- Bitcoin’s market share hit 58.77%, the highest since April 2021, during late trading on October 15.
- Altcoins saw minimal price action while Bitcoin reached a 10-week high of $67,800.
- Analysts predict Bitcoin dominance may fall soon, potentially sparking a rally for altcoins.
Bitcoin’s market dominance has surged to its highest level in over three years, reaching 58.77% on October 15, 2024. As Bitcoin’s price climbed to a 10-week high of $67,800, its market share within the cryptocurrency space also spiked, while altcoins remained mostly stagnant. The price of Bitcoin later corrected to $64,880 before recovering to trade just above $67,000, bringing its market capitalization to $1.32 trillion, according to data from TradingView.
The rise in Bitcoin’s dominance has historically been a signal of underperformance for altcoins. Bitcoin recorded a 2.5% increase on the day, while altcoins generally saw flat or negative trading activity. This trend has led some market observers to predict a potential reversal in Bitcoin’s dominance in the near future, with a possible shift in favor of altcoins.
Predictions of a Shift in Bitcoin’s Dominance
Several prominent crypto analysts believe Bitcoin’s current dominance will not last. Benjamin Cowen, founder of ICT Crypto, shared his thoughts on October 16, suggesting that Bitcoin’s market share could peak at around 60%. Similarly, investor Coach K Crypto echoed this sentiment, indicating that Bitcoin dominance might have reached its cycle high. He suggested that a shift in dominance could lead to a rise in altcoins, particularly memecoins, as Bitcoin’s dominance declines.
Moataz Elsayed, another analyst, also predicted a significant drop in Bitcoin’s market share, which he believes could mark the beginning of an “altcoin season.”
Ether’s Decline in the Bitcoin-Ether Ratio
While Bitcoin continues to hold its ground, Ether (ETH), often considered the first altcoin to react when Bitcoin’s dominance drops, has seen its BTC ratio fall to the lowest point since April 2021. The ratio, which measures the value of Ether in terms of Bitcoin, recently dropped below 0.039.
Bitcoin’s current price action has remained relatively stable since reaching an all-time high of $73,738 in March. However, as it approaches its previous psychological barrier of $69,000, many institutional investors are showing renewed interest in the cryptocurrency. On October 15, US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds saw inflows of $371 million, with over $1.1 billion accumulated in the past three trading days, according to Farside Investors.