October 2026 turned out to be ambiguous for the cryptocurrency market. After a relatively successful September, investors were hoping for continued growth, but the usual "Uptober" effect for the crypto market — seasonal price strengthening in October — has not yet led to a sustained rally. Bitcoin mostly traded in the range of $81,000–$86,500 per coin, while certain altcoins showed much stronger movements both up and down.
The main feature of October is that some altcoins significantly outperformed Bitcoin in terms of returns, but their growth was accompanied by high volatility. This indicates selective demand for specific crypto projects, not the start of a guaranteed large-scale altseason.
Which cryptocurrencies showed the biggest growth
According to the cryptocurrency ranking for the 30-day period published on October 10, the leader among the considered altcoins was NEAR Protocol, which rose by approximately 121%. For comparison, Bitcoin gained about 6.4% over the same period. Sui, Aave, and Avalanche also showed strong dynamics. 24/7 Wall St.
| Cryptocurrency | Growth over 30 days as of October 10 | How many times more than Bitcoin's growth |
| NEAR Protocol (NEAR) | +120,7% | 18.9 times |
| Sui (SUI) | +47,5% | 7.4 times |
| Aave (AAVE) | +40,4% | 6.3 times |
| Avalanche (AVAX) | +37,3% | 5.8 times |
| Uniswap (UNI) | +25,0% | 3.9 times |
| Litecoin (LTC) | +21,9% | 3.4 times |
| Hedera (HBAR) | +21,7% | 3.4 times |
| Cardano (ADA) | +20,3% | 3.2 times |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | +6,4% | — |
NEAR Protocol stands out, with returns almost 19 times higher than Bitcoin's result. However, such rapid growth does not guarantee a continuation of the rally: altcoin prices can quickly reverse in the opposite direction.
Main trends of the crypto market in October
1. Bitcoin is trading in a relatively narrow range
In October, Bitcoin failed to establish a steady upward trajectory. According to the market review of October 21, for most of the month BTC traded in the range of $81,000–$86,500, and then again approached the $82,000 mark. Coindisco
For the market, this means that investors are not yet ready to actively increase risk. Bitcoin retains the role of the main benchmark, but its movement does not provide sustained growth for all other cryptocurrencies.
2. Altcoins grow faster, but often lose profits
In the first half of October, certain alternative cryptocurrencies significantly outperformed BTC. However, some of them later faced a correction.
For example, Uniswap lost almost 19% during the week to October 10, although its 30-day result remained positive. Avalanche, Litecoin, and Hedera also declined on a weekly basis after previous growth. 24/7 Wall St.
This is an important signal: so far, the market is showing rather isolated bursts of demand for altcoins than a sustainable altseason.
3. Institutional demand remains an important factor
Investment flows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs), interest rate expectations, and the situation in the American financial market continue to influence Bitcoin quotes.
In October, market participants also monitored the monetary policy of the US Federal Reserve. Expectations regarding interest rates affect the attractiveness of risky assets: more expensive money can dampen demand for cryptocurrencies, while expectations of policy easing can support prices.
Furthermore, institutional demand does not exclude short-term sell-offs. The market review of October 21 noted that outflows from American spot Bitcoin ETFs continued, although their scale had decreased. Coindisco
4. A full-fledged altseason has not started yet
To assess the breadth of growth, the Altcoin Season Index is used—an index that shows what proportion of the largest altcoins is outperforming Bitcoin over a certain period.
According to the index on October 26, its 90-day value was about 55 points. This is below the level of 75, which is usually used to define altseason. Meanwhile, the 30-day indicator dropped to 16 points, indicating Bitcoin's advantage over most major altcoins over the last month.
Thus, despite impressive results from individual coins, talking about a mass shift of capital into altcoins is still premature.
What to expect from cryptocurrencies at the end of October
Until the end of the month, investors should watch three main factors:
- Bitcoin dynamics. BTC consolidating above the upper boundary of the October range could improve sentiment across the market.
- US monetary policy. Federal Reserve decisions and expectations regarding future interest rates may increase volatility.
- Sustainability of altcoin growth. If NEAR, SUI, AAVE, and other leaders can hold their gained levels, that would be a more convincing signal of market recovery than short-term price spikes.
