Altcoin season nears as Bitcoin cools; XRP and Solana lead breakout hopes amid ETF buzz and bullish sentiment - IcoHolder.

As Bitcoin cools just below its new all-time high of $111,000, investor focus is shifting toward major altcoins, reigniting hopes for a long-awaited altcoin season. The top cryptocurrency's dominance in the market has highlighted its outperformance this cycle, but the momentum is showing signs of rotation.

With BTC consolidating after a strong institutional-led rally, traders are moving profits into high-cap altcoins like XRP, Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA). These moves are starting to build bullish sentiment across the broader crypto market. In the past 24 hours, SOL and ADA posted gains of up to 4%, while XRP ticked higher by 1.5%. Other major coins like Ether and BNB also saw modest increases.

Ryan Lee, Chief Analyst at Bitget Research, suggests the market may be on the brink of a broader altcoin breakout if Bitcoin’s dominance begins to decline. He notes that XRP and Solana are particularly well-positioned to lead the charge, pointing to XRP’s strengthening legal position and a technical golden cross pattern that could lift the token into the $3 to $8 range.

Solana, meanwhile, is gaining traction from speculation over a potential ETF listing. Analysts say that if the momentum holds, the token could reach between $220 and $300. The recent pause in Bitcoin’s rally is giving these assets room to run, fueled by improving sentiment and investor appetite for higher beta plays.

A recent SEC decision to stop pursuing appeals against Ripple has further cleared regulatory uncertainty for XRP, helping it break free from a prolonged sideways trend. At the same time, QCP Capital says Bitcoin’s current rally appears more grounded than previous spikes, supported by strong fundamentals rather than sheer speculation. However, macroeconomic risks—like rising U.S. bond yields and global trade tensions—remain potential headwinds for altcoins.

Still, the mood across the market remains optimistic. According to FxPro analyst Alex Kuptsikevich, Bitcoin’s sentiment index is approaching “extreme greed,” a sign that enthusiasm could spill over into the altcoin market. For now, the stage is set, and XRP appears to be leading the altcoin resurgence.