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Bitcoin Has Outperformed the Top 100 Altcoins Since 2020, and the Selloff May Not Be Over

Since 2020, Bitcoin has clearly held up better than the top 100 altcoins, while the altcoin market keeps weakening. Charts suggest the selloff may not be over yet.

By Finst News
• 2 min read
Bitcoin Has Outperformed the Top 100 Altcoins Since 2020, and the Selloff May Not Be Over

Key Takeaways

  • Since 2020, Bitcoin has outperformed almost all of the top 100 altcoins by a wide margin.
  • The total altcoin market cap recently fell to about $864 billion, below a key support level of $942.62 billion.
  • Analysis suggests altcoins could still drop by nearly 50% more heading into July 2026.

Since 2020, Bitcoin has outperformed almost all of the top 100 altcoins by a wide margin, while the total altcoin market cap (TOTAL2) has recently fallen to about $864 billion (€749 billion). Chart analysis suggests the downside pressure on altcoins may not be over yet, and there could be nearly 50% more downside heading into July 2026.

Bitcoin Versus the Top 100 Altcoins Since 2020

An index that sets the top 100 coins from 2020 at 100 shows that Bitcoin in U.S. dollars climbed sharply to a value of almost 1,000 on a logarithmic scale. Most altcoins, on the other hand, dropped hard in value when measured in Bitcoin, with many losing 90% to 99% of their value. Terra Luna Classic (LUNC) saw the most extreme drop. This shows the opportunity cost for investors who picked altcoins instead of Bitcoin, since even well-known projects struggled to hold their value against BTC. Despite recent price drops, Bitcoin is still performing relatively stronger, trading around $61,228 (€53,100), while Ethereum fell more sharply over the same period.

Altcoin Market Cap Points to More Downside

The total altcoin market cap (TOTAL2) is currently around $864.73 billion (€749 billion), below a previously important support level of $942.62 billion (€817 billion). Historical cycles show that bear markets last about 40 weeks on average, and the decline in 2021-2022 was around 75%. Projected from the current peak of $1.77 trillion (€1.5 trillion), that points to a possible bottom around $436 billion (€378 billion) in July 2026, which would mean nearly 50% more downside from current levels. That would break through earlier support levels and retest the 2022 low.

Bitcoin's rising dominance plays a big role in capital flowing out of altcoins. While historical patterns are no guarantee, the current market structure supports the idea of a prolonged weak stretch for altcoins and a delayed altseason.

Why This Matters for European Crypto Investors

For European investors, this development could point to a period where Bitcoin may act as a relatively safe haven within the crypto market, while altcoins stay under pressure. That could affect investment strategies and risk management, especially given the expected timing toward July 2026 and the possible impact of macroeconomic factors and institutional developments like Bitcoin ETFs. Institutional interest is not necessarily moving away from crypto either, but more often toward other use cases; stablecoins and tokenization are getting more attention from advisors as well.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. The information provided may be incomplete, inaccurate, or outdated and should not be relied upon as such. Nothing on this website should be considered a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any cryptocurrency. Investing in crypto-assets involves risk of loss.