CryptoRank says structural factors make altcoin season unlikely in 2026

Beincrypto reports a CryptoRank analysis that finds an altcoin season unlikely in 2026: the Altcoin Season Index stands at 41, well below the 75 threshold that would signal altcoin dominance.

CryptoRank highlights four barriers limiting a broad altcoin rally: capital dilution as tracked tokens rose from 5.8 million to 29.2 million; restrictive tokenomics with low circulating supply and large vested allocations that create steady sell pressure when tokens unlock; new competition from memecoins, perpetual futures and prediction markets that siphon speculative capital; and institutional inflows concentrating on ETH, SOL and XRP via ETFs. Market indicators also show the Altcoin Month index at 49, the Altcoin Year index at 29, Bitcoin dominance holding at 59%, 122 days without an altcoin season and 1,456 days since the last altcoin year.

Together these forces and over $1 billion in tokens unlocking this week create ongoing pressure that undermines the concentrated buying needed for classic altcoin rallies. As January 2026 enters its final week, CryptoRank says it remains unclear whether these headwinds are a new normal or if market cycles will change to allow broader altcoin growth again.

Key Topics

Crypto, Cryptorank, Altcoin Season Index, Token Unlocks, Perpetual Futures, Memecoins