Kader1

Is Altcoin Season Really Coming in 2026? Comparison with Past Cycles
Hello Gate Square friends, I've been in crypto for 5 years now. I jumped into the sector right in the middle of the 2021 bull run, and since then I've both made money and gotten badly burned. 😅 I'm no longer a "newbie," but I still learn something new every day. In this post, using the current market (early February 2026) as a base, I'll explain whether altcoin season is actually here or not, while comparing it to past cycles. Maybe you can avoid some of the pits I fell into.
First, let's recall: When did altcoin season explode in 2021? When BTC dominance dropped from the ~70% range down to ~40%, money started flowing into altcoins. It happened around the ETH Merge buildup, during DeFi summer, and the NFT craze. Altseason usually arrives when BTC is consolidating or making a mild correction. BTC hits a new ATH, then goes sideways, dominance falls — boom, money flows to alts.
Now let's look at 2026. BTC ETFs came online in 2024-2025, institutional money poured in, and BTC reached 100k+ levels (maybe even higher). Right now, is dominance still high? (When I was writing this, it was floating around 55-60%, I think — you can check the current figure.) My observation: By the end of 2025, BTC stabilized, but altcoins are slowly starting to move. After ETH's spot ETF approval, the ETH/BTC ratio is rising — that's a classic sign. In my portfolio right now, I have ~40% BTC/ETH and 60% altcoins — it used to be the complete opposite.
Let me compare with past cycles:
2017-2018: ICO mania, led by ETH. But regulations hit suddenly and everything collapsed.
2021: DeFi + NFTs + meme coins. Whales entered early and pumped, retail jumped in with FOMO — classic rug pulls multiplied.
Now in 2025-2026: Much more institutional, much less hype. Restaking, AI+blockchain projects, RWAs (real world assets), etc. are the hot topics. Some of my favorites include restaking protocols similar to EigenLayer, or new DePIN projects in the Solana ecosystem. But be careful: Meme coins are still around, but they're not pumping like before — utility coins are taking the lead this cycle.
What has my strategy been over these 5 years?
Track dominance. When it drops below 50%, I start weighting more toward altcoins.
I watch whale movements (Whale Alert, Arkham Intelligence, etc.). Big transfers often signal bottoms or pumps.
DCA but smart: Not fixed USDT every month — I buy more at dips.
Risk management: Never put all my money into one coin. Max 10-15% per project.
I no longer sell emotionally. The coins I panic-sold in the 2022 bear market are now up 10x — that pain is still in my soul.
So what do I expect in 2026? I think altseason has lightly started, but the real explosion will come once BTC breaks the 120-150k range and then consolidates. If ETH reaches 8-10k, alts will go crazy. But regulatory risk is high (Trump-era policies, SEC, etc.), so I always keep some cash in stablecoins.
What do you guys think? Which altcoins are you positioned in right now? Have you noticed any dominance drop? Share in the comments, let's discuss together. Maybe we'll catch the next 10x as a group.
#DeepCreationCamp
#深度创作营

Hello everyone,
We are in the midst of a rapid transition from the traditional, classic understanding of cryptocurrencies to an integration into a new system. As Gate users, we are part of this tremendous change. Along with ETFs, RWAs have become the favorites of investors and portfolios. Billions of dollars in funds are moving away from the classic investment logic, and with the acceleration of tokenization, interest in RWAs is increasing day by day.
By 2025, everything has changed. We are witnessing a rapid transition from classic investment instruments and understanding to a completely new investment approach. With ETFs and tokenization, those assets themselves are now coming to the blockchain. Institutions are rapidly taking their place in this change with massive funds. Tokenized Treasures have exceeded a total of 10-11 billion dollars. For example, even when BTC falls, RWA TVL increases by 6%+. Institutions are in risk-off mode in the game, but they don't want zero return. Real estate and government bond tokenization offers institutions the advantage of familiar assets + blockchain.
This change is making the market more mature: Volatility is decreasing, liquidity is increasing, and investors are shifting from speculation to real returns.
I think RWA will approach $50 billion by the end of 2026.
We no longer ask,
Crypto or TradeFi?
On a reliable platform like GATE, I can trade freely anytime, anywhere, 24/7 for very low commissions, and enjoy various advantageous events.
As someone who knows the challenges of traditional investing, I watch these dizzying developments with admiration. I shape my portfolio according to these developments.
As I always say, always do your own research before investing. Thank you for your time. I would appreciate it if you shared your thoughts on the subject in the comments.
I wish everyone abundant profits.🙏
#深度创作营
#DeepDiveCreatorCamp

