Bitcoin News Today: Altcoin Bull Cycle Kicks Off as Bitcoin's Dominance Cracks

Altcoin trading volumes have surged past $20 billion in October 2025, signaling a pivotal reset in the cryptocurrency market as capital shifts from Bitcoin (BTC) to mid- and small-cap tokens. This shift, driven by technical indicators and institutional activity, has reignited discussions about an emerging "altcoin season," with analysts forecasting a potential 290% rally in the altcoin market cap to $4.37 trillion if bullish patterns hold .

The TOTAL3 index, which tracks altcoins excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum, has formed a textbook "Cup & Handle" pattern-a classic technical setup indicating a potential breakout. The index's four-year consolidation phase, marked by a decline from $1.13 trillion in 2021 to $0.287 trillion during the 2023 bear market, followed by a rebound to $1.16 trillion in 2024, now suggests a near-term breakout could occur. If realized, this would validate a new bull cycle for altcoins, with Solana (SOL), Dogecoin (DOGE), and XRP leading the charge .

Bitcoin's dominance has fallen below 59%, the lowest level since the 2021 bull run, as investors rotate capital into altcoins. This trend is supported by on-chain data showing a 37.2% share of spot trading volume for altcoins in September 2025, outpacing Bitcoin and Ethereum's combined 62.7% . The Altcoin Season Index (ASI), a metric measuring the performance of the top 50 coins against Bitcoin, hit 80 points in September-the highest level of the year-indicating a structural shift toward risk-on altcoin investments .

While Bitcoin's price remains resilient above $120,000, smaller tokens are attracting speculative inflows. Solana, currently trading at $231, is seen as a top performer, with analysts projecting a potential rise to $1,000 if ecosystem growth and macroeconomic conditions align. Dogecoin, at $0.253, could see retail-driven rallies to $1.50 during peak altcoin cycles. Mid- and small-cap altcoins are also in focus, with some analysts predicting 3–5x gains as capital flows into undervalued projects .

The market's recent volatility, however, underscores the risks. In October 2025, a sudden tariff announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump triggered a crash wiping $19 billion in market value within hours, with Bitcoin dropping to $91,969 and Ethereum falling 20% . Despite the sharp correction, Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, described the downturn as a "technical reset" rather than a fundamental collapse, noting the market's rapid recovery and resilience .

Exchange listings have further fueled liquidity in altcoins, with platforms like Coinbase, Upbit, and Bithumb adding new tokens at an accelerated pace. This has created a feedback loop where increased listings drive trading volume, which in turn attracts more speculative activity . Meanwhile, regulatory scrutiny remains a wildcard, with U.S. and European authorities intensifying oversight of stablecoins and exchange operations .

Looking ahead, experts caution that while the current bull setup is strong, the next crypto winter could begin as early as Q4 2026, triggered by macroeconomic shifts or systemic risks. For now, the market is in a high-risk, high-reward phase, with altcoins positioned to outperform Bitcoin if the broader economic environment stabilizes .

[1] Altcoin Season 2025 Will Be Bigger Than 2021 - Here's Why (https://coinpedia.org/news/altcoin-season-2025-will-be-bigger-than-2021-heres-why/)

[2] 4 Signs the Altcoin Season Is Accelerating in September (https://beincrypto.com/signs-altcoin-season-accelerating-in-september/)

[3] 3 Altcoins Ready to Smash New All-Time Highs in October 2025 (https://www.ccn.com/analysis/crypto/altcoins-to-smash-new-all-time-highs-october-2025/)

[4] Altcoins Next Market Surge | Key Insights for 2025 (https://binancemagazine.com/altcoins-next-market-surge-key-insights-for-2025/)

[5] Bitcoin vs Altcoins: Which is More Profitable in 2025? (https://www.bittime.com/en/blog/bitcoin-vs-altcoin-season-index-2025)

[6] Altcoins vs Bitcoin: The Silent Market Revolution in 2025 (https://thebitjournal.com/altcoins-vs-bitcoin-market-revolution-2025/)

[7] Altcoins vs Bitcoin: Who Will Win 2025? (https://www.forexgdp.com/cryptocurrency/altcoins-vs-bitcoin-2025/)

[8] The 2025 Crypto Market Crash and the Search for Stability (https://cryptorobotics.ai/news/analysis/2025-crypto-market-crash-stability-strategies/)

[9] Crypto Market Crash: Causes, Impacts, and Recovery Signals (https://www.gate.com/news/detail/14640054)

[10] When Will Be The Next Big Crypto Market Crash? (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/next-big-crypto-market-crash-202109894.html)

[11] October 2025 Crypto Crash: Technical Reset, Analysts Report (https://theccpress.com/october-2025-crypto-crash-reset/)

[12] Crypto Crash & Recovery: Hoskinson's View (https://coinedition.com/is-2025-cryptos-year-hoskinson-says-yes-after-710b-market-dip-rebound/)