Digital asset markets are entering what could be the final cyclical window for explosive altcoin returns before a major global financial crisis, according to prominent cryptocurrency analyst Michael van de Poppe.
Van de Poppe revealed he has shifted his entire portfolio into altcoins, drawing parallels to previous structural macroeconomic runs in commodities, energy, and semiconductors. The analyst argues that once Bitcoin breaks its $90,000 to $100,000 resistance, a psychological shift will drive investors to seek higher yields.
While this capital flight could trigger massive returns later this year or in 2027–2028, the analyst warns that the traditional “altseason” is dead. Approximately 99% of existing tokens lack real utility and primarily serve to enrich insiders. As a result, future momentum will narrow toward the cycle’s end-phase, favoring a select 1% of innovative protocols capable of genuine value accrual.
Meanwhile, on-chain metrics support this highly concentrated landscape. CoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Index is currently at 38/100, firmly planted in “Bitcoin Season.” Today’s score is a minor increase from yesterday’s 32/100, though it trails last week’s 41/100 and last month’s 39/100.
However, the index remains well below its September 2025 peak of 78/100 but well above its December 2025 low of 14/100.
 
Despite overall market inactivity, massive localized gains are evident in 90-day performance, led by SKYAI’s 750.86% surge, DEXE’s 527.29% surge, Binance Life’s 387.89% surge, VVV’s 373.89% surge, and EDGE’s 242.72% surge.
Meanwhile, major large-cap altcoins reflect this cautious macroeconomic environment. Ethereum edged up 0.57% to $2,095 in a technical rebound supported by steady institutional accumulation. Similarly, BNB rose 0.51% to $655, moving in lockstep with Bitcoin’s 0.66% gain and the wider market’s 0.49% uptick via standard beta movement.
Contrariwise, XRP bucked the positive trend, slipping 0.25% to $1.36 amid impending technical adjustments. In other news, the XRP Ledger is set to activate its mandatory upgrade on May 27 to address bugs in NFTs, lending, and vaults.
While it introduces no consumer-facing features, network validators who fail to upgrade risk becoming “amendment blocked,” presenting an immediate risk of operational disruption rather than a core protocol split.
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