Geopolitical Storms in the Crypto Market: Why Is Bitcoin Crashing So Hard?
These past few days the crypto market has been completely turned upside down. Everyone is talking about why Bitcoin dropped so sharply, so I decided to dig a little deeper into it. It’s February 2026 right now and Bitcoin has fallen all the way back to around $64,000, while Ethereum is hovering near $1,800. I don’t think this is just normal market volatility — the real driver seems to be geopolitical tensions, especially Trump’s policies. It really shows how fragile crypto still is, but at the same time it’s creating some interesting opportunities.
First let’s talk about Trump’s tariffs. Last week the Supreme Court struck down some of his earlier trade taxes, but the guy doesn’t stop. On Saturday he posted on social media that he’s going to slap an extra 15% tariff on foreign trade partners — and the market felt it immediately. This kind of move shakes the whole global economy. Investors are running away from risky assets and piling into safe ones like gold, the dollar or just cash. Bitcoin and other “risk-on” stuff gets hit hard. I felt it in my own portfolio — positions just melted. But when you think about it, it makes sense: these tariffs hurt trade with China and Europe, trading volumes drop, stablecoin flows slow down, everything gets affected.
Then there’s the Iran situation in the Middle East. Trump basically said “last 10 days” for a possible military move against Iran, troops are building up in the region, the nuclear deal is in crisis again, and oil prices are spiking. Why does crypto care? Because in times of big uncertainty everyone wants cash or safe assets. Remember 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine? Bitcoin dropped over 20% in no time. Now in 2026 we’re seeing a similar story, except this time Trump’s more aggressive stance is making it hit even harder. On the bright side, regulation is moving in a slightly better direction under the new SEC leadership some big cases got dropped, pressure on exchanges eased a bit but it’s still not enough to lift the market mood right now.
Altcoins aren’t doing any better. Some projects are rolling out speed upgrades and improvements, but when the whole market is bleeding they all suffer together. This week we’ve also had several big token unlocks millions of dollars worth of tokens hitting the market, adding even more selling pressure and pushing prices lower. In my opinion these unlocks hurt short-term but help liquidity in the long run. Projects like Ripple are still building real blockchain infrastructure for financial services, but right now the overall sentiment is so bad that nothing seems to stick.
So what should we do? I think these levels could actually be a buying opportunity. Bitcoin making deep dips during geopolitical crises isn’t new history keeps repeating itself. Crises usually pass. On the regulatory side things are slowly improving, there’s even some bipartisan momentum in Congress. AI integrations in payments and other areas are picking up speed too, which is exciting. Personally I plan to keep accumulating a bit more, but carefully no crazy moves. The crypto space is still super thrilling, it just requires patience.
No one really knows how far this drop will go, but right now everyone is waiting for Trump’s upcoming speech to Congress. Maybe we’ll get a surprise spark from there, who knows? What do you guys think
#深度创作营

