Altcoins show signs of no longer crashing: What is happening in the crypto market under low trading volume?

Amid the ongoing decline in overall attention to the cryptocurrency market, an unusual phenomenon is emerging: altcoins are not continuing to collapse. Currently, altcoin trading volume has fallen to multi-year lows. Market sentiment appears similar to the deep correction phases of 2019 and 2022, but structural differences are becoming evident.

Data shows that spot trading activity for major altcoins in December has significantly slowed. XRP trading volume dropped to about $32 billion, the lowest since 2025, with nearly half coming from the BNB ecosystem. BNB trading volume is around $13.7 billion, also at a yearly low. Solana (SOL), traditionally seen as a high-activity indicator, has seen its market cap fall to approximately $43 billion, hitting a new low since 2024. Cardano (ADA) has a market cap of about $38 billion, indicating that mainstream altcoin attention is weakening overall.

From a market heat perspective, the decline in spot trading volume directly dampens public interest. Google Trends data shows that even when Bitcoin (BTC) price remains near cycle highs, cryptocurrency-related search interest is close to multi-year lows. Over the past five years, market attention has typically surged during price rallies or panic-driven declines, but neither extreme has occurred currently.

It is noteworthy that altcoin price performance has not deteriorated in tandem. Joao Wedson, CEO of Alphractal, pointed out that during similar phases in 2019 and 2022, although altcoins traded lightly, they did not continuously hit new lows, often indicating long-term consolidation rather than a one-sided collapse.

Currently, Bitcoin’s price remains stable, while altcoins’ volatility is converging. This change in relative strength is particularly significant. If Bitcoin experiences a short-term correction, the decline may be unevenly structured, and some altcoins, whose valuations have already been deeply compressed, might outperform Bitcoin in relative performance.