Library · Crypto, word by word · Markets and money
What is altcoin season?
Altcoin season is a name for a period when most large cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin rise more than Bitcoin does. One widely cited index calls it altcoin season when 75% of the top 50 coins have outperformed Bitcoin over the last 90 days.
What it means for you
It is a label applied after the fact, from past prices. It does not say what comes next, and whether it is "altcoin season" depends on which index and which definition you use.
How it works
Blockchaincenter's Altcoin Season Index says it is altcoin season if 75% of the top 50 coins performed better than Bitcoin over the last season, which it sets at 90 days. Stablecoins such as Tether and DAI, and asset-backed tokens such as WBTC and stETH, are left out of the top 50 it compares.
Source: Blockchaincenter: Altcoin Season Index · checked 5 October 2026
Related words
Educational content, not financial advice. Written by hand and checked against the source named above. Something wrong? Tell us and we reply within two business days.