#CelebratingNewYearOnGateSquare
As the year 2026 kicks off with speed, power, and massive rewards, Gate.io Gate Plaza is opening its doors with a magnificent celebration! With the dynamism brought by the Year of the Horse, a unique opportunity awaits where you can turn every interaction on the platform into real earnings.
​❤️ The Festivity Begins at Gate Plaza!
​Join this event, which is not just a celebration but a massive reward marathon for content creators and investors alike. In this special period where social interaction meets profit, you can claim your share of the reward pool by connecting with the community.
​❤️ Event Details and Schedule
​Reward Pool: Total rewards valued at $50,000+.
​Platform: Gate.io Gate Plaza
​Timeline: Feb 9 (17:00) – Feb 23 (24:00) | UTC+8
​Requirement: Don't forget to update your app to version v8.8.0+ to enjoy all the features.
​❤️ 3 Distinct Ways to Earn
​Three main categories have been set to increase your chances during the celebration:
​$50,000 Red Envelope Rain: Distributed based on your daily activity and engagement level. The more quality posts you create, the higher your chances!
​Year of the Horse Lucky Fish: Use the #CelebratingNewYearOnGateSquare hashtag in your posts for a chance to win 50 GT Tokens and an exclusive Spring Festival Gift Box.
​Creator Leaderboard: Rank among the top creators to win prestigious prizes like Inter Milan jerseys, Red Bull jackets, and VIP camping sets.
​❤️ Tips for Success
​Consistency is key—stay engaged with the community to maximize your rewards. Balancing content quality with posting frequency will propel you to the top of the leaderboard. For newcomers, 100% guaranteed rewards and bonuses of up to 28 GT per post offer the perfect motivation to start this journey.
​Now is the perfect time to capture the early advantages of 2026 and reflect the speed of the Year of the Horse in your portfolio! Don't hesitate—post today and start earning every single day.
​#我在Gate广场过新年

#GateSpringFestivalHorseRacingEvent
‎#我在Gate广场过新年
The Grand Countdown: Only 2 Days Left!
The winds of fortune are blowing across the crypto world! Don’t miss your final chance to grab a share of the massive $50,000 Red Envelope Rain. Step into the Year of the Horse with prosperity and claim your rewards before time runs out!
How to Participate & What Can You Win?
Post to Claim Instantly: Exclusive for new users—enjoy a 100% win rate with rewards up to 28 USDT for every post you share!
Lucky Draw: Post using the hashtag #我在Gate广场过新年 for a chance to win 50 GT tokens and an exclusive Spring Festival Gift Box.
Grand Prize Battle: Secure your spot on the final leaderboard to win elite prizes, including authentic Inter Milan jerseys, Red Bull jackets, and limited-edition camping sets!
⏰ Deadline: February 23, 24:00 (UTC+8)
Pro Tip: To join the festivities, ensure your Gate.io App is updated to version 8.8.0 or higher!
Full Details and Participation Guidelines:
https://www.gate.com/announcements/article/49773

#GateTradFiExperience
Great! I've prepared a remarkable and potentially rewarding article highlighting Gate.io's new TradFi (Traditional Finance) features, written in a style that includes both market analysis and personal experience. Here's the draft you can share:
New Era at Gate.io: Gold and Forex Trading with My Crypto Wallet!
Market volatility is well-known; while Bitcoin and altcoins are searching for direction, the flow of money is slowly shifting towards safe havens, especially assets like Gold ($XAU) and Silver. Gate.io's announcement of its TradFi feature came at a perfect time for me. Why? Because now I can trade traditional assets using only my crypto balance, without switching platforms. Here are some highlights from my personal experience:
🔹 One Account, Unlimited Access: Previously, we had to deal with separate bank/brokerage accounts to trade gold or forex. Now, I can open trades directly with my Gate account.
🔹 Speed and Convenience: Being able to quickly shift my funds from crypto to gold or major currency pairs (Forex) during periods of increased market volatility provides tremendous flexibility.
🔹 Safe Haven: In these days when gold prices are strengthening due to global geopolitical risks, opening gold-indexed positions through TradFi has allowed me to balance my portfolio. I would especially recommend that anyone who wants to seize opportunities at weekend closings and weekday openings in traditional markets with the speed of crypto should examine these features. I am currently mainly chasing opportunities in gold and major indices. Which assets are you focusing on? For those curious about the details, the official announcement is here:
https://www.gate.com/announcements/article/49239