## End of Bitcoin Dominance? Is 2025 the Time for Altcoin Rise?

Market data reveals the changes underway. As of December 2025, Bitcoin's market share has fallen to 55.66%, reaching an unprecedented low. Meanwhile, 35 of the top 50 cryptocurrencies have outperformed Bitcoin, indicating a clear turning point in the market.

### Signs of Alt Season—Numbers Tell the Story

What is an alt season? Simply put, it signifies the end of the Bitcoin era and the arrival of a period dominated by mainstream altcoins like Ethereum, XRP, and Solana.

Looking at history, this cycle always occurs after the mid-phase of a bull market:

1. Bitcoin leads the rise, absorbing initial capital
2. Ethereum gains attention next, recording higher price swings than Bitcoin
3. The top 20 coins all start rising together
4. Smaller-cap altcoins and speculative projects explode in value

Reflecting on 2017 and 2021, the altcoin market expanded from $200 billion to $1.6 trillion—an eightfold increase. If the same scenario repeats in 2025, the total market size could reach $19 trillion.

### Taking a Calm Look at the Current Position

Reviewing December's market indicators:

- **Total Cryptocurrency Market Cap**: Over $3.8 trillion, with a positive 24-hour change
- **Bitcoin Market Share**: 55.66% (down sharply from 63.2% in June)
- **Movements in Mainstream Altcoins**:
- XRP: steady at $1.82
- Solana: $120.40, attracting attention
- Cardano: $0.36, holding steady
- Sui: $1.36, a representative of emerging projects

In the past 90 days, 11 of the top 50 assets have hit all-time highs. Notably, coins with lower valuations like XRP, TRX ($0.28), and XLM ($0.21) are making significant recoveries.

### Between Optimism and Pessimism

Market observers are divided.

**Optimists’ View**:
Alt season is already underway, as evidenced by Bitcoin’s declining dominance. Low-market-cap coins and AI-related projects are likely to deliver substantial returns. Some analysts argue that if liquidity improves, 2025 could be the biggest alt season ever.

**Pessimists’ Warning**:
Liquidity has been severely drying up over the past few months. The simultaneous occurrence of Bitcoin halving and monetary tightening has impacted the market. Small-cap stocks and altcoins may not receive enough capital inflow, potentially delaying a full alt season until 2028.

### The Aroma of a Bubble and Realistic Risks

History shows that alt seasons are always followed by market corrections or downturns. The ICO frenzy of 2017 and the DeFi revolution of 2021—both saw spectacular rises followed by harsh winters.

The same pattern is expected in the second half of 2025:
- Investment in speculative projects (so-called air coins) is inevitable
- Not all projects will succeed; careful selection is crucial
- Assets with high FDV (Fully Diluted Valuation) will require enormous capital to sustain growth

### Practical Investment Strategies

To ride the wave of the alt season, keep these principles in mind:

**Asset Selection**:
Focus on innovative projects (like SUI), while also considering undervalued traditional altcoins (XRP, XLM, TRX). Avoid chasing obscure speculative coins without fundamentals.

**Risk Management**:
Control position sizes strictly. Set stop-loss levels in advance. Avoid emotional reactions; execute mechanically to survive.

**Market Monitoring**:
Constantly watch Bitcoin’s dominance. A drop below 50% signals the start of a full alt season. Also, monitor the Alt Season Index approaching 75 as an important indicator.

### Conclusion: Opportunities and Warnings in Tandem

By December 2025, the market is clearly on the path toward alt season. The decline in Bitcoin’s market share, the outperformance of mainstream altcoins, and many new all-time highs all point to this trend.

However, liquidity shortages and a tough financial environment cannot be ignored. Expecting an unconditional rise like in 2017 or 2021 is risky.

Ultimately, alt season exists. But in the 2025 crypto bubble, high information sensitivity and disciplined risk management will be the key to profits and avoiding losses.