Crypto market
Bitcoin dominance
BTC dominance
What it is
Percentage of total crypto cap represented by Bitcoin. High dominance = BTC captures most of the value; low dominance = altcoins (ETH, SOL, etc.) gain ground.
How to read it
Dominance > 60% = crypto bear market or consolidation (altcoins suffer more than BTC). Dominance < 45% = altseason (altcoins massively outperform). It's a crypto cycle phase indicator.
Common reference points
- Altseason< 45%
- BTC/Alts balance45 – 55%
- BTC dominates55 – 65%
- Flight to BTC — bear market> 65%
Orders of magnitude, not a rule: the same number does not mean the same thing from one sector to the next.
What it does not tell you
"Stablecoin dominance" (USDT + USDC + etc.) is also worth watching — when stables gain dominance, the entire crypto market is in risk-off. BTC dominance alone tells only part of the story.
Other measures — Crypto market
Educational content. Polaris is not a registered investment adviser and makes no recommendation.