Chris Curl,
Editor
May 15, 2025
Altseason Canceled? Not So Fast.
For years, crypto markets have danced to a familiar rhythm: Bitcoin leads the charge to new heights, and then, once it catches its breath, altcoins come out swinging with massive gains of their own.
It’s a cycle investors have come to expect. But 2025? It’s rewriting the script.
So far, this year has been all about Bitcoin.
While altcoins have been slow to catch fire, Bitcoin keeps charging ahead, showing incredible resilience—and maybe even signaling a bigger shift in the way this market works.
A Different Kind of Bull Market
Let’s start with the macroeconomic environment. The Federal Reserve isn’t exactly handing out free money anymore. We’ve gone from the easy-money days of 2020-2021 to a landscape shaped by high interest rates and quantitative tightening. In that kind of climate, investors are playing it safe.
And what fits the “safe” bill in crypto? Bitcoin. With its capped supply and increasing mainstream recognition, Bitcoin is starting to look less like a speculative bet and more like a digital version of gold.
Bitcoin: Digital Gold or Just First in Line?
There’s still plenty of debate over whether Bitcoin can truly be considered a “safe haven,” but some of the signs are hard to ignore:
- New Highs: Bitcoin recently punched past $105,000—even as traditional markets wobbled.
- Gold-Like Behavior: Bitcoin’s recent movement has closely mirrored gold’s rally, reinforcing the “digital gold” narrative.
- Institutional Skepticism: That said, most big institutions still prefer the real thing. Only about 3% of fund managers currently name Bitcoin as their safe haven of choice. But this trend is changing fast. BlackRock is recommending a 1-2% Bitcoin allocation in its model portfolios.
Altcoins on the Sidelines—for Now
So where does this leave altcoins? In a bit of a holding pattern, at least for now. The excitement just hasn’t trickled down the way it usually does in bull markets. A few factors are working against them:
- Capital Flow Shift: Bitcoin ETFs are sucking up much of the available investment capital, leaving altcoins starved for attention.
- Cautious Institutions: Big money isn’t in a rush to chase smaller, riskier tokens—especially not in this regulatory environment.
- Lack of Narrative: Altcoins are still waiting for their moment, their catalyst. Right now, that moment hasn’t arrived.
But don’t write them off just yet.
There’s Still a Pulse in Altcoin Land
Despite the slow start, there are signs that altcoins might not be down for the count. A few technical patterns—like a developing “triple bottom” in altcoin market cap charts—suggest that a reversal could be beginning. Add to that some positive regulatory changes, and there’s reason to believe altcoins will shine later this year.
And here’s a wildcard: the political shift. With Trump back in the White House, we’re already seeing a flurry of altcoin ETF applications—72, to be exact. Everything from XRP to, yes, MELANIA coin (welcome to crypto). It might take time, but this could lay the groundwork for a broader altcoin rally.
So… Is Altseason Canceled?
Not quite. It has simply been delayed.
What we’re seeing right now is a maturing market.
Investors aren’t blindly chasing moonshots—they’re looking for staying power, and Bitcoin is delivering that in spades.
But markets are cyclical, and crypto is no exception. Altcoins tend to shine later in bull cycles, and history suggests they will still see their day in the sun.
So while Bitcoin may be hogging the spotlight in early 2025, don’t count the altcoins out.
I still firmly believe the most explosive phase for altcoins is coming later this year. That is why I’ve packed my $50,000 real-money portfolio with coins that I think will skyrocket in the months ahead.
Try Crypto Cycle today to follow my portfolio and discover what lies ahead in the altcoin market.
Keep coming back,
Chris Curl
Editor, Daily Profit Cycle