoin in terms of price growth and investor interest. It typically occurs after Bitcoin stabilizes following a major rally.
How do you know when altseason starts?
A widely accepted metric is the Altcoin Season Index: if 75% of the top 50 cryptocurrencies outperform Bitcoin over 90 days, it signals altseason. Currently, that number stands at 69%, suggesting we’re nearing but not yet in full altseason.
Why are memecoins rising now?
Memecoins like DOGE, SHIB, and WIF benefit from strong community engagement, social media virality, and low entry prices. During periods of high speculation, they often attract retail investors seeking quick gains.
Are AI-themed cryptos part of the altseason?
Yes. Tokens like FET, AGIX, and THETA are gaining traction due to growing interest in AI-blockchain integration. Their real-world use cases and partnerships make them more than just speculative plays.
Does Bitcoin need to stop rising for altseason to happen?
Not necessarily — but historically, altseason tends to accelerate when Bitcoin enters a consolidation phase. This allows capital to rotate into riskier assets like mid- and small-cap altcoins.
Can altseason happen in 2025?
All signs point to yes. With BTC stabilizing near its ATH and altcoin momentum building, 2025 could see one of the strongest altseasons in recent years — especially if macro conditions remain favorable.
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While we may not be officially in altseason yet, the ingredients are undeniably coming together. From surging memecoins to AI-driven innovation, investor energy is clearly shifting beyond Bitcoin. With historical patterns aligning and expert sentiment turning positive, now is the time to monitor the signals closely.
Whether you're watching DOGE vs ADA or tracking the Altcoin Season Index, one thing is clear: altseason isn’t here — but it’s closer than ever.