Bitcoin's Dominance Reaches New Cycle Peak as Altcoins Lag Behind

The cryptocurrency market is witnessing a clear divide: Bitcoin is booming, while many altcoins are lagging behind. Bitcoin's dominance has reached a new high in the cycle at 64.38%, the highest level since February. This increase signals a continuous shift of capital from altcoins back to Bitcoin. The Altcoin season index confirms Bitcoin's dominance. Moreover, the CMC Altcoin Season Index has provided a snapshot of the current state of the cryptocurrency market by tracking how the top 100 altcoins have performed against Bitcoin over the past 90 days. A score close to 100 indicates Altcoin Season, while a lower score suggests Bitcoin Season. As of now, this index stands at 16/100, clearly signaling Bitcoin Season.

This number has slightly increased compared to the level of 15 last week but is still much lower than the level of 21 last month. The highest in the past year was 87 on December 4, 2024, and the lowest was 13 on March 12, 2025. Analysts are divided on the peak dominance According to analyst Benjamin Cowen, historically, Bitcoin's dominance has increased during QT (Quantitative Tightening) phases and tends to peak when monetary conditions are loosened. The current chart indicates that the dominance level could rise to 66% or higher in the coming weeks if these conditions persist.

Cowen also pointed out that the lack of momentum in altcoin and the repeated lower highs compared to Bitcoin are further signs of weakness in the altcoin space. While some hope that altcoin will recover by the end of the year, Cowen stated that the current indicators support the continued strength of BTC in the short term. Presenting a completely opposite perspective, Altcoin commentator Gordon took to social media and wrote, "All indicators and narratives point to a BIG bull market. The Altcoin season is coming." The market's actions reflect the strength of Bitcoin. As of today, Bitcoin has surged to $88,007, with a 1% increase in the last 24 hours. With a market capitalization of nearly $1.75 trillion, BTC continues to attract the attention of investors, especially as traditional markets show signs of weakness. In fact, over $1.5 trillion has been wiped out from the US stock market recently, while $60 billion has flowed into cryptocurrency—with Bitcoin leading the way. Conversely, Ethereum (ETH) has been affected. Although there were signs of a brief recovery earlier this month, ETH has now fallen to $1,577, marking a decline as it struggles to keep up with Bitcoin. Other major altcoins like Solana (SOL) and BNB only recorded minor gains in comparison, still lagging far behind BTC's strong rally.