BTC dominance (BTC.D) measures Bitcoin's share of total crypto market cap. It's the key indicator for altcoin season timing.
If BTC.D drops, how much does your alt gain vs just holding BTC?
| Date | Event | BTC.D | What Happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2017 | Pre-ICO boom | 87% | BTC dominated; alts barely existed |
| Jan 2018 | ICO alt season peak | 33% | Massive alt season — ETH, XRP 10× in weeks |
| Jan 2020 | Pre-DeFi | 68% | BTC dominance high; DeFi summer coming |
| May 2021 | Alt season peak | 40% | DOGE, SHIB, BNB massive moves |
| Jan 2023 | Bear bottom | 42% | BTC outperformed; alts still down |
| Dec 2024 | BTC new ATH cycle | 60% | BTC led; alts lagging |
| Q2 2025 | Alt rotation begins | 55% | ETH/SOL start catching up |
| BTC.D Level | Signal | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| >65% | Strong BTC dominance | Stick to BTC. Alts underperform. |
| 55–65% | BTC still ahead | Hold BTC, watch ETH for rotation signals. |
| 45–55% | Transition / early alt season | Slowly rotate into large-cap alts. |
| 35–45% | Alt season active | Alts outperforming. High risk/reward. |
| <35% | Full alt season / top risk | Historically near cycle top. Consider exits. |