Altcoins Poised for a Final Rally: Analyst Predicts June Surge, but Only a Few Will Shine

The Last Hurrah for Altcoins?

Altcoins might be gearing up for one final hurrah this cycle, but don’t expect a free-for-all. Jamie Coutts, chief crypto analyst at Real Vision, predicts a rally could ignite by June 2025—yet only a handful of “quality” altcoins with strong network activity will reap the rewards. Speaking with Real Vision co-founder Raoul Pal on an April 3 X livestream, Coutts tempered optimism with caution: “I think there will be one more breadth thrust from altcoins. The question is, is it a sustained rally for six to twelve months? I’m not too sure.” His advice to traders? Follow the data—specifically, network activity—as the ultimate guide.

Network Activity: The New North Star

In a market teeming with over 36 million altcoins (per Cointelegraph’s January 2025 tally), distinguishing winners from noise is no easy feat. Ethereum still reigns supreme, commanding 55.56% of total value locked (TVL) across blockchains, trailed by Solana (6.89%), Bitcoin (5.77%), BNB Smart Chain (5.68%), and Tron (5.54%), according to CoinGecko. But Coutts argues it’s not just TVL that matters—it’s where users are flocking. “Activity drives prices,” he told Pal, urging traders to treat network engagement as their “north star.” For Coutts, altcoins showing real utility and a resurgence in usage could spark a recovery, even as the broader market cools.

He’s eyeing June for this upswing, hinging on Bitcoin reclaiming all-time highs by then. “I’m expecting altcoins to really pick up again, predicated on Bitcoin being back at its peak,” he said. Coutts doubled down on this timeline in a March 28 Cointelegraph interview, suggesting Bitcoin could hit new heights by Q2’s end—tariffs, recession fears, or not.

The total crypto market cap is down around 8% over the past 30 days. Source: CoinMarketCap

A Market in Retreat

The altcoin landscape isn’t exactly brimming with bullish signals right now. Blockchain activity has slumped amid a wider crypto downturn. Solana (SOL, $116.33), for instance, saw its weekly active addresses plummet nearly 40%—from 15.6 million in November 2024 to 9.5 million in February 2025, per Cointelegraph’s February 21 report. This mirrors a broader pullback, with altcoin indicators flashing red. Capriole Investments’ Altcoin Speculation Index has tanked to 12%, a 53% drop since December 25, 2024, coinciding with Ether’s 49% slide from $3,490, per CoinMarketCap.

CoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Season Index, tracking the top 100 cryptocurrencies against Bitcoin over 90 days, sits at a meager 14 out of 100—firmly in “Bitcoin Season” territory. Bitcoin dominance, now at 62.84%, traditionally signals altcoin rallies when it dips, but some argue its relevance is fading. CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju recently quipped, “Bitcoin Dominance no longer defines altseason—trading volume does,” pointing to a shift in how market cycles are gauged.

The Altcoin Season Index Chart is sitting at 14 at the time of publication. Source: CoinMarketCap

Quality Over Quantity

Coutts’ prediction isn’t a blanket endorsement of altcoins—it’s a call for discernment. With millions of tokens vying for attention, he sees only those with “high-quality” fundamentals—think robust ecosystems and tangible use cases—riding this potential wave. “Where activity returns, we’ll see a recovery,” he emphasized. This selective rally could leave speculative or dormant projects in the dust, rewarding networks that prove their worth through user engagement over hype.

June: A Make-or-Break Moment

If Coutts is right, June 2025 could mark a turning point. Bitcoin’s trajectory will set the stage—its climb to new highs could unleash capital flows into altcoins, sparking that “breadth thrust” he envisions. But traders must stay sharp: the window may be brief, and the winners few. As altcoin sentiment wanes and Bitcoin holds court, network activity offers a lifeline—a metric to sift through the clutter and pinpoint where value lies. For now, the altcoin faithful wait, watching the data for signs of one last big run.

This rewrite sharpens the focus on Coutts’ analysis, enhances readability with a clear narrative arc, and integrates data seamlessly to support the story. It emphasizes the selective nature of the rally and the pivotal role of network activity, making it both informative and engaging. Let me know if you’d like further tweaks!