Are Altcoins Dead in 2026? Van de Poppe Says No, Just 99% of Them

The altcoin market is once again making headlines, with analysts split between collapse and comeback narratives. According to Michaël van de Poppe, the current shakeout is not only expected, but it’s also necessary.

“I think that it’s fully deserved that 99% of the altcoins are going to zero,” he said, drawing parallels to the Dot-com bubble, where most projects failed but laid the foundation for stronger innovation later. 

Despite the harsh outlook, he remains highly positive:

“There’s not been a moment… where I’ve been so bullish about the future of crypto.”

Also Read : More Americans Own Bitcoin Than Gold: Why That Matters in 2026

“99% Will Die — But That’s the Point.”

He says altcoins are quietly gaining strength, with “great momentum” lately as macro stays supportive, low VIX, strong equities, and Bitcoin holding up. He points to Arbitrum as a buy-the-dip setup, eyeing $0.16 if it pulls back. Overall, he compares this phase to early 2020, with signs like rising volume, bullish divergence, and key levels being reclaimed, usually a setup before a bigger rally.

His Altcoin Take

• Bitcoin: expects more upside, eyeing new highs near $77K
• Ethereum: still in a bull trend, “buy the dip” unless it loses key levels
• Aave / DeFi: short-term pain from the KelpDAO hack, but stronger long-term

Overall, he is not bullish on all alts, just the strong ones like BTC, ETH, and major DeFi players.

Base Formation Before the Next Move

According to him, markets are currently in a base-building phase following the Q4 2025 capitulation. This phase typically lasts 2–4 months before a breakout. He also noted that Bitcoin itself has been building a base for about 2.5 months, suggesting the market may be nearing a transition point.

Historically, once breakouts begin, altcoins can deliver sharp moves, often ranging between 150% and 400% from their lows.

Good time to buy altcoins?

Not all analysts agree on jumping in now. Our Crypto Talk argues it’s still too early, saying “the simple answer is NO” when asked if it’s time to buy altcoins. Their framework is clear: a true altseason only begins when price moves above the 20 SMA and the 20 SMA crosses above the 50 SMA.

Right now, both conditions are missing, with Bitcoin still below key averages and dominance sitting around 57%. In their view, this is a “red zone” where markets tend to bleed rather than rally, meaning patience and waiting for structure confirmation is key.

Meanwhile, analyst Ted Pillows warns that rising Bitcoin dominance is “not a good sign for alts.”

For now, the market sits in a split phase, where weak projects continue fading, but stronger altcoins may be quietly preparing for the next big move.