The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index is standing at 8, showing “extreme fear.” The metric has been in that zone for nearly two months, with the period coinciding with reduced participation and lower conviction among traders. This page lists the top 100 cryptocurrency coins by market cap.
Over 40% of Altcoins Near All-Time Lows, Worse Than Last Bear Market
The current figure exceeds that level by 2%, highlighting deeper market stress. Trader behavior with altcoins shows the crypto market is still chosen for risky directional bets, though most are happening in the background, and the main focus is on Bitcoin. As of March 26, the altcoin season index moved up to 51 points, with almost a perfect balance between BTC and other assets. The major risk for those tokens is that short positions may be liquidated by deliberate targeting. Most of the shorted tokens show overall bearish signals, making traders confident in shorting.
- According to data shared around analyst Darkfost, the share of altcoins near their historical floors exceeded 40% in March 2026.
- In March 2026, more than 40% of altcoins are trading near their all-time lows.
- With that much supply chasing a limited pool of investor money, most of these assets simply cannot attract enough buyers to hold their value.
- For him, the old scenario where money flowed from Bitcoin to Ethereum then broadly poured into altcoins no longer works as before.
- Activity among large holders of Chainlink (LINK) has intensified amid broader weakness across the altcoin market.
Ethereum could lose its second place in the crypto market in 2026
Bitcoin has fallen roughly 45% from its all-time high — painful, but modest compared to what has happened further down the market cap rankings. That structural problem is now showing up in the numbers in a dramatic way. Data from CryptoQuant shows that over 40% of all altcoins are currently trading at or near their all-time lows.
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Especially since the price action remains under a descending resistance line. Read the best crypto stories of the day in less than 5 minutes. As a reminder, in early 2026, Santiment recorded minimal interest in altseason.
CUSIP Database provided by FactSet Research Systems Inc. SEC fillings and other documents provided by Quartr.© 2026 TradingView, Inc. However, this accumulation may reflect a short-term relief phase rather than a confirmed reversal.
Just like the shorted tokens, those assets were trading near all-time lows, expecting an eventual breakout. Long positions may face smaller risks, as the assets have mostly traded sideways over the past months. Altcoins are still inviting risky traders to take strong directional bets. According to Alphractal data, there are clear-cut categories of altcoins with minimal long/short ratios and a predominance of short positions. Geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic volatility weigh on all risky assets, but altcoins bear the brunt more violently than Bitcoin or large caps. This retracement phase of altcoins is harsher than that of the last crypto bear market.
The monthly average outflow among the top https://strovemont-capital.com/ 10 transactions is also showing growth. Since mid-February, it has climbed from around 2,000 LINK to nearly 2,600 LINK per day.
The crypto market is under pressure as geopolitical tensions and volatility weigh on risk assets, with altcoins taking the hardest hit. Over 40% of altcoins are now at or near all-time lows, exceeding the 38% seen in the last bear market. Oversupply and liquidity dilution, more than 47 million tokens across chains like Solana, Base, and BNB Smart Chain, make altcoins fragile. While underperformance is widespread, it also creates opportunities for investors who can identify strong, resilient projects with long-term potential.
