Is Altcoin Season Starting? Analyst Says ETH/BTC Chart Mirrors 2017 Bull Run

Altcoins may be entering their strongest phase in years, and one analyst believes the charts are already giving early warnings. Popular crypto analyst Moustache has pointed to a rare ETH/BTC signal that has marked the start of every major altcoin boom since 2017. 

This same signal has just appeared again, and the market may be waking up at the perfect time.

Classic ETH/BTC Signal Just Flashed Again

According to Moustache, the start of an altcoin season often shows up when the SMA100 crosses below the EMA100 on the ETH/BTC chart. This crossover has now happened once more. 

In every previous cycle, this same move triggered long altcoin rallies, including the strong 2020–2021 run.

What makes this moment even more interesting is that ETH/BTC has broken a 3.5-month downtrend, which often signals money rotating from Bitcoin into altcoins. When ETH gains strength against BTC, altcoins typically follow with even bigger moves.

Institutional Rotation into Altcoins Has Already Started

The charts are not the only indication. Real-world activity is now matching the technical signals.

Institutions have already begun rotating into altcoins. Coinpedia recently reported that two major players, Amber Group and Metalapha, quietly withdrew 9,000 ETH worth over $28 million from Binance in just a few hours.

This is part of a much bigger trend. Over the last five months, large investors have accumulated nearly 4 million ETH.

At the same time, capital is flowing into other top altcoins. XRP ETFs saw $38.04 million in net inflows, followed by Ethereum ETFs with $35.49 million and Solana ETFs with $1.18 million.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin ETFs posted $60.48 million in net outflows, showing a clear shift of attention away from BTC.

MACD and a 4.5-Year Wedge Add to the Bullish Case

Moustache also highlights the MACD on ETH/BTC, which now mirrors previous reversal patterns. Each time this setup appeared, Ethereum led the market into a new altcoin boom.

Even larger is the giant falling wedge on the ETH/BTC macro chart, which has been forming for 4.5 years. If this wedge breaks, it could lift the entire altcoin market, not just Ethereum.

Timeline for Altcoin to begin Rally?

With the same historical signals flashing again, institutions shifting money into altcoins, Moustache believes the altcoin bull market may already be quietly starting, and 2026 could be the year when altcoins see a major rally.

Meanwhile, Crypto Total Market Cap excluding Bitcoin is now hovering around $1.24 trillion.