Anticipated Timeline for the Ascension of Alternative Cryptocurrencies?

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In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies, recent developments have caught the attention of investors and enthusiasts alike. Here's a roundup of some key facts that shed light on the current state of Ethereum, altcoins, and Bitcoin.

As of now, Ethereum gas fees remain below 30 gwei, indicating a relatively smooth user experience on the network. This could be a positive sign for those looking to transact on the Ethereum blockchain.

Several emerging sectors, including AI, Real-World Assets (RWA), and Decentralised Prediction Markets (DePIN), are drawing investor interest. These sectors promise to bring real-world applications to the blockchain, potentially driving growth and adoption.

The interest in these sectors could be further fuelled if the Federal Reserve decides to cut rates in the third quarter of the year. Such a move could trigger renewed appetite for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

However, the current state of the market seems to favour Bitcoin. The Altcoin Season Index stands at 24, signalling what is known as the "Bitcoin Season." Despite this, the Altcoin Month Index is at 57, and the Altcoin Year Index is at 27 - all below the 75-point threshold typically used to confirm an altcoin season.

The ETH/BTC ratio remains stuck below 0.065, indicating a prolonged downtrend for Ethereum relative to Bitcoin. This trend has been consistent for some time, with the ETH/BTC pair remaining in this position.

As of now, Bitcoin dominance stands at 63%, suggesting that Bitcoin continues to dominate the crypto market. However, this dominance has been challenged in the past, with major altcoin seasons occurring in 2017 and 2021.

Inflows into Ethereum and other altcoins remain significantly lower, accounting for only about 8% of total capital. This could suggest that investors are still favouring Bitcoin over altcoins.

On the other hand, investment funds have poured over $14 billion into Bitcoin ETFs since the beginning of 2025. This shows a strong appetite for Bitcoin among institutional investors.

The Bitcoin Dominance Index (BTC.D) is a key indicator for identifying the start of an altcoin season. According to Benjamin Cowen, a drop in BTC.D below 52% could signal the start of an altcoin season.

Meanwhile, the altcoin market capitalization has hit $1.89 trillion, surpassing its November 2021 peak of $1.79 trillion. This growth could be a positive sign for the altcoin market.

Political proposals like the U.S. Treasury potentially acquiring 200,000 BTC annually could significantly boost market sentiment and catalyze capital inflow into altcoins. Such a move could potentially shift the balance in favour of altcoins.

Ki Young Ju, CEO of CryptoQuant, believes that only altcoins with strong fundamentals, real revenue, and ETF potential are likely to outperform in this cycle. This suggests that investors should be cautious and consider the underlying strength of the altcoins they invest in.

In the meantime, the number of new active wallets on Solana and Base is rising again. This could be a positive sign for these platforms, indicating growing interest and adoption.

Historically, major altcoin seasons occurred during periods of reduced Bitcoin dominance. As such, it will be interesting to see if the trends observed in the market will lead to a shift in dominance and the start of a new altcoin season.