Bitget CEO Says Altcoin Season Won’t Return Until 2026 — If Ever

Core Insights - The anticipated altcoin season is unlikely to materialize in 2025 or 2026, indicating a significant shift in crypto market sentiment [1][2] - Liquidity and institutional focus have shifted away from altcoins, leading to weaker price action and limited investor attention [1][5] Market Conditions - The "Black Swan" event on October 11 severely impacted the altcoin market, exacerbating an already fragile environment with declining VC funding for early-stage Web3 projects [2] - Weekly trading volume across centralized exchanges has decreased by 20–40%, reflecting a broader market caution and risk aversion among large capital [3] Current Market Sentiment - The Crypto Fear and Greed Index stands at 30, indicating a prevailing sense of doubt in the market cycle [3] - The market requires time to recover, and traders are advised to proceed with discipline [4] Investment Opportunities - Only a few projects with real-world use cases, such as stablecoins and payment infrastructure, may still be viable, although many are unlikely to issue tokens [4] - Altcoins have underperformed Bitcoin by approximately $800 billion in this cycle, leaving retail investors at a disadvantage [5] Shift in Investor Behavior - Korean retail traders, previously known for driving altcoin speculation, are now focusing on crypto-related equities, which have outperformed Bitcoin this year [5][6]