When you look at this chart, it’s hard to argue that altcoins are in any kind of breakout phase. The ratio of the total crypto market cap excluding the top 10 compared to Bitcoin has been trending lower for a long time. Every major rally in the past eventually rolled over, and so far, nothing has really changed that pattern.
What’s different this time is how quiet things feel. Instead of a sharp rebound or a clear reversal, price action has slowed into a long stretch of sideways movement. That usually points to uncertainty, not the start of a major altseason. The market isn’t panicking, but it also isn’t showing the kind of strength you’d expect before a big rotation.
Read Also: Bitcoin, Solana, XRP, Other Altcoins Are Waking Up Again: 5 Reasons the Rally Is Not Over
What you'll learn 👉
The Liquidity Issue No One Likes Talking About
The real story sits below the price chart. Those green and red bars track stablecoin issuance and capital flowing into crypto. When they expand in green, it means fresh money is entering the market. Historically, that’s when Bitcoin pushes higher and altcoins finally get their moment.
WHY #ALTSEASON IS NOT STARTING YET
— Titan of Crypto (@Washigorira) January 11, 2026
There is simply no money flowing into the Altcoins market right now and almost nobody is talking about it.
This indicator tracks stablecoins issuance and capital inflows into crypto:
– When the bars are green and expanding, it means new money… pic.twitter.com/InPloW2kq8
Right now, the opposite is happening. The bars have been shrinking and flipping red again, which looks uncomfortably similar to what we saw heading into 2022. That doesn’t guarantee a sell-off, but it does tell us something important: new money isn’t rushing in.
Without fresh liquidity, altcoin rallies tend to fade fast. You might see short-term pumps here and there, but they struggle to turn into sustained trends. That’s exactly what the market has been dealing with lately.
Read Also: Why Polygon ($POL) Price Is Pumping While Most Altcoins Struggle
Why This Doesn’t Mean Altseason Is Dead
This is where context matters. A lack of liquidity today doesn’t mean altseason is canceled forever. It just means the timing isn’t right yet. Big players and institutions don’t seem eager to allocate heavily to altcoins, and the data backs that up.
Altseasons don’t usually sneak up quietly. They tend to kick off once liquidity flips back to expansion and Bitcoin dominance starts to break down more convincingly. The chart even hints at that possibility down the road, but for now, it’s still a question mark.
Read Also: Altcoins Are Quiet – But the Next Shock May Be Closer Than It Looks
What Actually Changes the Picture
Things start to look different if those liquidity bars turn green again and begin expanding. That would signal new capital entering crypto, which is the fuel altcoins need to outperform.
Until that happens, the market feels more like it’s waiting than launching. So altcoins aren’t broken. They’re just early. And right now, liquidity is the missing ingredient.
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