Bitcoin Dominance Dips Below 60%: Altseason Reshapes Crypto Market

For the first time since March, Bitcoin dominance—the proportion of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization held by Bitcoin—dropped under 60% early on July 21, 2025. This fall points to a change in market dynamics as more altcoin activity steals funds from Bitcoin. Dominance recovered somewhat beyond 60% by 01:00 UTC, but the early-morning drop was propelled by significant gains in prominent altcoins like Ethereum, XRP, and Solana, which all outpaced Bitcoin throughout the same period.

This shift shows rising investor confidence and risk appetite for alternative cryptocurrencies—a characteristic of the "altseason," when altcoins outperform Bitcoin for a short period. The current circumstances, including positive economic data and government signals (such as Japan's crypto-friendly policies), are speeding up altcoin investment flows. This technological and sentiment-driven cycle causes traders to rotate out of Bitcoin, thereby lowering its dominance and broadening the crypto terrain.

A fall in Bitcoin domination historically indicates growing market maturity when altcoins with distinct uses are gaining ground and investors look for higher profits outside of Bitcoin. Dominance hovers just below 61% as of July 21, highlighting ongoing capital rotation and the changing risk-return profile in the cryptocurrency market. Usually preceding brief times when altcoins drive market performance, such changes alter portfolio plans and general market feeling.