Quick answer: The Altcoin Season Index checks how many large altcoins beat Bitcoin over a set period. A high score shows broad altcoin strength. It does not prove that every altcoin is safe or likely to rise.
Altcoin Season Index today
Snapshot checked July 22, 2026: BlockchainCenter showed 55 out of 100. Its page said the market was not in altcoin season. TradingView showed Bitcoin dominance near 59.31% at the same review.
Both values move each day. Use the live season index and the live Bitcoin dominance chart for current data.
What is the Altcoin Season Index?
The index is a market breadth tool. It compares a group of altcoins with Bitcoin over a rolling window. The score rises when more coins beat Bitcoin.
Most versions use a 0 to 100 scale. A score of 55 means that 55% of the tested group beat Bitcoin. It does not mean the group gained 55%.
Why different sites show different scores
There is no single official method. The two best-known versions use different coin sets.
BlockchainCenter method
- Coin group: Top 50, with stablecoins and asset-backed tokens removed.
- Window: 90 days.
- Altcoin-season line: 75% beat Bitcoin.
CoinMarketCap method
- Coin group: Top 100, with stablecoins and wrapped tokens removed.
- Window: 90 days.
- Altcoin-season line: 75% beat Bitcoin.
The score can change when a provider changes its ranked coin list. Compare the same provider over time. Do not mix two methods in one trend line.
How to read the score
- 75 to 100: broad altcoin strength under the provider’s method.
- 26 to 74: mixed leadership. Some groups may lead while others lag.
- 0 to 25: Bitcoin season under many common methods.
These bands describe past results. They do not forecast the next week or month. A score can turn after prices have already moved.
Altcoin Season Index vs Bitcoin dominance
The two tools answer different questions. Bitcoin dominance measures Bitcoin’s share of the crypto market. The season index measures how many tracked altcoins beat Bitcoin.
Bitcoin dominance equals Bitcoin market value divided by total crypto market value. You can check the CoinMarketCap dominance chart for another live view.
Falling dominance can support an altcoin rotation. Yet it can also reflect stablecoin growth or a few large coins. A high season score gives wider breadth evidence.
A safer way to use the index
- Check the method. Confirm the coin set, window, and exclusions.
- Check the trend. A rising score over several weeks matters more than one daily move.
- Check Bitcoin dominance. Look for a matching shift in market share.
- Check liquidity. Thin markets can show large gains that are hard to trade.
- Check each token. Review supply, unlocks, use, security, and market access.
- Set risk limits. Decide position size and an exit rule before entry.
Common false signals
- Small sample bias: a narrow coin set may miss wider weakness.
- Survivor bias: ranked lists can drop failed or falling assets.
- Late confirmation: a 90-day window reacts after much of a move has happened.
- Uneven gains: many coins can beat Bitcoin while still losing value in U.S. dollar terms.
- Low liquidity: a price jump may not support a large order.
What the index cannot tell you
The index does not grade token value, code safety, custody, or legal risk. It also does not show whether a move is driven by real use.
Crypto assets can be very risky and volatile. The Investor.gov crypto alert warns that markets may become hard to trade. A token can also lose most or all of its value.
Use Token Metrics with market breadth
The season score shows the market’s width. Token research still decides which assets deserve a closer look.
Start with our altcoin research guide. Then compare price trend, token grades, liquidity, and risk before you act.
Explore Token Metrics market research
Frequently asked questions
What score means it is altcoin season?
Many indexes use 75 as the altcoin-season line. The exact coin set differs by provider, so compare methods first.
Is the Altcoin Season Index a buy signal?
No. It is a backward-looking market breadth measure. It does not test a token’s quality, liquidity, or risk.
How is Bitcoin dominance different?
Bitcoin dominance measures Bitcoin’s share of crypto market value. The season index counts how many altcoins beat Bitcoin.
Sources
- BlockchainCenter Altcoin Season Index
- CoinMarketCap Altcoin Season Index and method
- TradingView Bitcoin dominance chart
- Investor.gov crypto asset risk alert
Disclosure: This guide is for education. It is not investment, legal, or tax advice. Token Metrics may earn revenue when readers buy its products.
