Throughout the year, cryptocurrencies generally follow the lead of Bitcoin. Bitcoin, being the largest crypto with a whopping 54% share of the total market cap, sets the tone. When Bitcoin trends up, most other cryptocurrencies follow suit. However, during specific periods known as "Bitcoin season" and "altcoin season," this dynamic changes.
During Bitcoin season, investors flock to Bitcoin, and it outperforms other cryptocurrencies. But in altcoin season, the opposite occurs. Investors shift their focus from Bitcoin to riskier, more speculative altcoins. As money flows into these altcoins, some witness a significant increase in value.
There are several indicators that crypto investors can monitor to determine if altcoin season has arrived. One such indicator is the Altcoin Season Index. It is calculated by taking the top 100 cryptocurrencies (excluding stablecoins) and seeing how many of them have outperformed Bitcoin over the past 90 days. If at least 75 of these top 100 cryptocurrencies have outperformed Bitcoin, it is considered altcoin season.
Currently, the Altcoin Season Index created by CoinMarketCap has a value of 82 and has seen a remarkable increase since the U.S. presidential election in November. In just a month, it soared from 33 to 87 before retreating to its current level. This has caught many investors by surprise as they were focused on Bitcoin's ascent to the $100,000 price level.
As per the data from CoinMarketCap, the performance of smaller altcoins over the past 90 days has been astonishing. Hedera (CRYPTO: HBAR) has surged by 481%, Stellar (CRYPTO: XLM) by 415%, Sui (SUI -5.40%) by 383%, Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) by 346%, and XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) by 329%. In contrast, Bitcoin is up only 79% during the same period, and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency, is up by 67%.
With this in mind, Sui looks particularly promising. Even before altcoin season arrived, it was attracting the attention of investors. It is a highly regarded Ethereum competitor that offers faster, cheaper, and more efficient transactions. Currently, it ranks as the 17th-largest cryptocurrency by market cap and is starting to gain the interest of institutional investors.
It is crucial to note that the arrival of altcoin season should not be an excuse to try and time the market. The market is known for its tricks and emotional manipulations. The Altcoin Season Index can change value rapidly within a short period.
Investing in a tiny, speculative cryptocurrency without proper research can be risky. Instead, focus on altcoins that you believe have long-term potential. Even if you are not a firm believer in altcoin season, it is worth considering which cryptocurrencies might have significant upside potential as we move towards 2025. This could be the time to discover the hidden crypto gem that outperforms Bitcoin next year.
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