Despite Bitcoin (BTC) recently approaching a new all-time high before dipping to $110,000, a common pattern when it tests new price levels, attention is shifting to altcoins. Evidence suggests that a "mini altcoin season" might be currently underway, with altcoins outperforming Bitcoin significantly.
Altcoins Outperforming Bitcoin
According to crypto analyst Joao Wedson, 98% of altcoins have outperformed Bitcoin in the past 48 hours, pushing them into the "altseason zone" in terms of short-term performance. While previous altcoin surges since June haven't always lasted, this current one appears more significant, though its longevity remains to be seen.
Interestingly, while Bitcoin's price has been relatively stable between $110,000 and $112,000, the Altcoin Performance Index has shown extreme volatility, a typical characteristic of these mini rallies. Furthermore, ETF inflows are not solely focused on Bitcoin; ETH saw $211 million in inflows compared to BTC's $200 million, and Solana (SOL) staking ETFs are also gaining traction. These factors suggest that a more extended and larger altcoin season might be unfolding, as many in the crypto community anticipated.
Whale Activity Signals Shift
Another indicator pointing to an altcoin season is the increased acquisition of altcoins by large investors, or "whales," compared to retail investors. The "Whale vs Retail Ratio" has remained above 1.1 since late June, coinciding with consistent price increases for both Bitcoin and altcoins, signaling a bullish market.
Alphractal's heatmap further reveals strong whale activity across various altcoins like Algorand (ALGO), Chainlink (LINK), and Uniswap (UNI), while retail activity appears weaker and less concentrated. This imbalance hints at significant movements by major players, and the correlation between rising prices and whale accumulation could mean that big investors are positioning themselves for a potential market shift.
Bitcoin Dominance on the Decline?
Further supporting the possibility of an altseason, Bitcoin's dominance in the crypto market appears to be weakening. The metric formed "equal highs," indicating rejection, followed by lower highs that broke a key trendline. This could be a warning sign, suggesting a change in market structure. Bitcoin's dominance has recently fallen from 66% to 64%, implying that capital is actively flowing out of Bitcoin and into altcoins.
July 2025, Cryptoniteuae