Bitcoin has slipped deep into red territory, trading near $103,600 after losing over 10% in the past week. With traders bracing for a possible drop below the $100,000 mark, attention is turning to a different set of movers — altcoins that can benefit from a Bitcoin crash.
While most tokens move in the same direction as BTC, a few are showing negative correlation or minimal, meaning they tend to rise when Bitcoin weakens. Here are three altcoins that could gain if the slide deepens this month.
Tezos (XTZ)
Tezos is one of the first altcoins that can benefit from a Bitcoin crash. The smart contract platform, known for its self-upgrading blockchain and on-chain governance, has moved differently from most large-cap tokens this year. While many coins continue to mirror Bitcoin’s direction, Tezos has shown signs of independence.
SponsoredOver the past year, Tezos has held a –0.07 Pearson correlation with Bitcoin. This means it slightly moves in the opposite direction. The Pearson correlation coefficient measures how two assets move together, with +1 meaning they move the same way and –1 meaning they move opposite. With Bitcoin now hovering near $103,600 and facing pressure to stay above $100,000, Tezos’s negative correlation suggests it could surprise traders if BTC breaks lower.
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On the 4-hour chart, whale and smart money activity are turning positive. The Smart Money Index (SMI) — which tracks how informed or institutional traders position themselves — has started to rise, signaling renewed confidence. Similarly, the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF), a measure of large wallet inflows, remains below zero but is curling upward, hinting that accumulation may already be underway.
For price action, Tezos faces its first key resistance at $0.53. A move above $0.55 would confirm growing momentum, while a break past $0.58 could open the door to $0.60 and beyond. On the flip side, a drop below $0.51 would weaken the setup and invalidate the short-term bullish view.
If Bitcoin does slide below $100,000, Tezos’s low correlation history and early accumulation trends make it one of the few altcoins likely to benefit.
Sponsored SponsoredPi Coin (Pi)
Pi Network is another altcoin that can benefit from a Bitcoin crash, especially given its clear divergence from Bitcoin’s trend. While Bitcoin has fallen nearly 10% this week, Pi has slipped by just 1%, indicating early signs of potential independence.
Over the past year, Pi Coin has shown a –0.30 Pearson correlation with Bitcoin, a much stronger negative correlation than Tezos. This suggests Pi Coin often reacts differently to Bitcoin’s price swings, potentially rising when BTC weakens. If Bitcoin fails to hold above the crucial $100,000 level, PI’s opposite movement pattern could help it attract rebound traders.
On the daily chart, PI shows a constructive technical setup. The Smart Money Index (SMI) remains above the signal line, meaning informed buyers haven’t abandoned their rebound thesis yet. This suggests that despite broader bearish sentiment, smart money still expects a potential upside.
For price levels, Pi Coin must first reclaim $0.26 to confirm renewed strength. A breakout above $0.29 could then open the way for further gains. However, if Pi slips below $0.22, it risks testing $0.19, which would weaken the correlation-based bullish case.
Given its strong negative link to Bitcoin and early accumulation signs, Pi Coin remains one of the altcoins best positioned to benefit if Bitcoin crashes below $100,000.
Zcash (ZEC)
Zcash rounds out the list of altcoins that can benefit from a Bitcoin crash, especially given how sharply its correlation with Bitcoin has shifted.
ZEC has long been one of the leaders in the privacy coin segment, often seen as a potential alternative to Bitcoin, per experts. Over the past year, its Pearson correlation coefficient with Bitcoin has averaged +0.28, meaning it has mostly moved independently.
However, over the past month, that number has dropped to –0.55, showing that Zcash is now moving almost completely opposite to Bitcoin.
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This negative shift suggests that if Bitcoin falls below $100,000, Zcash could be among the first to benefit.
On the price chart, ZEC has shown strong momentum. The token is up nearly 200% in the past month, while Bitcoin has dropped about 15.8%. The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) remains well above zero at 0.18, signaling steady inflows from whales. CMF has been making higher highs since October 27, indicating that more large holders are adding positions.
If CMF crosses above 0.33, a level last seen on October 1, it would confirm aggressive whale accumulation. That would likely support another leg higher.
From a technical view, the Fibonacci extension pattern shows that Zcash’s next key resistance sits near $594. A move above that would represent about a 23% gain from current levels and could keep the rally intact.
However, if ZEC falls below $341 or $245, it would weaken this bullish setup. That might also mean that Bitcoin may have avoided a deeper crash.
For now, Zcash remains one of the few altcoins with a clear negative correlation to Bitcoin. And it’s supported by both strong inflows and a momentum-backed chart.
