Entering 2026, many people have noticed that the altcoin sector is starting to stir. Rather than calling this a full-blown altseason, it's more like a targeted rebound — let's look at the underlying logic.

**Why have altcoins suddenly become active?**

First, Bitcoin's dominance rate has begun to decline from around 59%. What does this mean? Funds are rotating. When Bitcoin's absorption capacity weakens, the circulating funds naturally flow into altcoins. On the technical side, there's also a clue — the "Triple Bear Setup" technical signal suggests that a mini altseason may be coming.

Second, the holiday has ended. Traders are gradually returning to the market, and risk appetite has significantly increased. Coupled with expectations of potential rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and the overall macro easing tone, market sentiment is indeed warming up.

Looking at the narrative side, themes like privacy coins, AI, and DeFi are taking turns leading the rally. For example, ADA has risen 7%, and PEPE has actually accumulated over 75% gains. Isn't that crazy enough? This selective narrative-driven market behavior is often a typical feature of altcoin rebounds.

**My judgment: This is just a mini rebound, don't be overly optimistic.**

To be honest, I still believe this wave is merely a rebound, not a true full altseason. So, when choosing coins, be more cautious.

**A few directions worth watching:**

1. **SOL** — The ecosystem is indeed strong. With gaming, meme, and DeFi TVL all present, recent leadership confirms the hotness.

2. **ADA** — The post-holiday gains are solid, and governance updates along with new projects could still have stories to tell.

3. **XRP** — Regulatory clarity is increasing, and there's anticipation for ETF approval. The demand for cross-border payments continues, and this logical framework holds.

4. **XMR and ZEC** — Privacy coins are currently the hottest narrative. XMR is approaching its all-time high, and this momentum is holding up well.

5. **TAO** — Focused on decentralized AI, with halving and ETF filing as catalysts, this has good potential.

6. **TON** — Backed by Telegram, a major supporter, with a solid community foundation, the long-term logic looks promising.

Altcoins are inherently volatile, and this must be understood. When selecting, patience is key, and a longer-term layout is advisable.