Back

Altcoin Season on Pause? September’s Rising Bitcoin Dominance Spooks Investors

author avatar

Written by
Nhat Hoang

25 September 2025 07:08 UTC
Trusted
  • Bitcoin Dominance has climbed to nearly 59%, signaling altcoins are underperforming and raising fears of a delayed altcoin season.
  • The Altcoin Season Index slipped below 75, weakening confidence in a broad rally as liquidity spreads thin across too many tokens.
  • Market sentiment has turned fearful, but optimism lingers with potential Fed rate cuts and ETF approvals sparking renewed hope.
Promo

After all the optimistic predictions made for the altcoin season earlier in September, the latest data shows signs of the opposite.

Movements in Bitcoin Dominance, the Altcoin Season Index, and trading sentiment suggest that the altcoin season may be delayed or end sooner than expected.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Bitcoin Dominance Recovery Sparks Concerns of Delay

TradingView data shows that since mid-September, the total crypto market capitalization has dropped from over $4 trillion to $3.82 trillion. At the same time, Bitcoin Dominance (BTC.D) has risen from 57.3% to nearly 59%.

Bitcoin Dominance measures Bitcoin’s share of the total crypto market cap. A rise in BTC.D during a market-wide decline signals that altcoins are falling faster than Bitcoin.

Crypto market cap and Bitcoin Dominance. Source: TradingView
Crypto market cap and Bitcoin Dominance. Source: TradingView

From a technical perspective, analysts believe BTC.D could keep climbing as the inverse head-and-shoulders pattern confirms. A breakout above 59% would be a nightmare scenario for altcoins.

As a result, many investors are questioning whether the barely underway altcoin season has already been postponed.

“Bitcoin dominance is pumping again! Money is rotating to Bitcoin! Altseason delayed?” Whale.Guru reported.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Additionally, the Altcoin Season Index has fallen to 69, slipping under the 75-point threshold that confirms an altcoin season.

If capital continues to exit altcoins, the index could fall deeper. The dream of the biggest altcoin season in history may drift further away.

Altcoin Season Index. Source: BlockchainCenter
Altcoin Season Index. Source: BlockchainCenter

The market sentiment index has shifted from Neutral to Fear. This signals a risk of panic selling if fear escalates into Extreme Fear.

A recent BeInCrypto report highlighted contradictions in September’s altcoin season. Investor capital is not spread across tokens, while the market is oversaturated with too many coins.

“The days of just buying coins and waiting for the entire market to go up are gone. There are too many coins now and not enough liquidity or attention for all of them to pump at the same time,” AshRobin, founder of Kanto Lab, said.

Despite weakening indicators, many investors still believe a larger altcoin season lies ahead. Optimism comes from expectations that the Fed’s rate cuts and potential approval of multiple Altcoin ETFs—following the SEC’s new standards—could ignite the next big wave.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.