- Michaël van de Poppe stresses that real altseason begins when sentiment is low and attention is elsewhere, not when it’s trending.
- Despite memecoin noise, altcoins remain undervalued, echoing pre-2017 dynamics more than the 2021 cycle.
- Van de Poppe sees global monetary policy and institutional flows as the new driving forces, not traditional halving cycles.
Crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe has weighed in on one of the space’s most debated topics: When will altseason begin? But his answer challenges conventional thinking and rewrites the narrative entirely.
In a recent in-depth post, van de Poppe dismantled the simplistic notion of “altseason” as a hype-driven event marked by explosive gains across alternative cryptocurrencies. Instead, he offered a sobering yet strategic perspective: the real altseason doesn’t begin when everyone is talking about it; it starts before that, when no one is paying attention.
“If you’re waiting for ‘altseason’ to trend on X (formerly Twitter), you’re already too late,” van de Poppe warned. “The biggest returns go to those who act while sentiment is low, not euphoric.”
Crypto Altcoins Quietly Set for a Comeback
According to van de Poppe, the last genuine altseason occurred in 2017, when nearly every altcoin, from Ethereum to obscure small caps, witnessed parabolic growth. The years that followed, including the much-anticipated 2021 run, failed to replicate that broad-based altcoin surge.
He argues that 2024 is unfolding along a very different trajectory. The memecoin boom, which captured mainstream attention in early 2024, lacked the substance and follow-through of a true altseason. Combined with lingering bearish sentiment since 2021, altcoins remain largely underperforming, a setup van de Poppe sees as quietly bullish.
While many analysts still cling to the traditional four-year cycle theory anchored around Bitcoin halving events, van de Poppe asserts that this framework no longer captures today’s reality. Instead, he points to shifting macroeconomic conditions, central bank activity, and the growing footprint of institutional players.
“This cycle is completely different,” he said. “Central banks are rewriting policy playbooks, interest rates remain elevated, and crypto is no longer a niche retail game; it’s moving into the financial mainstream.”
He even drew attention to an unusual correlation: the performance of Ethereum against movements in the Chinese renminbi versus the U.S. dollar, a hint that global monetary flows are now intertwined with crypto market dynamics.
Altseason Strategy Beats Crypto Hype Every Time
Rather than trying to time the market or predict the next explosive rally, van de Poppe emphasized a value-driven approach. He believes the market is currently divided into two camps: those bracing for further downside and those eagerly awaiting a breakout bull run. But in his view, both may miss the point.
“The real opportunity isn’t about timing the cycle,” he explained. “It’s about accumulating quality assets when the noise is gone and the discomfort is highest.”
With Bitcoin pushing toward new all-time highs even in an environment of tight monetary policy, van de Poppe sees this as evidence that the traditional models have broken down. And when interest rates eventually fall, he expects altcoins to respond with force. For van de Poppe, altseason is no longer a moment of hype; it’s a moment of strategy.
“Altseason isn’t a season. It’s a window, often quiet, uncomfortable, and ignored, when smart investors position themselves before the crowd arrives.”
As the market digests macro uncertainty and evolving investor behavior, van de Poppe’s view offers much-needed clarity for long-term thinkers. According to him, real altseason doesn’t announce itself. It arrives in silence and rewards those who listen closely.
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