The prolonged suffering in the altcoin market may finally be nearing its end, according to market strategist Michael van de Poppe.
After nearly four years of relentless declines, the analyst believes a potential turning point is forming — one that could mark the beginning of a new phase for alternative cryptocurrencies.
Van de Poppe described the current period as the harshest and lengthiest downturn in altcoin history. Prices of smaller cryptocurrencies have been in decline since 2021, with valuations continuously shrinking. “It’s been nearly four years of total pain,” he noted, emphasizing that while investor sentiment remains bleak, the conditions for a rebound are starting to take shape.
He argues that many traders are still comparing this cycle to the 2017-2021 era, expecting similar explosive gains. However, this assumption, he said, is misplaced. “This cycle is completely different — the structure, the macro backdrop, and the participants are not the same,” he explained.
Van de Poppe’s latest analysis focuses on the “OTHERS/BTC” ratio — a chart comparing the collective value of smaller altcoins (excluding the top 10) to Bitcoin. According to his findings, several technical indicators suggest that momentum may soon shift in favor of altcoins.
The Monthly Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator, which has printed red bars since late 2021, is now showing early signs of a bullish crossover. Additionally, a large positive divergence has been building over the past two years, hinting that selling pressure is losing strength. Historically, similar formations have preceded major market rallies.
The analyst likened the current setup to the final months of 2019 or early 2020, when altcoins began to recover just before the explosive 2021 rally. If this comparison holds, the coming months could mark a significant turning point for the broader crypto market.
While the wider crypto sector remains tied to macroeconomic factors such as interest rate cuts and potential quantitative easing, Van de Poppe believes the overall setup favors altcoins. The market is still in its “accelerating adoption” phase, he said, where valuations remain deeply mispriced and institutional presence is limited.
“After this cycle, the easy part of crypto will be gone,” he warned. “Right now, we are still in the stage where you can be early — but that window won’t last forever.”
Despite widespread skepticism toward altcoins, Van de Poppe views the pessimism as a contrarian signal. He noted that when sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, historically, it has marked some of the best accumulation phases.
“Everyone hating on altcoins is exactly why it’s time to start looking at the strong ones,” he said, advising investors to focus on “blue-chip” projects and maintain patience. According to him, those who act during periods of extreme fear are often the ones who later benefit from outsized returns.
If the indicators play out as expected, the altcoin market could be entering a phase similar to the early stages of previous bull cycles — one that begins quietly before capturing the broader market’s attention. For long-term investors, this could represent one of the final windows to position before institutional adoption and tighter regulation reshape the industry’s dynamics.
