- 1. Key Takeaways
- 2. Bitcoin Dominance Today
- 3. How Bitcoin Dominance Is Calculated
- 4. Why Bitcoin Dominance Differs Between Sites
- 5. Bitcoin Dominance History
- 6. Bitcoin Dominance in 2026
- 7. How to Read Bitcoin Dominance
- 8. Bitcoin Dominance and Altcoin Season
- 9. What About the 70% Bitcoin Dominance Headlines?
- 10. Limitations of Bitcoin Dominance
- 11. Where to Check Bitcoin Dominance
- 12. Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: October 23, 2026
Bitcoin dominance is Bitcoin’s share of the total value of the crypto market, calculated as Bitcoin’s market capitalization divided by the market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies. On October 23, 2026, Bitcoin dominance stood at about 60.1% on CoinMarketCap, meaning Bitcoin accounted for about $1.63 trillion of a $2.72 trillion crypto market. That is close to its highest level since May, after altcoins fell faster than Bitcoin through October.
Traders watch dominance to judge whether money is flowing into Bitcoin or out into altcoins. A rising reading means Bitcoin is outperforming the rest of the market, and a falling one usually signals rotation into altcoins. The number differs between data providers, so always check which source a figure comes from.
Key Takeaways
- Today’s reading: about 60.1% on CoinMarketCap on October 23, 2026, up from about 58.5% on September 26 and near its 2026 high of about 60.6% on May 5.
- Range-bound 2026: CoinMarketCap’s reading has stayed between about 57.3% and 60.6% all year, well below its 2025 peak of about 65.1% on June 27, 2025.
- History: dominance has ranged from about 94% in 2013 to a record low of about 32% to 33% in January 2018, at the height of the first altcoin boom.
- Providers disagree: TradingView usually shows a higher figure than CoinMarketCap, and CoinGecko a lower one, because each counts a different set of coins.
- No altcoin season: Blockchaincenter’s Altcoin Season Index was 53 on October 23, a neutral reading well below the 75 needed for an altcoin season.
Bitcoin Dominance Today
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin dominance (CoinMarketCap) | ~60.1% |
| Ethereum dominance (CoinMarketCap) | ~10.7% |
| Stablecoin share of the market | ~10.4% |
| Bitcoin dominance excluding stablecoins | ~67% |
| Total crypto market cap | ~$2.72 trillion |
| Bitcoin price | ~$81,600 |
| 2026 range (CoinMarketCap) | ~57.3% (June 4) to ~60.6% (May 5) |
| 2025 peak (CoinMarketCap) | ~65.1% (June 27, 2025) |
| Altcoin Season Index (Blockchaincenter) | 53, neutral |
Sources: CoinMarketCap global market data on October 23, 2026; Binance (Bitcoin price); Blockchaincenter (Altcoin Season Index). The stablecoin share and the stablecoin-excluded dominance are our own calculations from CoinMarketCap’s total market and stablecoin market values.
For the day’s price moves behind these numbers, see our crypto market today and Bitcoin news today pages.
How Bitcoin Dominance Is Calculated
The formula is simple:
Bitcoin dominance = Bitcoin market cap ÷ total crypto market cap × 100
Each market cap is the coin’s price multiplied by its circulating supply. Because the formula divides one market value by another, dominance can rise even when Bitcoin’s price falls, as long as the rest of the market falls faster. That is what happened in October 2026: Bitcoin slipped, but altcoins fell harder, so Bitcoin’s share of the market went up.
Why Bitcoin Dominance Differs Between Sites
Every provider uses the same formula but a different total market, so the same day can produce readings several points apart.
| Provider | What the total market includes | Typical reading |
|---|---|---|
| CoinMarketCap | All tracked cryptoassets, including tokens and stablecoins | In the middle |
| CoinGecko | All of the more than 20,000 coins it tracks, including stablecoins; wrapped, bridged and staked tokens are excluded to avoid double counting | Usually the lowest |
| TradingView (BTC.D) | Only the top 125 coins in its crypto screener | Usually the highest |
On October 13, 2026, for example, TradingView showed about 60.4% while CoinMarketCap showed about 59.9%, according to market reports from that day. CoinGecko’s dominance chart showed about 58% on October 23, two points below CoinMarketCap. None of these is wrong; they measure slightly different markets. The useful habit is to compare like with like and follow the trend on one source.
This comparison is based on each provider’s published methodology and on readings reported by market outlets in October 2026.
