Best Altcoins to buy now during Altcoin Season

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Crypto markets swung sharply in December amid a changing macro backdrop. With Bitcoin still setting the tone, many investors are asking the same question: is “altcoin season” here, or still loading? That’s where Best Wallet comes in - a multichain, non-custodial wallet built to help you spot and act on altcoin opportunities in one place.

The reality is that markets can flip quickly, and the best preparation is often less about chasing a single coin and more about having a focused shortlist and a solid strategy for buying, swapping, and storing assets when momentum arrives.

What “Altcoin Season” means right now

“Altcoin season” is a term crypto investors use during a sustained period of time when a broad basket of altcoins outperforms Bitcoin.

It takes more than just one or two meme coins pumping on headlines to meet the definition. One popular gauge, BlockchainCenter’s Altcoin Season Index, uses the term to describe a period when 75% of top coins outperform Bitcoin over the prior 90 days. In late December 2025, its reading was in “Bitcoin season” territory, signaling that the rally has yet to broaden.

That’s not a reason to ignore altcoins, just a reminder that “season” is more of a rotation than a straight line.

Altcoins to watch

When capital rotates out of Bitcoin, it often flows to the largest, most popular altcoins first since they’re easy to trade and widely available. As of early 2026, that “first wave” watchlist for many investors still centers on mainstays like Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Chainlink.

1) Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum is the largest altcoin, which is why it’s often the first digital asset investors add when they want exposure beyond Bitcoin. It’s also consistently one of the market’s bellwethers; when ETH starts outperforming BTC over a multi-week stretch, broader altcoin participation tends to follow.

2) Solana (SOL)

Solana is a mainstay on most altcoin watchlists because it sits at the intersection of high-velocity trading, consumer adoption, and an active developer ecosystem. It’s also being used by Wall Street firms expanding their crypto footprint and using blockchains like Solana for tokenized finance experiments.

3) XRP (XRP)

XRP is a long-standing large-cap altcoin that’s mainly used for payments and transfers. Its price usually moves with the overall crypto “risk-on” sentiment and big market news. It also got extra attention when it was named as one of the assets in the U.S. strategic crypto reserve announcement in early 2025.

4) Chainlink (LINK)

Chainlink is the backbone for many crypto apps that need reliable data, because it provides the key data (oracles) that feed prices and other information on-chain. Its tools for connecting different blockchains have become a bigger selling point in recent years. A key example came in December 2025, when Coinbase chose Chainlink’s CCIP as the technology for moving assets between chains.

How to Buy Altcoins During Altcoin Season: A Step-by-Step Guide with Best Wallet

Speed matters when markets rotate quickly, but security matters more. Best Wallet is designed specifically for altcoin markets, helping you discover, buy, and manage altcoins across major networks from a single app, without giving up control of your keys

Download Best Wallet from the App Store or Google Play.
Create your wallet in minutes. (Best Wallet is positioned as a non-custodial wallet, so you control your assets.)
Fund your wallet using an integrated on-ramp or by transferring crypto from another wallet or exchange.
Buy or swap into altcoins directly in-app, use search to find the asset you want, then swap from a major coin into your target altcoin.
Manage everything in one place and track holdings across chains, and use built-in tools like swaps (and, where available, staking) from your portfolio dashboard.

Optional: If you want early-stage exposure

For investors who prefer to look earlier in the cycle, Best Wallet's Upcoming Tokens feature highlights trending launches and presales across major networks, with basic checks and in-app claim/vesting tracking, so you spend more time deciding what to buy and less time chasing token drops.

Quick FAQs

What makes an altcoin more likely to outperform during altcoin season?
Nothing is guaranteed, but investors often look for a clear use case, healthy liquidity, active development and a narrative that’s already gaining traction. Ultimately, they want to see growing awareness and healthy financial backing.

Are presales worth considering?
They can be, but they’re higher risk than established coins. If you explore presales, be sure to diversify, keep investments small, and do thorough due diligence.

How do I research new coins before they move?
Start with primary sources (whitepaper and token docs), look for reputable audits where applicable, and sanity-check liquidity and unlock schedules. Track whether real users are investing; on-chain activity and sustained community engagement tend to matter more than a single viral moment.

Can early-stage coins really deliver 100x gains?
It happens, but it’s rare, and the early stage is also where losses are most common. The safest approach is to treat it as speculative, limit exposure, and never invest money you can’t afford to lose.

What sets Best Wallet apart

Best Wallet is built for altcoin markets - a multichain, non-custodial app that lets you rotate between majors and altcoins, discover new projects, and de-risk into stablecoins in one place:

BW keeps your keys local to your device with multi‑layer anti‑fraud protection.
Built‑in swaps and staking across 60+ chains let you rotate between BTC, majors, and altcoins without leaving the app.
The Upcoming Tokens feature surfaces trending presales and handles vesting/claim tracking automatically.
Simple routes into stablecoins make it easy to de‑risk once a trade has played out.

Crypto involves risk — always review each project’s whitepaper and consult a professional if needed. If you’re preparing for the next altcoin season, the first step is setting up a wallet designed for it – Best Wallet gives you the tools to move quickly while staying in control of your crypto.