Crypto Seasonality: When Bitcoin and Altcoins Move Most

When we talk about crypto seasonality, the predictable patterns in cryptocurrency price movements tied to calendar cycles. Also known as crypto market cycles, it’s not magic—it’s history repeating. Bitcoin doesn’t just go up or down randomly. Over the last decade, it’s shown clear tendencies: big rallies in the first quarter, slower summer months, and strong runs heading into December. Altcoins often follow, but later—usually after Bitcoin has already moved. This isn’t guesswork. It’s based on real data from past cycles, investor behavior, and even macroeconomic timing like tax seasons and institutional portfolio rebalancing.

What drives this? One big factor is Bitcoin halving, the event that cuts new Bitcoin supply in half roughly every four years. Halvings create scarcity, and history shows prices tend to peak 12 to 18 months after each one. Then there’s altcoin season, the period when smaller cryptocurrencies outperform Bitcoin. That usually kicks in after Bitcoin stabilizes post-halving, when traders look for higher returns elsewhere. And don’t forget crypto tax season, the annual rush of selling and reporting that happens in April in the U.S. and similar times elsewhere. That’s when liquidity dips and prices often dip too.

It’s not about predicting the exact day. It’s about understanding the rhythm. If you know crypto seasonality, you’re not chasing noise—you’re working with the flow. You can avoid buying right before summer lulls, or hold off on selling before the December surge. This isn’t about getting rich quick. It’s about making smarter moves by seeing what’s happened before. The posts below break down real examples: when Bitcoin surged after the last halving, how altcoins lagged behind, why January often starts strong, and what to watch for in the coming year. No fluff. Just patterns you can use.