Bitcoin exchange-traded products may have fundamentally altered the concept of a crypto “altseason.”
For years, the crypto market followed a familiar rhythm, a near-predictable dance of capital rotation. Bitcoin (BTC) surged, bringing mainstream attention and liquidity, and then the floodgates opened to altcoins. Speculative capital rushed into lower-cap assets, inflating their values in what traders euphorically deemed “altseason.”
However, once taken for granted, this cycle shows signs of a structural collapse.
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have shattered records, funneling $129 billion in capital inflows in 2024. This has provided unprecedented access to Bitcoin for both retail and institutional investors, yet it has also created a vacuum, sucking capital away from speculative assets. Institutional players now have a safe, regulated way to gain exposure to crypto without the Wild West risks of the