A Santa-Themed Altcoin Season? Analysts Observe Bullish Uprising In Ether, XRP, Cardano, Solana, SHIB Markets

A shift is unfolding in the crypto market as analysts point to one of the strongest altcoin setups seen this year, and CoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Season Index chart captures this turning point clearly.

While the broader market has struggled, altcoins are quietly grinding higher, and The Scalping Pro argues that a “massive altcoin season is loading.”

For now, CoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Season Index is still in Bitcoin Season, now sitting at 23/100. Yesterday’s reading was 26, last week’s was 31, and last month’s remained at 25.

However, the yearly high was a strong 87 (Altcoin Season, December 2024), while the annual low was 12 (Bitcoin Season, April 2025). On-chain data shows the index has declined over the past 90 days, even as altcoin market cap movement hints at early stabilization. Analysts argue that this disconnect often precedes a sharp inflection.

Moreover, performance data from the past 90 days shows that several mid-cap assets delivered outsized returns.

That said, data shared by Altcoin Sherpa highlights the long-term structural challenge for most altcoins. The analysts believe many are likely to make lower highs against both BTC and USDT throughout their lifespans, with Uniswap (UNI) and VeChain (VET) as examples.

Altcoin Sherpa also notes that “2021 isn’t happening again,” suggesting that even if an altcoin season emerges, it may be far more selective than euphoric.

Nevertheless, the setup is gaining attention. With the index near cycle lows, top performers flashing strength, and several charts pushing off multimonth bases, the market may be entering the early stages of a rotation; possibly the first chapter of a Santa-season rebound for alts.