Bitcoin Dominates as Altcoins Fade: CryptoQuant Data Reveals Market Shift

Bitcoin flexes its muscles while altcoins scramble for relevance—CryptoQuant's latest metrics confirm the king's reign isn't ending anytime soon.

The big rotation

Investors are dumping speculative altcoin bets and piling back into BTC, with on-chain data showing Bitcoin's network strength hitting multi-month highs. No more 'altseason' hopium—just cold, hard capital migration.

Institutions want liquidity, not memecoins

Whale accumulation patterns suggest smart money sees BTC as the only game in town. Meanwhile, altcoin exchange reserves balloon as retail traders offload their bags (better late than never).

The takeaway? When volatility strikes, crypto's 'blue chip' still wins. And if you're still holding that obscure DeFi token from 2023? Maybe reconsider your life choices—or at least your portfolio allocation.

TLDR

• Bitcoin is trading close to its all-time high and continues to attract strong institutional inflows.
• Altcoin trading volume has declined significantly since February 2025 based on CryptoQuant data.
• The cumulative buy and sell volume difference for altcoins has dropped to negative 36 billion dollars.
• Ethereum remains 48% below its peak price and shows limited signs of recovery.
• The Bitcoin Macro Oscillator indicates further upside is possible before reaching a market top.

Altcoins are losing momentum as Bitcoin (BTC) continues gaining strength, supported by institutional demand and key market indicators. Data from CryptoQuant shows a sharp decline in altcoin volume activity since February 2025. Investors are redirecting capital toward Bitcoin, which now trades near its historical peak.

Altcoins Show Signs of Weakness

The one-year cumulative buy/sell quote volume difference for altcoins has fallen to negative $36 billion. This metric, excluding Bitcoin and ethereum (ETH), reflects trading activity and accumulation trends across the broader altcoin market. Since February, this indicator has steadily declined, signaling a shift in investor behavior.

Before this downturn, the same volume indicator crossed into positive territory, which marked the top of the altseason. The reversal followed quickly, pushing the measure back into negative territory. The decline confirms that buyers have stepped away from altcoins.

CryptoQuant data suggests altcoins may not recover soon unless volume accumulation increases again. A resurgence in this indicator remains necessary to trigger any new altcoin rally. Market participants are focusing more on Bitcoin, reducing liquidity across other assets.

Still Winter for Altcoins?

“Unless this metric starts rising again, expecting a full-blown altseason or altcoin FOMO might just be wishful thinking.” – By @burak_kesmeci pic.twitter.com/R6PZDNc12K

— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) June 19, 2025

Ethereum Fails to Recover While Bitcoin Consolidates

Ethereum remains under pressure, currently 48% below its all-time high of $4,891 from November 2021. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum has not attracted strong buying interest during recent market movements. The drop further reflects waning enthusiasm for leading altcoins.

Meanwhile, bitcoin trades close to $105,000, just 6.4% below its record price. It maintains a market capitalization of over $2 trillion, demonstrating strength compared to other digital assets. The contrast highlights the growing separation between BTC and the rest of the crypto market.

The current market cycle continues to favor BTC, as Ethereum shows limited recovery potential. Broader market flows also indicate less confidence in altcoin growth. Institutional money remains concentrated in Bitcoin exposure.

Bitcoin Gains Support from ETFs and Technical Indicators

Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. have recorded $1.01 billion in net inflows over the past three trading sessions. These consistent inflows underscore a growing institutional appetite for BTC over altcoins. As a result, Bitcoin’s dominance in market capitalization continues to rise.

The Bitcoin Macro Oscillator (BMO) also supports the ongoing uptrend, currently reading 0.93. This indicator merges MVRV, VWAP, CVDD, and Sharpe ratios to estimate market cycles. A reading below 1.4 suggests that further upside remains possible before a top form.