Altcoins surge back after crash — $130B added in 24 hours

Key Takeaways

What triggered the latest altcoin rebound?

A sharp recovery followed the 11 October crash, adding over $130 billion to the altcoin market cap.

What could decide the next move for altcoins?

Sustained stability above a $1.6 trillion market cap and a rising Altcoin Season Index could signal the start of a new altcoin rally.

After one of the steepest sell-offs of the year on 11 October, when $19.5 billion in leveraged positions was wiped out, the altcoin market is showing strong signs of recovery. 

Altcoin market rebounds sharply

Data from CryptoRank CoinMarketCap revealed that altcoin market capitalization climbed from $1.48 trillion to $1.61 trillion between 12 and 13 October. This is an 8.8% rebound, adding roughly $130 billion in value within 24 hours.

At the same time, the Altcoin Season Index edged higher from 40 to 41, hinting that investor confidence is gradually returning. 

Source: CoinMarketCap

While the metric remains below the threshold for a full “altcoin season,” the momentum signals an early-stage rotation of capital from Bitcoin to alternative assets following the crash.

Market leaders lead recovery

According to CryptoRank, several top altcoins have seen remarkable rebounds. Cardano [ADA] and Chainlink [LINK] topped the charts with over 61% gains each, trading at $0.719 and $19.64, respectively. 

XRP surged nearly 50%, while Dogecoin [DOGE] rallied more than 45%, continuing its pattern of quick recovery during market upswings.

Source: CryptoRank

BNB, Ethereum [ETH], and Solana [SOL] also posted double-digit percentage recoveries, up 33%, 16%, and 11%, respectively. Also, Hyperliquid [HYPE] gained around 19%, showing traders’ appetite for emerging DeFi narratives.

Bitcoin [BTC], in contrast, has risen just 6.3% from its 11 October low of $107,500, suggesting that traders are rotating capital toward higher-beta assets. TRON [TRX] posted only a marginal 1.2% gain.

Signs of renewed optimism

The recovery follows one of crypto’s largest liquidation events, with over $19.5 billion in leveraged positions wiped out during the crash. The rebound could be, in part, due to the softening tone of President Donald Trump towards China after his initial tariff war threats.

If the current trajectory holds, the altcoin market could enter a sustained accumulation phase, potentially reigniting altcoin season by late October. Traders, however, remain cautious amid ongoing macro uncertainty and market volatility.

Altcoins have mounted a rapid comeback, recovering billions in market value within a day after one of the most severe sell-offs of 2025. 

With investor sentiment improving and mid-cap tokens leading the charge, the market’s next phase may hinge on whether Bitcoin stabilizes — setting the stage for a renewed altcoin cycle.