The cryptocurrency market moves in cycles — sometimes dominated by Bitcoin, and at other times, driven by a surge in altcoin performance. Recognizing these shifts early can be a game-changer for traders and investors. The Altseason Index (Top 10) is a powerful analytical tool designed to help you determine whether the market is entering an altseason — when altcoins outperform Bitcoin — or if we’re still in a Bitcoin-dominated phase.
By tracking the relative strength of major altcoins against BTC, this index offers timely insights into market sentiment and potential investment opportunities.
What Is the Altseason Index (Top 10)?
The Altseason Index (Top 10) measures whether altcoins are collectively outperforming Bitcoin over a 90-day period. Inspired by the well-known Blockchain Center Altcoin Season Index, it evaluates the price momentum of nine leading altcoins:
Ethereum (ETH), Binance Coin (BNB), Cardano (ADA), XRP, Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT), Avalanche (AVAX), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Chainlink (LINK).
The core idea is simple: when most top altcoins rise faster than Bitcoin, it signals growing investor appetite for higher-risk, high-reward digital assets — a hallmark of altseason.
👉 Discover how to time your next crypto move with real-time market insights.
How the Altseason Index Works
The indicator uses a straightforward yet effective calculation method:
- Track 90-Day Performance: It calculates the percentage price change of Bitcoin and each of the nine selected altcoins over the past 90 days.
- Compare Against BTC: For each altcoin, it checks whether its performance exceeds that of Bitcoin during the same period.
- Count Outperformers: It tallies how many of the nine altcoins have outperformed BTC.
Calculate the Index Value:
$$ \text{Index} = \left( \frac{\text{Number of Outperforming Altcoins}}{9} \right) \times 100 $$
Interpreting the Results
- Above 75: Strong altseason signal (green zone)
→ Most altcoins are beating Bitcoin; consider rotating into high-potential altcoins. - Below 25: Bitcoin season (red zone)
→ Bitcoin is dominating; safer to focus on BTC or stable assets. - Between 25 and 75: Neutral market
→ No clear trend; monitor for breakout signals.
This simple scoring system transforms complex market data into an easy-to-read visual gauge, helping traders make informed decisions without getting lost in noise.
Visualizing Market Cycles
On your trading chart, the Altseason Index appears as:
- A blue line representing the current index value (ranging from 0 to 100).
- A green horizontal line at 75, marking the threshold for altseason.
- A red horizontal line at 25, indicating the start of Bitcoin season.
Color-coded background zones:
- Green shading when the index is above 75 (altseason).
- Red shading below 25 (Bitcoin season).
This visual layout allows for instant recognition of market phases, making it ideal for both novice and experienced traders.
Practical Use Cases
You can apply the Altseason Index directly on platforms like TradingView to guide your strategy:
- Index > 75?
It may be time to increase exposure to promising altcoins. Historically, such periods correlate with strong rallies across DeFi, NFT, and layer-1 ecosystems. - Index < 25?
Consider shifting focus back to Bitcoin. This often occurs during bear markets or macroeconomic uncertainty when investors seek relative safety. - Index in Neutral Range?
Watch for catalysts — protocol upgrades, regulatory news, or macro shifts — that could tip the balance toward either extreme.
Ensure your exchange symbols match correctly (e.g., BTCUSD, BINANCE:BTCUSDT) to maintain data accuracy.
👉 Learn how to track altcoin momentum using advanced trading tools.
Key Limitations and Considerations
While powerful, the Altseason Index has some constraints:
- Limited to 9 Altcoins: Due to technical limits on TradingView’s
request.security()function, only nine major altcoins are included. Smaller-cap gems won’t influence the score. - Timeframe Sensitivity: Best used on daily charts, though adaptable to weekly or hourly views depending on trading style.
- Lagging Indicator: Since it relies on 90-day performance, it reflects past trends rather than predicting future moves outright.
- No Weighting: All nine altcoins carry equal weight regardless of market cap or liquidity.
Despite these, its simplicity and transparency make it a trusted tool among crypto analysts.
Why Transparency Matters: Open-Source Design
True to the spirit of open financial systems, the creator of this indicator has released it as open-source code on TradingView. This means:
- Anyone can review, verify, and understand how the index works.
- Traders can customize it for personal strategies.
- The community benefits from shared knowledge and collaborative improvement.
Use it freely — but respect the platform’s House Rules if redistributing or modifying the script.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What defines an "altseason"?
An altseason occurs when a significant number of major altcoins outperform Bitcoin over a sustained period. It typically reflects increased investor confidence in blockchain innovation beyond BTC, often fueled by trends like DeFi growth, new chain adoption, or ecosystem incentives.
Can the Altseason Index predict price movements?
Not directly. It's a momentum-based indicator, not a predictive model. It shows what has already happened over the last 90 days. However, recognizing a rising index early can help you position ahead of broader market recognition.
Which altcoins are included in the Top 10 index?
The index tracks nine key altcoins: Ethereum (ETH), Binance Coin (BNB), Cardano (ADA), XRP, Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT), Avalanche (AVAX), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Chainlink (LINK). Despite the name "Top 10", it excludes one top coin due to technical constraints.
Is a high index value always bullish?
Not necessarily. While values above 75 suggest strong altcoin momentum, they can also indicate overheating or speculative bubbles. Always combine this signal with risk management and fundamental analysis.
How often should I check the index?
For most investors, checking weekly is sufficient. Active traders might monitor it daily, especially around major macro events or halving cycles.
Can I use this index for short-term trades?
It’s best suited for medium- to long-term trend identification. For scalping or day trading, pair it with shorter-term oscillators or volume indicators.
Final Thoughts: Timing the Market With Confidence
The Altseason Index (Top 10) is more than just a chart overlay — it's a window into shifting market psychology. By quantifying what many traders feel intuitively, it helps remove emotion from decision-making and replaces it with data-driven clarity.
Whether you're building a diversified portfolio or timing your next entry point, understanding when altcoins begin to outshine Bitcoin gives you a strategic edge.
👉 Start analyzing market cycles with powerful crypto trading tools today.
Core Keywords: Altseason Index, altcoin season, Bitcoin season, cryptocurrency market cycle, altcoin performance, BTC vs altcoins, crypto momentum indicator