Altcoins remain in the red, seemingly waiting for a catalyst to ignite momentum. On the 23rd of January 2026, the Russell 2000 completed a ‘Cup & Handle’ breakout, an event that has historically signaled positive trends for altcoins.
Coupled with a strong crypto market cap and Ethereum/BTC showing signs of breaking its downtrend, the stage is set for a possible altcoin rally.
Russell 2000 ‘Cup & Handle’ breakout: Explained
At the time of writing, the Russell 2000 surged past the critical $2,461 neckline, completing its ‘Cup & Handle’ pattern. Small-cap rallies like this are often a sign that investor appetite for risk is returning, and that’s typically a good thing for altcoins.
If the breakout holds, this could be the momentum altcoins have been desperately waiting for. Momentum indicators showed strength, adding to the bullish outlook.
But if the index falls back below the neckline, we may need to reconsider the outlook, this is a critical moment for the market.
Is $1.7T Market Cap on the horizon?
At press time, the Total Crypto Market Cap (Total 2) formed an ascending triangle, a bullish pattern suggesting a potential breakout. Support near $1.2 trillion held firm, and if the market continued to rise, the next breakout target was $1.7 trillion.
Privacy coins, such as Monero [XMR], Zcash [ZEC], and Dash [DASH], also showed strong performance, signaling renewed interest in altcoins.
There was a sense that the market was quietly building energy, especially if the Fed’s quantitative easing took stage, which would bring in more capital. If that momentum were to hold, something exciting could follow.
Could this be the start of altseason?
Ethereum’s performance against Bitcoin [BTC] (ETH/BTC) also showed improvement, with a potential breakout from a long-term downtrend that began in 2018.
If it breaks out, a move of 45.95% would signal bullish momentum and could ignite a broader altcoin rally.
Also, Ethereum’s growing ecosystem and increasing institutional interest made this an exciting moment for the market. The energy around Ethereum [ETH] seemed to be the spark that could lift altcoins.
