Altcoin Season Index Drops to Lowest Since July. What's Happening with Cryptocurrency

RBK-cryptoPublished on 2025-12-15Last updated on 2025-12-15

Abstract

The Altcoin Season Index has dropped to its lowest level since July, reaching 33 points on December 15th, according to Blockchain Center. This metric compares the 90-day performance of the top 50 cryptocurrencies (excluding stablecoins and wrapped tokens) against Bitcoin. A reading above 75 indicates an altcoin season, while below 25 signifies a Bitcoin season. The index briefly entered altcoin season territory for less than two weeks in September, hitting 80 points for the first time in 2025. Since then, it has fallen sharply to 33. Over the past 90 days, ZCash (ZEC) was the top performer with a 686% gain, while most major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (-22%), Ethereum (-29.8%), Solana (-43.9%), and Ton (-50%), posted significant losses. Bitcoin's market dominance has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 57.6% and 60.6% over the past three months, and currently stands at 59.13%. Meanwhile, Bitcoin's price is trading around $90,000, down 28.8% from its October high of approximately $126,000. An alternative index from CoinMarketCap, which tracks the top 100 cryptocurrencies, fell to just 19 points.

The Altcoin Season Index has dropped to its lowest level since July. According to Blockchain Center, as of 13:00 Moscow time on December 15, it stands at 33 points, and on Friday, December 11, it fell to 31 points.

The Altcoin Season Index from Blockchain Center is a metric that compares the 90-day return of the top 50 cryptocurrencies by market cap (excluding stablecoins and wrapped tokens) to Bitcoin. The indicator is expressed in values from 0 to 100. If 75% of the coins on the list show greater growth than Bitcoin, it is considered an altcoin season (75 points); if less than 25%, it is Bitcoin's season.

Over the past six months, the index remained in the altcoin season zone for less than two weeks in September. During this period, the indicator reached 80 points for the first time in 2025. A number of leading tokens hit all-time highs during this time; for example, on September 18, Binance's BNB rose above $1,000 for the first time. Over the past three months, the altcoin season index has fallen from 80 to 33.

Over the past 90 days, among the cryptocurrencies included in the Blockchain Center index, ZCash (ZEC) stands out significantly from the others with its performance. Its three-month return is 686%, while the token in second place, WBT, has a return of 38% over this period.

Bitcoin is in 17th place with a three-month loss of 22%. But most of the leading coins are in an even greater decline. Ethereum is in 22nd place (-29.8%), Solana (SOL) is in 36th place (-43.9%), and Ton is in 40th place (-50%). The token with the lowest return was PUMP, which fell 66% over 90 days.

The Blockchain Center's Altcoin Season Index is considered canonical for the market, but other analytical platforms also conduct their own measurements. A similar index from CoinMarketCap, which considers the top 100 cryptocurrencies, fell to 19 points on December 15.

Another indicator that may signal the approach or retreat of an altcoin season is Bitcoin's market share (dominance). Its decline is interpreted by traders as a move towards an 'altcoin season,' and vice versa.

But over the past three months, Bitcoin's dominance has not changed significantly. According to TradingView, on September 15, BTC's share of the crypto market was 58.17%, and today it is 59.13%. Throughout this time, the index has fluctuated within a narrow range of 57.6% to 60.6%.

On December 15, the price of Bitcoin is fluctuating around $90,000. From its peak of around $126,000, recorded on October 6, the coin has fallen by 28.8%.

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Related Questions

QWhat is the Altcoin Season Index and what does it measure?

AThe Altcoin Season Index, created by Blockchain Center, is a metric that compares the 90-day performance of the top 50 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization (excluding stablecoins and wrapped tokens) against Bitcoin. It is expressed on a scale from 0 to 100. A reading above 75 indicates an 'altcoin season,' meaning 75% of the coins have outperformed Bitcoin, while a reading below 25 is considered a 'Bitcoin season.'

QWhat was the value of the Blockchain Center's Altcoin Season Index on December 15th, and what does this low value signify?

AOn December 15th, the Blockchain Center's Altcoin Season Index was at 33. This low value, near its lowest point since July, signifies that the market is in a 'Bitcoin season,' where Bitcoin is significantly outperforming the majority of other major altcoins.

QWhich cryptocurrency had the highest 90-day return according to the index, and what was its performance?

AAccording to the index, ZCash (ZEC) had the highest 90-day return with a performance of 686%, which was vastly superior to the second-place token, WBT, which had a 38% return.

QHow did major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Ton perform over the last 90 days based on the article?

AOver the last 90 days, Bitcoin was in 17th place with a loss of 22%. Other major cryptocurrencies performed even worse: Ethereum was in 22nd place with a loss of 29.8%, Solana (SOL) was in 36th place with a loss of 43.9%, and Ton was in 40th place with a loss of 50%.

QWhat is Bitcoin's market dominance, and how has it changed over the last three months according to the article?

ABitcoin's market dominance is the percentage of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization that belongs to. Over the last three months, it has remained relatively stable, moving from 58.17% on September 15th to 59.13% on December 15th, fluctuating within a narrow range of 57.6% to 60.6%.

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