Market analysts are forecasting a significant shift in cryptocurrency momentum, with a potential altcoin season on the horizon as Bitcoin approaches a critical price threshold. According to recent analyses, Bitcoin's anticipated push above $100,000 before the end of February 2026 could act as the primary catalyst for a broader market rally, with major altcoins like Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) positioned for early gains.
Bitcoin's Role as Market Engine
Analysts emphasize that Bitcoin remains the fundamental driver of the entire crypto market, with altcoin rallies typically dependent on a clear Bitcoin breakout. Current price action suggests a move above $100,000 is imminent, following a recent pullback to the $90,000 range. Market makers have cleared excess leverage, leading to a period of compressed volatility that often precedes significant price expansion.
Ethereum's Institutional and Liquidity Advantage
Ethereum is seen as the first major beneficiary of Bitcoin's upward momentum, thanks to its deep liquidity and institutional appeal. Its role as the backbone of decentralized finance (DeFi) supports consistent demand. Notably, investor Tom Lee has converted Bitmine into a massive Ethereum treasury, with recent purchases including $75.6 million worth of ETH in a single week, bringing total holdings to over $14 billion.
Solana's Fundamental Strength
Solana stands out due to its high network speed, low transaction costs, and strong fundamental metrics. It ranks second in total value locked (TVL) behind Ethereum and leads all chains in revenue generation, nearly doubling that of the second-place chain, Hyperliquid. Furthermore, Solana's decentralized exchange (DEX) volume over the past 24 hours was roughly twice that of Ethereum, indicating robust real-world usage.
Chart Analysis Points to Historic Altcoin Season Setup
Adding to the bullish outlook, crypto analyst @CyrilXBT shared a long-term chart showing the ratio of the total crypto market (excluding the top 10 assets) to Bitcoin. This ratio has returned to approximately 0.129, a level identified as the historical "base" or "accumulation zone" from which every major altcoin season has launched, including the rallies of 2017-2018 and the record spike in 2021. With Bitcoin's dominance (BTC.D) falling to a yearly low of 57.9%, the analyst suggests the market has fully reset and is mirroring the pre-altseason conditions of past cycles. The analysis points to a potential next-cycle target ratio of 0.80 to 0.90.
