Altcoin Season Index: What Is Altcoin Season in 2026?
The Altcoin Season Index is one of the most widely followed indicators for understanding whether alternative cryptocurrencies are outperforming Bitcoin.
Instead of assuming that a few rising altcoins mean the market has entered altcoin season, the index compares the performance of a broad group of cryptocurrencies against Bitcoin over a defined period.
As of September 15, 2026, CoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Season Index was around 37/100, which still indicated Bitcoin Season rather than a confirmed broad altseason. Because the value changes regularly, traders should always check the latest reading before making market decisions.
What Is Altcoin Season?
Altcoin season, also called altseason, is a market phase in which a large percentage of cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin outperform Bitcoin over a sustained period.
It does not simply mean that Ethereum, Solana, XRP, or another individual cryptocurrency has risen sharply.
A genuine crypto alt season usually involves broader participation across the altcoin market, with capital moving into multiple sectors and cryptocurrencies.
This broader market participation is what the altcoin season index attempts to measure.
What Is the Altcoin Season Index?
The Altcoin Season Index compares the performance of major altcoins with Bitcoin over a rolling 90-day period.
According to CoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Season Index, its methodology analyzes the top 100 eligible cryptocurrencies while excluding stablecoins and certain wrapped or asset-backed tokens.
The alt season index is scaled from 0 to 100.
| Altcoin Season Index | Market Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 75–100 | Altcoin Season |
| 26–74 | Neutral / transition zone |
| 0–25 | Bitcoin Season |
If at least 75% of the eligible top 100 cryptocurrencies outperform Bitcoin over the previous 90 days, CoinMarketCap considers the market to be in Altcoin Season.
If 25% or fewer outperform Bitcoin, it is considered Bitcoin Season.
What Is the Current Altcoin Season Index?
At the time of this update on September 15, 2026, the current Altcoin Season Index was approximately 37/100.
That means the market had not yet reached the 75-point threshold required for a confirmed Altcoin Season under CoinMarketCap’s methodology.
Bitcoin dominance was also around 59%, showing that Bitcoin continued to represent a large share of total cryptocurrency market capitalization.
Because the Altcoin Season Index current value changes with market prices, this section should be reviewed and updated regularly.
Is It Altcoin Season Right Now?
No—not according to the CoinMarketCap Altcoin Season Index at the time of this update.
A reading around 37 remains much closer to Bitcoin Season than the 75-point Altcoin Season threshold.
However, traders should not rely on the altcoin index alone.
Several additional signals can indicate whether market conditions are beginning to shift.
What Are the Main Signs of Altcoin Season?
1. The Altseason Index Begins Rising
A steadily rising altseason index crypto reading shows that more altcoins are beginning to outperform Bitcoin.
Moving from 30 to 40 is not the same as reaching Altcoin Season, but sustained improvement can indicate increasing market breadth.
2. Bitcoin Dominance Starts Falling
Bitcoin dominance measures Bitcoin’s percentage share of the total crypto market capitalization.
If Bitcoin remains relatively stable while its dominance declines, capital may be rotating toward Ethereum and other altcoins.
Falling Bitcoin dominance alone, however, does not guarantee altseason.
3. Ethereum Outperforms Bitcoin
Ethereum is often watched as an early indicator of broader altcoin strength.
Strong ETH/BTC performance alongside improving altcoin breadth can indicate that capital is moving further out on the crypto risk curve.
4. Trading Volume Expands Across Altcoins
A genuine altcoin season usually involves rising trading activity across several cryptocurrencies rather than just one speculative token.
This distinction becomes especially important when comparing day trading and swing trading in cryptocurrencies, because rapidly changing volatility affects short- and medium-term strategies differently.
5. Multiple Crypto Sectors Start Performing Well
Altseason can spread across sectors such as:
- Layer-1 networks
- DeFi
- AI-related tokens
- Gaming
- Real-world assets
- Infrastructure projects
The strongest sign is market breadth, not simply one trending narrative.
When Is Altcoin Season?
There is no fixed date for when altcoin season begins.
Historically, traders often watch for a sequence such as:
Bitcoin rally → Bitcoin consolidation → Ethereum strength → major altcoins strengthen → broader altcoin participation
This is only a market framework, not a guaranteed cycle.
Every crypto cycle develops differently.
When Will Altcoin Season Start in 2026?
Nobody can reliably predict the exact date when altcoin season will start.
A stronger confirmation would require more altcoins to outperform Bitcoin until the Altcoin Season Index approaches or exceeds 75.
Traders can also monitor:
- Bitcoin dominance
- ETH/BTC performance
- Altcoin market capitalization
- Trading volume
- Crypto liquidity
- Macroeconomic conditions
- Risk appetite
- Bitcoin price stability
The 2026 market may also behave differently from previous cycles because the number of cryptocurrencies competing for investor capital has increased considerably.
Does Altcoin Season Mean Every Altcoin Will Rise?
No.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding altseason.
Even during strong altcoin markets, some cryptocurrencies may underperform because of poor liquidity, weak fundamentals, token unlocks, declining network activity, or loss of investor interest.
Market-wide momentum should therefore never replace individual asset analysis.
The same principle applies when evaluating the best crypto to buy now: liquidity, market structure, volatility, risk and project-specific factors matter more than simply following a market label.
Risks During Crypto Alt Season
Altcoin season can create larger price movements, but those opportunities come with additional risk.
Smaller cryptocurrencies may experience:
- Sharp volatility
- Low liquidity
- Wider spreads
- Rapid reversals
- Market manipulation
- Excessive speculative activity
- Large drawdowns
During periods of elevated market volatility, position sizing and predefined risk limits become especially important.
The Altcoin Season Index chart should therefore be treated as a market-condition indicator—not a direct buy signal.
Conclusion
The Altcoin Season Index helps traders understand whether Bitcoin or the broader altcoin market is currently showing stronger relative performance.
A reading above 75 generally indicates Altcoin Season, while 25 or below indicates Bitcoin Season.
As of September 15, 2026, the index remained around 37, meaning a broad altseason had not yet been confirmed.
Instead of asking only, “Is it altcoin season?”, traders should monitor the Altcoin Season Index together with Bitcoin dominance, ETH/BTC, trading volume, liquidity and overall market breadth.
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Alt season, or altcoin season, is a period when a broad group of cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin outperform Bitcoin over a sustained period.
The Altcoin Season Index measures how many leading altcoins outperform Bitcoin over a rolling 90-day period. CoinMarketCap considers a reading of 75 or higher to represent Altcoin Season.
As of September 15, 2026, CoinMarketCap’s index was around 37/100, indicating that the broader market remained outside confirmed Altcoin Season.
Not according to CoinMarketCap’s current methodology. The index would need to reach at least 75 for the market to qualify as Altcoin Season.
Altseason can create more trading opportunities, but it can also involve extreme volatility. Beginners should focus on risk management, liquid markets, controlled position sizes, and avoiding excessive leverage.
