Bitcoin (BTC) is losing its crypto market share amid signs of easing global trade tensions and rising M2 supply. In other words, traders are beginning to take more risks in altcoins, which may lead to the so-called “altseason,” where most coins outperform Bitcoin.
Should such a sentiment return, altcoins that have underperformed the most so far in 2025, despite strong underlying fundamentals, may outperform the broader crypto market.
Let’s examine three altcoins that may fare better than the rest if the altcoin season starts.
Ethereum has been 2025’s most underwhelming top altcoin, with its native token, Ether (ETH), shedding over 50% at a time in the year despite major developments like the Pectra upgrade and persistent dominance in the DeFi sector.
But ETH’s brutal underperformance could be its greatest strength heading into altseason.
Historically, Ethereum has led the altcoin market’s recovery once Bitcoin dominance peaks and capital rotates out of BTC. ETH/BTC is currently showing early signs of bottoming, and if it breaks higher, it may signal the start of a broader altcoin rally.
In altseason cycles, lagging majors like ETH often outperform due to oversold conditions and renewed investor attention. Once Ethereum catches a bid, it tends to ignite the entire layer-1 sector.
Ethereum’s monthly chart is flashing a potential macro bullish reversal, marked by a rebound from the lower boundary of a long-term symmetrical triangle pattern—a historically bullish setup.
The price has reclaimed the key 50-month EMA (~$2,224) and is now trading just above the critical 0.5 Fibonacci retracement level (~$2,562), suggesting growing bullish momentum.
If ETH holds this level and breaks above the triangle’s upper trendline near $3,144–$3,600 (up 25-50%), it could trigger a strong rally toward $3,863 and possibly $5,000, aligning with prior cycle highs.
The monthly RSI is rising toward neutral territory (~50.4), signaling early signs of renewed strength without being overbought.
In short, ETH appears to be staging a major comeback—particularly compelling if altseason takes hold—positioning it as a prime rebound candidate after months of underperformance.
Polygon’s transition from MATIC to POL as part of its Polygon 2.0 upgrade has left many investors confused, contributing to its massive drawdown. POL is one of the worst-performing assets among the top 20 coins in 2025, down over 50%.
Yet, this neglect may set up a classic “laggard catch-up” play. Polygon’s zkEVM, combined with its legacy PoS chain, still supports one of the largest DApp ecosystems in crypto.
Once altseason rotates into L2s and Ethereum scaling narratives, POL could benefit from its broad infrastructure footprint and strong institutional connections (e.g., with Nike, Reddit, and Disney).
During previous altcycles, coins like MATIC surged over 100x from their lows. With POL trading at depressed levels, a similar risk/reward setup may be emerging, especially if ETH continues rallying further.
Polygon is trading within a descending parallel channel and recently bounced from its lower boundary near $0.20, suggesting a potential reversal. The chart implies a move toward the upper channel resistance around $0.55 could deliver a 120% gain if momentum continues.
With altseason heating up, reclaiming the 0.786 Fib level (~$0.55) could open the door to a larger rally toward ~$0.97 (0.618 Fib). As one of the most beaten-down top altcoins, POL is positioned for a strong catch-up move if broader market sentiment improves.
Unlike ETH and POL, which fall into the “oversold rebound” category, Toncoin (TON) represents a different breed of altseason candidate — momentum.
Backed by Telegram’s 900 million+ user base, TON has gained attention for its integration into Telegram’s interface and a fast-expanding ecosystem of Mini Apps, games, and DeFi protocols.
TON had been one of the few top-20 cryptocurrencies posting gains in 2024, repeatedly making higher highs as broader altcoins lagged.
That strength abruptly paused following the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France, which triggered a wave of uncertainty around TON’s regulatory future and its close association with Telegram.
However, the drop appears to be sentiment-driven rather than fundamental.
TON’s underlying value proposition remains intact: a functional layer-1 network with real-world adoption through Telegram’s massive user base.
If Durov’s legal situation stabilizes and altseason continues gaining steam, TON could regain its leadership position as both a technical and narrative-driven play.
Toncoin continues to trade within a long-term ascending channel, signaling a structurally bullish trend despite recent pullbacks.
The price recently bounced near the channel’s lower boundary and is now consolidating just above the 0.5 Fibonacci level (~$3.10)—a key support area. If TON maintains this level and sentiment improves, it could resume its broader uptrend.
The chart’s 2.618 Fib extension (~$13.10) marks the primary upside target, representing a potential 320% gain from current levels.
Given TON’s strong fundamentals—Telegram integration, growing DeFi ecosystem, and retail momentum—this target is technically and narratively plausible if altseason fully materializes.
Yashu Gola is a crypto journalist and analyst with expertise in digital assets, blockchain, and macroeconomics. He provides in-depth market analysis, technical chart patterns, and insights on global economic impacts. His work bridges traditional finance and crypto, offering actionable advice and educational content. Passionate about blockchain's role in finance, he studies behavioral finance to predict memecoin trends.