More than 40% of altcoins now trade at or near their all-time lows in March 2026, according to analyst Darkfost. The figure exceeds the previous bear market peak of roughly 38%.
The data marks the deepest altcoin drawdown recorded during the current cycle. Geopolitical tensions and macro volatility continue to weigh on risk assets across financial markets.
“The crypto market continues to suffer from the escalation of geopolitical tensions and the volatility this creates across financial markets. It is mainly altcoins that are suffering the most. They have never been under such pressure during this cycle,” he said.
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Darkfost also pointed to a structural problem beyond these conditions. The total number of cryptocurrencies has now surged past 47 million.
Solana (SOL) alone hosts more than 22 million tokens. Base accounts for over 18 million, and BNB Smart Chain adds another 4 million. This explosion in token creation has spread capital thin across an oversaturated market.
The result is severe liquidity dilution. With investor demand unable to keep pace with supply, many altcoins may struggle to attract sustained buying pressure.
“Such a massive number of cryptocurrencies directly leads to liquidity dilution, making altcoins increasingly fragile over time. This helps explain why we are currently seeing record levels of underperformance,” he said.
Nonetheless, Darkfost noted that extreme underperformance may create entry points. Investors who can identify resilient projects amid the sell-off may find attractive opportunities.
Previously, Bitwise Asset Management’s Chief Investment Officer, Matt Hougan, offered a structural assessment. He argued that the classic rotation pattern, where capital moves from Bitcoin (BTC) to Ethereum (ETH) to speculative tokens, is no longer functioning.
“I don’t think we’ll see the sort of rising tide lifts all buckets. I think we’ll see a non-traditional altcoin season,” Hougan stated.
Hougan expects future cycles to reward only projects with real-world traction rather than broad speculative momentum.
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The post Altcoin Drawdown Surpasses Last Bear Market as 40% Near Record Lows appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Source: https://beincrypto.com/altcoin-drawdown-record-lows-bear-market/