Altcoins are currently outperforming Bitcoin as crypto prices experience a significant uptrend. This shift marks a departure from the last historic highs seen in 2021. As Bitcoin approaches an all-time high of $100,000, this increase is fueled in part by Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election, positioning him as a pro-crypto leader.
Nevertheless, investor sentiment remains cautious as the shadows of the 2021 crypto collapse loom large, with Bloomberg noting persistent uncertainty. During previous market cycles, altcoins were known for their dramatic price swings.
Altcoins have recorded impressive gains recently. Notably, Solana has achieved new all-time highs, while many others have more than doubled in value since the start of the year. Historically, while altcoins often outperform Bitcoin in bullish markets, their higher volatility and lower trading volumes can lead to more severe declines during downturns.
The cautious sentiment follows the collapse of major entities like FTX and crypto lender Celsius, contributing to a severe bear market. However, November has seen a resurgence, evidenced by increased trading volumes and rising altcoin prices.
James Butterfill, CoinShares' head of research, shared his skepticism with Bloomberg about the scale of the altcoin rally. He pointed to potential regulatory changes, including a proposed national Bitcoin reserve, as a contributing factor. Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis's introduction of the Bitcoin Act, aiming to shift Federal Reserve gold reserves into acquiring a strategic Bitcoin stockpile, could transform market dynamics, potentially bolstering Bitcoin's market dominance.
Solana is currently the only major altcoin surpassing its previous highs this year. Experts like Nikolay Karpenko from B2C2 suggest this rally could differ from 2021 due to the industry’s maturation. Enhanced risk management and the influx of "more strategic" and institutional investors have reshaped the landscape.
As altcoins gain momentum, trading volumes are increasingly concentrated amongst the top five traded altcoins, rising from under 50% earlier this year to over 60% this month. Unique factors such as prospective exchange-traded fund (ETF) approvals have driven Solana's rise, while Dogecoin's gains have been influenced by its adoption as a payment tool and endorsements from figures like Elon Musk, now positioned at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The possibility that more altcoins could achieve ETF approval under Trump's administration might boost institutional interest further. However, Butterfill cautions that the market might soon prioritize fundamentals over speculative trading.
Despite positive sentiment, altcoins trade far below Bitcoin’s value. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, maintains a value of merely around 4% of Bitcoin's.
While Solana recently hit a record high of $263, it has retracted to $240 amid current market corrections, mirroring Bitcoin's recent slide after reaching $99,500. At present, SOL has increased by nearly 6% in the last 24 hours, with BTC achieving a 4% rise in the same timeframe.