Bitcoin Dominance History
| Date | Bitcoin Dominance | What Was Happening |
|---|---|---|
| April 2013 | ~94% | Earliest CoinMarketCap data, when few other coins existed |
| February 2017 | ~85% | Before the first altcoin boom |
| January 2018 | ~32% to 33% (all-time low) | Peak of the ICO and altcoin mania |
| September 2019 | ~70% | Bitcoin leads the recovery after the 2018 bear market |
| January 1, 2021 | ~70% | Start of the 2021 bull market |
| May 2021 | ~39% to 40% | Altcoin season at its peak |
| November 2024 | Crosses 60% | Spot Bitcoin ETFs and the US election rally |
| June 27, 2025 | ~65.1% (2025 high) | Highest level since early 2021 |
| September 14, 2025 | ~56.7% | Ether and altcoins rally in late summer |
| October 11, 2025 | ~60.1% | Market crash hits altcoins hardest |
| June 4, 2026 | ~57.3% (2026 low so far) | Bottom of the year’s narrow range |
| October 23, 2026 | ~60.1% | Altcoins slide; money moves back to Bitcoin |
Sources: CoinMarketCap daily data (2025 and 2026); CoinMarketCap and contemporary reports by CNBC, Cointelegraph and CryptoPotato for earlier years. Figures for 2013 to 2021 differ by a point or two between sources, so they are rounded.
The pattern is clear. Dominance falls sharply in altcoin manias, as in early 2018 and mid-2021, and recovers when the market turns cautious or when new demand is concentrated in Bitcoin, as with the spot ETFs since 2024.
Bitcoin Dominance in 2026
Bitcoin dominance has moved in a narrow band in 2026. CoinMarketCap’s daily reading started the year at about 59.0%, reached about 60.6% on May 5, fell to about 57.3% on June 4 and has climbed since late September, from about 58.5% on September 26 to about 60.2% on October 22.
The latest rise came from altcoin weakness rather than a Bitcoin rally. Altcoins made up 79% of liquidations on October 14 and 15, and Bitfinex analysts expect them to lag Bitcoin in any rebound, CoinMarketCap Academy reported. CoinDesk described the move on October 22 as traders seeking shelter in Bitcoin as altcoins slid and ETF flows wobbled.
How to Read Bitcoin Dominance
Dominance is most useful when read alongside the direction of the total market.
| Bitcoin Dominance | Total Crypto Market | What It Usually Means |
|---|---|---|
| Rising | Rising | Bitcoin is leading the rally; altcoins are lagging |
| Rising | Falling | Investors are leaving altcoins faster than Bitcoin, a defensive move |
| Falling | Rising | Money is rotating into altcoins, a possible start of an altcoin season |
| Falling | Falling | Altcoins and Bitcoin are both falling, or money is moving into stablecoins |
The last case shows the main weakness of the standard measure. Stablecoins count toward the total market, so when traders sell crypto for USDT or USDC, the stablecoin share rises and Bitcoin dominance can fall even though no money has gone into altcoins. That is why some analysts also track dominance excluding stablecoins and stablecoin dominance on its own.
Bitcoin Dominance and Altcoin Season
An altcoin season is a period when most large altcoins outperform Bitcoin. Two widely cited indexes measure it:
- CoinMarketCap Altcoin Season Index: compares the top 100 coins with Bitcoin over 90 days. It signals an altcoin season when 75% of them outperform Bitcoin and a Bitcoin season when 25% or fewer do. Stablecoins and asset-backed tokens such as WBTC and stETH are excluded. It read about 57 on October 20, 2026, below its 2026 high of about 64 on September 27.
- Blockchaincenter Altcoin Season Index: uses the same rules for the top 50 coins. It read 53 on October 23, 2026, and last moved from Bitcoin season to neutral on September 2, 2026.
In past cycles, true altcoin seasons came with a deep fall in dominance, to about 33% in January 2018 and about 40% in May 2021. With dominance near 60% and both indexes in neutral territory, the market is not in an altcoin season. Our analysis of the Altcoin Season Index explains why a mid-range reading does not mean altseason, and our list of top altcoins to watch covers the coins with their own catalysts.
What About the 70% Bitcoin Dominance Headlines?
In June 2026, Strategy’s Michael Saylor said Bitcoin dominance was around 68% to 69%, which prompted headlines about dominance near 70%, including our own report. Saylor was referring to dominance excluding stablecoins such as Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC. Standard dominance on CoinMarketCap was about 57% to 58% at the time.
Both figures are valid, but they answer different questions. Standard dominance shows Bitcoin’s share of everything, including dollar-pegged tokens. The stablecoin-excluded version shows Bitcoin’s share of the assets that actually move with the crypto market. By our calculation from CoinMarketCap data, Bitcoin’s share excluding stablecoins was about 67% on October 23, 2026.
