The crypto market is showing signs of a major shift toward altcoins, with charts hinting at the start of a possible “altcoin season.” A leading crypto analyst, Trader Tardigrade, highlights the TOTAL3 index, which tracks altcoins excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum, forming one of the clearest bullish setups in years.
If confirmed, it could push the altcoin market cap to $4.37 trillion, a nearly 290% surge.
This Classic Chart Pattern Could Trigger Altcoin Season
According to the Trader Tardigrade, the weekly TOTAL3 chart is showing a textbook “Cup & Handle” pattern, one of the clearest bullish setups in years. This pattern usually shows the market may rise after a pause.
The cup formed over several years, starting from the 2021 highs around $1.13 trillion, dropping to the 2023 bear market low of $0.287 trillion, and then climbing back to the 2024 highs near $1.16 trillion.
Now, in 2025, the handle is forming just below key resistance, setting up a potential breakout. If the breakout happens, the altcoin market could surge to $4.37 trillion, a nearly 290% increase from current levels.
Such growth would indicate a strong altcoin season, where altcoins as a group could outperform Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Bitcoin Dominance Drops, Capital Rotates to Altcoins
One of the clearest signals for the altcoin season is Bitcoin’s dominance falling below 59%, showing that investors are moving capital from Bitcoin into altcoins. While Bitcoin stays strong above $120,000, smaller crypto projects are attracting more attention and liquidity.
Analysts also note that the altcoin market has been in an unusually long accumulation phase, longer than before the 2017 and 2021 altcoin seasons.
Top Coins Poised For Rally
According to Tardigrade, some leading altcoins, including SOL, XRP, ADA, Doge, Shib, etc, are likely to benefit the most from this rally.
Meanwhile, Solana (SOL), trading around $231, could lead the major coins, with a potential rise toward $1,000 if momentum and ecosystem growth continue. Dogecoin (DOGE), at $0.253, may trigger retail-driven rallies, possibly reaching $1.50 during a peak altcoin cycle.
On top of it, smaller and mid-cap altcoins could see 3–5x gains, echoing historical patterns where capital shifts from Bitcoin and Ethereum into altcoins during market surges.
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