Bitcoin's [BTC] dip below $90K was also marked by a 2% decline in market dominance

Bitcoin’s [BTC] dip below $90K was also marked by a 2% decline in market dominance, a move analysts speculated could relieve altcoins.

Bitcoin’s [BTC] slip below the $90K amid a 2% drop in market dominance could also be offering some relief to altcoins.

Indeed, the BTC dominance decline as BTC dumped was a new trend, according to pseudonymous analyst Stockmoney Lizard.

“Also new: BTC dropping while BTC.D is dropping…This means many Altcoins are forming local bottoms while BTC makes new lows”

This is also new: BTC dropping while BTC.D is dropping.

This means many Altcoins are forming local bottoms while BTC makes new lows.

Maybe a bottom is forming. Maybe.

Don't get too excited yet.

Stay tuned.

— Stockmoney Lizard 🦎 (@StockmoneyLIzard) April 11, 2024

During the drop to $86K, BTC dominance slipped from 62.28% to 60.9%. A drop in BTC dominance is usually deemed as a capital rotation from the king coin to altcoins.

Last November, the dominance dropped 10%, triggering an altcoin pump that saw XRP post +500% gains.

BTC dominance: Will altcoins recover?

Note, however, that analysts like Arthur Hayes and Galaxy Digital’s Alex Thorn have made calls for $75K-$85K price range for the king coin. Thorn made his projection based on chain price imbalance and stated,

“Looking at BTC supply by price last moved (URPD), there’s mostly air between $75-85k. Market may want to test that range. 200d MA is $81.6, which could provide support if we test it.”

If the projection is validated and the new trend continues, BTC dominance could drop further and offer more relief to the altcoin market.

That said, select altcoins pumped double digits on BTC woes. Story [IP] and Celestia [TIA] were up 34% and 22%, and were among the top daily performers on CoinMarketCap.

Hyperliquid [HYPE] and Maker [MKR] also saw double-digit recoveries.

Over the same period, the altcoin market cap increased from $1.16T to $1.17T, marking a $10B bump. But the altcoin season index was at 25, suggesting it was a BTC season.

AMBCrypto checked the ETH/BTC ratio to understand the altcoin market’s status better. The ratio gauges ETH price performance relative to BTC, and since it’s the king of altcoins, it’s deemed the barometer of the sector.

The alt season seen last November and December was marked by 18% and 25% rallies in ETH/BTC. On Tuesday, the ratio surged 8% as BTC dominance declined, boosting some altcoins.

However, the ratio had an overhead hurdle at 0.03 and has declined 32% since December, capping a strong recovery outlook for the altcoin sector.

Simply put, the weak ETH/BTC ratio could derail a stronger recovery in the broader sector.