Dogecoin, Cardano Among Four Iconic Altcoins: Trader Sees 'Pretty Close To An End To This Chop'

Bitcoin BTC/USD has been stuck in a multi-week range, leaving altcoins struggling for momentum. However, traders believe this consolidation phase could be setting the stage for an altseason breakout.

What Happened: Crypto trader Astronomer advises altcoin holders to remain patient, emphasizing that historically, the biggest altcoin surges occur in the final year of the cycle (2025). He argues that the current cycle resembles 2017 more than 2021, which explains why altcoins have yet to make major moves.

• In 2017, altcoins remained flat until the final year (March–November) before exploding.
• In 2021, altcoins surged early (August 2020–February 2021) but then suffered a 70% crash mid-cycle.
• Bitcoin’s current price action resembles 2017's gradual parabolic rise, unlike 2021's rapid, straight-up movements.

Historically, Dogecoin DOGE/USD, Litecoin LTC/USD, Cardano ADA/USD, and IOTA IOTA/USD all stayed stagnant until late in the final year before massive rallies. Many traders expected Bitcoin dominance to drop sharply, similar to 2021, but the market is following the 2017 pattern of a gradual decline before a sharp break lower.

Similarly, Ethereum ETH/USD also saw a gradual rise in 2017 before an explosive move, unlike its more volatile 2021 cycle.

The logical reasons behind this cycle's similarity to 2017 include market psychology, where investors expect the last cycle to repeat and get outmaneuvered, and mass adoption, with institutional and governmental players now involved, similar to the retail-driven surge in 2017.

Also Read: Bitcoin, Altcoin Set To Rise With ‘Irrational Valuations,’ According To Crypto Analyst, But A ‘Big’ Crisis Looms Afterwards

What's Next: Crypto trader Scient highlighted that market remains choppy, with many altcoins bleeding and Bitcoin ranging between $91,000-$108,000. This is a typical cycle pattern where liquidity moves from weaker to stronger assets, though it’s happening faster due to market segmentation.

The trader expects the chop/downside to end soon, likely by late April, and does not anticipate a prolonged altseason. They suggest focusing on large caps like L1/L2s, DeFi, AI, and RWA, with only a small 2-5% allocation to meme coins.

Meanwhile, trader arndxt pointed out that Bitcoin has been stuck in a 60-day range, which is relatively short compared to past 240-day consolidation periods. This suggests the chop is not over yet, and altcoins will continue to struggle for momentum until BTC makes a decisive move.

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