Limitations of Bitcoin Dominance
- It mixes very different assets. Stablecoins, exchange tokens and meme coins all count toward the total, so a stablecoin inflow can move dominance as much as a change in sentiment.
- New coins dilute it. Thousands of tokens launch every year. Some have large paper valuations but little trading, and they lower Bitcoin’s share without reflecting real demand.
- Readings differ by source. A 2-point gap between providers is normal, so headlines comparing figures from different sites can be misleading.
- It is not a price signal on its own. Dominance can rise in a bull market and in a crash. It describes relative performance, not direction.
For a wider read of market mood, pair dominance with the Crypto Fear and Greed Index and the trend in Bitcoin’s price. Our Bitcoin price prediction and Ethereum price prediction cover the outlook for the two largest coins.
Where to Check Bitcoin Dominance
- CoinMarketCap: the Bitcoin dominance chart shows the current reading, Ethereum’s share and history back to 2013, and the Altcoin Season Index sits alongside it.
- CoinGecko: the Bitcoin dominance chart gives a broader market reading that is usually a little lower.
- TradingView: the BTC.D chart is widely used by traders for technical analysis. TradingView also publishes total-market series without stablecoins, which can be used to estimate stablecoin-excluded dominance.
Data sources: CoinMarketCap (dominance, market cap and stablecoin data and its Altcoin Season Index), CoinGecko and TradingView (methodology and comparison readings), Blockchaincenter (Altcoin Season Index), Binance (Bitcoin price), CoinMarketCap Academy and CoinDesk (October 2026 market commentary), and CNBC, Cointelegraph and CryptoPotato (historical readings), as of October 23, 2026.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets are volatile; always do your own research before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bitcoin dominance?
Bitcoin dominance is Bitcoin’s share of the total value of the crypto market, calculated by dividing Bitcoin’s market capitalization by the market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies and multiplying by 100. A reading of 60% means Bitcoin is worth 60% of the whole market. Traders use it to see whether money is flowing into Bitcoin or into altcoins.
What is Bitcoin dominance today?
Bitcoin dominance was about 60.1% on CoinMarketCap on October 23, 2026, close to its 2026 high of about 60.6% on May 5. Ethereum’s share was about 10.7%. TradingView usually shows a slightly higher figure and CoinGecko a lower one, because each provider counts a different set of coins in the total market.
Why does Bitcoin dominance differ between CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko and TradingView?
Each site divides Bitcoin’s value by a different total. TradingView counts only the top 125 coins, so its reading is usually the highest. CoinGecko counts more than 20,000 coins, so its reading is usually the lowest. CoinMarketCap sits in between. A gap of one or two points is normal, so compare readings from the same source over time.
What is the highest and lowest Bitcoin dominance ever?
Bitcoin dominance was about 94% when CoinMarketCap’s records began in April 2013, when few other coins existed. Its all-time low was about 32% to 33% in January 2018, at the height of the ICO boom. In the current cycle it peaked at about 65.1% on June 27, 2025, its highest level since early 2021.
Is rising Bitcoin dominance good or bad?
It depends on what the rest of the market is doing. Rising dominance in a rally means Bitcoin is leading and altcoins are lagging. Rising dominance in a sell-off means investors are leaving altcoins faster than Bitcoin. In October 2026, dominance rose mainly because altcoins fell harder than Bitcoin, a defensive move rather than a sign of strong demand.
What Bitcoin dominance level signals altcoin season?
There is no fixed level, but past altcoin seasons came with dominance falling to about 33% in January 2018 and about 40% in May 2021. Altcoin season indexes are a more direct measure: they signal one when 75% of the top coins beat Bitcoin over 90 days. Blockchaincenter’s index read 53 on October 23, 2026, a neutral reading.
What is Bitcoin dominance excluding stablecoins?
It is Bitcoin’s share of the crypto market after removing stablecoins such as USDT and USDC from the total. Because stablecoins make up about 10% of the market, this version reads higher: about 67% on October 23, 2026, by our calculation from CoinMarketCap data. Michael Saylor’s June 2026 figure of 68% to 69% used this measure.
Where can I check Bitcoin dominance?
CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko both publish free Bitcoin dominance charts with history and Ethereum’s share, and CoinMarketCap shows its Altcoin Season Index alongside. TradingView’s BTC.D chart is widely used for technical analysis. Use one source consistently, because readings differ between providers, and check the total market’s direction before drawing any conclusions about altcoins.
