What is bitcoin dominance?
In one line: Bitcoin dominance is bitcoin's market value as a percent of the total value of all cryptocurrencies.
A simple example
Say all cryptocurrencies together are worth $2.5 trillion. Bitcoin's Market cap is $1.5 trillion.
Bitcoin dominance: 1.5 ÷ 2.5 = 60%.
Example numbers only. Check a live chart for today's figure. On TradingView, search for the symbol BTC.D.
What changes it
Dominance can move for different reasons. Look at both halves of the math.
| What happens | Bitcoin | Rest of crypto | Dominance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin rises faster | Up more | Up less | Rises |
| Altcoin rally | Flat | Up a lot | Falls |
| Market-wide sell-off, altcoins hit harder | Down some | Down more | Rises |
| Stablecoins grow | Flat | Total grows | Falls |
So a rising number doesn't always mean bitcoin is going up. It can mean everything else is falling faster.
Why it matters
Traders watch dominance to see where money is flowing inside crypto. A falling number is often linked with altcoin rallies. A rising one is often linked with money moving toward bitcoin, sometimes in nervous markets.
It's context, not a signal. Read it alongside bitcoin's own chart. Our Bitcoin page covers how bitcoin tends to move.
A common mistake
Ignoring Stablecoins. Stablecoins are counted in the total. When people sell coins for stablecoins, total crypto value may barely change, yet dominance shifts. Some charts offer a version that leaves stablecoins out.
The other trap: different sites count the total differently, so their dominance figures won't match exactly.
Use the same source every time you check, so you compare like with like.
More on the basics in crypto trading for beginners.
Questions
What is "altcoin season"?
A loose name for stretches when many altcoins rise faster than bitcoin, often while bitcoin dominance falls. There's no official definition.
Where can I see bitcoin dominance?
Crypto data sites show it, and TradingView has a chart under the symbol BTC.D.
Does high bitcoin dominance mean bitcoin is safe?
No. Dominance is a share, not a measure of risk. Bitcoin can fall a lot while its share rises.
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